4 Types Of Decorative Fabric Straps You Can Sew Easily

When I was making bag handles earlier for my bags, I would consistently make fabric tubes and just turn them right side out by the dozen and edge stitch them to make fabric straps. Then I realised that there is more than one way of making those straps. And that the fabric straps I make so are not limited to bag handles. Anything but! They are used as ties first and foremost – waist ties, shoulder ties, side ties, back ties, halter straps, neckline ties, sleeve ties, and decorative straps on dresses and tops, and also in home decor as cushion ties, curtain tiebacks, table-runner ties, storage-basket handles, fabric-bin handles, hanging loops. I can go on… You can surely think of many more ways. And all of them can be made in different ways. Here are my favourites.

Lace trimmed fabric strap

Lace can be added to the edges – this is the most common way of decorating a strap. You make this strap by combining a simple fabric base with lace trim for a decorative finish.

But this is the most basic decoration. You can do so much more with your fabric strap.

But what I like is to make a trim with the lace as a part of the strap.

Like this – narrow lace trims become a part of the handle and it looks beautiful.

Here is how to make it.

To make this fabric strap you need to cut out fabric piece which is the width of the strap plus 1 inch extra. You need this long strip to be wide enough to wrap neatly around the twill tape. You also need two pieces of lace slightly longer than the finished strap.

You can use twill tape inside the strap for added strength or use another fabric piece.

fabric, twill tape and the narrow lace trims

Fold and stitch the fabric over the twill tape. Place one piece of lace along each folded edge of the fabric.

You need to keep the trim inside the fold as you sew.

the trim is kept inside the fold of the fabric

Sew along both long edges of the strap, catching the lace, fabric and twill tape. Keep on sewing over the fold making sure that the trim is visible. You have to sew the other edge also the same way

It is a lovely way to turn leftover fabric and narrow lace into a custom strap for bags, pouches, garments and accessories.

Contrast straps – faux piping look

This is another decorative strap made with a contrasting fabric. You get a fabric strap with a piping look

Cut your contrast fabric a little wider than the top fabric

Sew them together along the long edge

Pull the fabric strip on the back rightside out and fold the fabric over the top fabric.

Fold the edge of the top fabric and then push the edge of contrast fabric under the fabric and stitch in place.

The fabric strap you get is one with a pretty one that looks as if you put piping in between the edge, with less work.

Though I said contrast fabric, use two different shades of the same colour for a subtle effect – I think that looks better.

Denim strap with dual tones – 2 ways

For making this strap – you need only one piece of denim. But the caveat is that you need it to have a different shade on the back. Not all denim fabric is like this. When the inside is a shade (or more) lighter, the strap looks even more decorative.

You can do the reverse and you get a different effect altogether.

My machine was feeling not so good, so the stitches look wonky and ugly. Try to maintain an equal distance from each edge so your strap looks neat and professional. If the denim is very thick some machines will anyway throw tantrums.