A handle or strap can make or break the look of a handmade bag or purse. If you have wondered about the ways to make a fabric handle for a bag you have made for yourself, you are in the right place. Infact the simplest bag handle is just a fabric tube.
If you want to make decorative handles very easily and want a more visual tutorial, you have to checkout this video – the 3 bag handles are so easy to make and looks very pretty. You can find more detailed tutorial to make flat fabric straps here.
Bag Handle sewing Method 1 – Simple flat Fabric handle
This is your everyday bag handle. The one where you make a tube and turn it right side out.
Length = Measure the length of the bag handle you want. Add 1″ as seam allowance. For a medium long bag handle, you can cut the fabric 34 inches long; A sling bag style has 45 -60 inch long straps, 55 being the ideal length; for a shorter handle cut it 25-36 inches long. If you want to add rings add 4 inches extra for going over the rings.
Width = Twice the width of the bag handle you want plus 1/2″ extra. For a strap of 2 inches wide you need to cut 4 1/2 inch wide fabric.
Cut 2 bag handles fabric pieces like this.
Interface your bag handle fabric.
Fold the fabric right side in and keep the edges together and stitch with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. (Attach a small pin inside as you fold for easily turning the tube right side out). Press the seam allowance.
Turn your tube right side out. You can adjust the seam to the back and then press nicely. Edgestitch on either side for a nicer look.
Bag Handle sewing Method 2 – Adjustable fabric handle for bags
You can add hardware to the handle to make it adjustable
Step 1 – Make your long handle and get a slider and two rings to attach it to the bag.
Slide both the slider and the ring through the handle
Bring the edge near the ring through the slider.
Sew the edge to the handle.
Bag Handle sewing Method 3 – Padded (Lined) fabric handle
This is a fluffy bag handle some stiffness (with an interlining inside).
Cut Bag handle fabric
Length = Length of the bag handle you want plus 1″ as seam allowance.
Width = 3 1/4 inch wide fabric
Interlining
Cut one for each bag handle
Length = Cut an interlining piece 1 inch longer than the bag handle fabric
Width = 1 1/4 inch wide fabric
Take your strap piece and fold it in half lengthwise with the right side inside.
Keep the interlining piece 1/2 inch to the inside on one short edge.
Stitch in place.
Stitch the long edge of the bag strap fabric closed as well.
Using a sharp long object, like a knitting needle or a pencil push the interlining to the inside of the tube.
When you do this the tube will automatically turn right side out. Press neatly.
Topstitch 1/8-inch from the outer edges to make a finished strap. You can sew on the other side also for symmetry. Sometimes you may want to topstitch twice. Sew 1/8 inches from the edge first and then sew 1/4 inches from the edge.
You can quilt stitch over it for a textured look or leave it as it is.
Another method is to insert a cord or rope inside the tube and make it like this
Checkout the video tutorial for making this type of handle:
Bag Handle sewing Method 4 – Leather handles
You can make leather or faux leather handles by cutting strips of the material in 1-inch widths and then hand sew (or machine sew) along the edges.
Learn how to hand sew leather – the best stitches.
Another method is to stitch leather on top of webbing. This creates a sturdy and beautiful bag handle.
Bag Handle sewing Method 5 -braided bag handles
You can make pretty Braided Handles for your bags.
Do the same with the other fabric (for lining/under fabric) too.
After this join the two fabric handle pieces together by stitching along the two long edges.
You can keep the fabric lining piece a little lower to create lesser bulk when you sew the handle to the bag.(as in the picture above)
Bag Handle sewing Method 8 – beaded handles
Buy quality metal frame and then attach beads on them – this is the easy and most used way to make a beaded bag handle.
You can add wood beads, seed beads, rhinestones- there are more than 50 varieties of beads and you can add any of them on your bag handle to make it beautiful.
You will need beads with large holes so that they will fit into the metal frame you have. You can drill the holes bigger for this or buy beads that will fit.
You can make a beaded cord and use this as a bag handle. Follow the tutorial here to make beaded cords.
Here are some more ideas to make your own bag handles.
