Sunday, June 1, 2014

Bag Handles Tutorial

Bag handles tutorial?  I know my sister, Linda, will have some choice comment for this post!  If you've ever dreaded turning the 1X30" tube inside out to create a handle, read on!  Here are two easy methods with no turning of pesky tubes!

This morning I finished two diaper bags for the Children's Aid Society charity work that my guild does.


I used two different methods for the handles for these bags.  I thought I'd share how I did my own method, as well as how those in the pattern for the bags were constructed.  Sorry, I only had this brainwave as I was finishing topstitching my handles!  Hence the first few pictures are using a short piece as a demo.

Method 1
1.  Cut a 30" strip of fabric that is 3" wide.


2.  Turn under the long edges 1/4" and press.

3.  Fold the strip in half lengthwise and press.

Opened out so you can see the fold down the centre
4.  Cut a 30" piece of 1" wide batting.  Yay!  Knew you saved those skinny pieces from the sides, tops and bottoms of your quilts for some reason!!  Place it inside the folded strap.
Bad example; I didn't have enough of my batting strip left!  It should be the same length as your handle.
5.  Fold the strap in half, encasing the binding.  Topstitch along both edges, and then do a gentle curve down the centre of the strap!
All done, ready to be basted to your bag!
This is the point where I thought aha!  I should write a tutorial for two methods for making bag handles!

Method 2

1.  Cut a strip that is 30" long by 5" wide.
2.  Press it in half lengthwise.

3.  Press the long edges in so they meet at the centre fold.

This is what it now looks like, opened out before the next step:

4.  Fold in half lengthwise once again, so the raw edges are encased.

 5.  Topstitch down both long edges.  Your strap is ready to be basted to your bag!

Personally, I prefer the piece of batting inside the handles, as it gives them a little more cushion when the bag is over my shoulder.  Either method, these make great straps, with no turning of a long tube!
 

4 comments:

  1. Okay...... okay........holding breath....holding....... ooof, ......nope. Can't do it. Just gotta comment; was there ever any doubt??
    Bag handles? What ARE those? Love handles after age 50?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Excellent tutorials! I never even considered going about straps in either of these methods. But, I will certainly be using one or the other from now on. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Excellent tutorials! I never even considered going about straps in either of these methods. But, I will certainly be using one or the other from now on. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I use your second method, and put in batting a little less than one inch. Just enough to add some padding. So much easier than turning out!!!

    ReplyDelete

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