How to Make an Adjustable Strap

Hi Sewing Friends! Today I'm sharing how to make an adjustable strap that can be added to any bag. One thing I love about making bags is that you can customize them to fit your needs and style. Make a strap to add a pop of color to a store bought bag or add a strap to a bag you are making.

Choosing your Adjustable Strap Material

Adjustable straps can be made from just about any material as long as it is paired with the appropriate thickness of stabilizer. Sturdy fabrics like canvas or twill may not need any stabilizer at all while lighter weight fabrics like quilting cotton do need stabilizer to prevent them from stretching or bunching with the weight of the bag. You can also just use webbing instead of fabric.

red domino dot bag with adjustable strap — *Strap made of Nylon Webbing*

Choose a heavier weight interfacing for a heavier bag to help your handle hold up a little longer. Add a strip of felt or batting to the center if you want your strap a little padded.

The interfacings I typically use:

medium weight fusible stabilizer such as Pellon SF101 or Plantational
felt
fusible fleece

For this Tutorial I chose to use Quilting cotton with a SF101 stabilizer

Choosing the Adjustable Strap Size

The width of your adjustable strap can range from 1/2" to 3" and you can make it as long as you need. The strap made in this tutorial adjusts from 20 inches to 38 inches

For the length, use a measuring tape to measure your body. Start from your hip and go across your body, around your neck, and back down to the same hip. Add about 6 1/2 inches to that measurement and you will have your custom cutting length

For the width, consider the weight and size of the bag the strap will be used on. A smaller strap width is suitable for a light weight bag. Multiply your desired finished width by 4 to get your cutting width. For example The strap in this tutorial finishes at 1 inch wide so I cut the width of the fabric at 4 inches wide. Make sure the width of the hardware matches the finished width of the strap.

Adjustable Strap Tutorial

Supplies Needed

1/8 - 1/4 yd fabric
1-2 inch strip of stabilizer
2 swivel clasps
1 slide buckle

Cutting Instructions

From the fabric cut a strip 4" x 44" inches (or width of fabric)
From the fusible interfacing cut a strip 2" x 44". If your interfacing doesn't come this long, cut enough 2" strips to add up to about 44"

Sewing Instructions

1. Take the strip of fabric and cut off the selvage edges on each end.

2. Fuse the stabilizer to one side of the strip of fabric according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Fuse stabilizer - how to make an adjustable strap

3. Fold the fabric strip in half lengthwise with wrong sides together. Press to form a crease down the center. Open the strip up and press the raw edges toward the center crease.

4. Refold the strip on the center crease line and press. All the long raw edges should be tucked on the inside. Pin the strip so the folds stay in place.

5. Topstitch along each long side about 1/8” away from the edge. I usually increase the stitch length to 3.5-4.0mm when topstitching to make it look a little nicer.

6. Slide as swivel clasp on one end of the strap and hold it about 1 1/2 inches away from the raw edge. Fold the raw under about 1/2 inch and tuck it to the inside. Stitch across the folded end about 1/8" away from the folded edge. Backstitch a few times across the line.

7. Thread a slide buckle onto the opposite end. Go up through through one side and down another. Leave a loop open above the center bar. Then slide the 2nd swivel clasp on the end.

8. Take the end again and thread it up through the slide buckle to the inside of the part of the strap that is already threaded, then down and out the other side. Make sure the strap is not twisted.