My Easy 7 Step Process for Making a Tote Bag Strap (Guide)
While making a tote bag, I’ve always paid special attention to the straps because it decides how well I’ll be able to carry it. With weak straps, I can’t carry anything heavy and it won’t provide comfort to my shoulders.
For the past few years, I’ve made numerous straps for my totes and I’ve enjoyed doing it because it tests my creativity. There are various ways to make the strap but today, I’ll discuss an easy way to do it in just a couple of minutes.
Before I explain how to do it, I would like to discuss one important thing.
Best materials for tote bag straps
1. Nylon Webbing
If you want a tough handle for your totes, this could be the right choice for you. It has a polished look and is capable of handling heavy loads and resists wear and tear. It can provide you a peace of mind without stressing about the load.
2. Polypropylene Webbing
It is known for being the all-rounder in this category as it is affordable, sturdy and comes in a variety of colors. It is coloured during the manufacturing process hence, it retains its vibrant color for a long time. These qualities make it an excellent choice for tote bags, backpacks and more.
3. Cotton Webbing
It is the soft and most comfortable choice among all options, as it has a natural touch to the skin. It is my go-to choice for bags and purses that I carry via my shoulder. You can simply get it under $20 for a decent length and it comes with a variety of sizes, thickness and patterns.
For beginners, this is what I would recommend because it is easy to use and holds the bag really well for a long time.
4. Polyester Webbing
For a modern and sleek look, you can try the polyester webbing. Its smooth texture can make even a simple tote bag look premium. Compared to other materials, it provides moderate comfort and gives more preference to its outlook. Usually I don’t use it because I prefer comfort over the looks.
How do I make straps for my tote bags?
Step 1: Gather supplies
Here’s what you’ll need:
1. The right fabric length
2. An iron.
3. An ironing board.
4. A measuring tape & Gauge.
Step 2: Measure the fabric
1. Width: Always have 4x the width of actual size you want the strap to ensure you have the right thickness. For example, for the width of 1.5-inches, you must have at least 6-inch wide fabric.
2. Height: There are few ways to select the right height for the strap.
Method 1: Select the height based where you want to lay the bag
Simply take a yarn, cotton webbing or even a measuring tape and calculate the height where you want to lay the bag. Some people may want it to lay near the armpits whereas some others want to have it near the hips. This is an important decision while making a bag strap.
I like to lay my bags near my hips so I always calculate the height based on this.
Once you have selected the height and width, get the exact size of fabric for both straps of the bag.
Method 2: Calculate the height of your favorite bag
Just pick any of your favorite tote bags from your collection and measure its height using the measuring tape by laying it down. Note it down somewhere once you are done.
Step 3: Iron the ½ inch on the wrong side
Measure ½ inch on the wrong side, fold it and press it nice and smooth. These are going to be short ends of the strap. Do it for all 4 ends of the strap.
Step 4: Fold & iron from the wrong side
Lay down the fabric on the wrong side and fold it half. Now, iron it properly and repeat the same step for the other half as well.
Step 5: Open the wrong side and press it again
Open the wrong side of the strap, fold its right side in half and place it in the centre mark. Now, press it again on both handles.
Step 6: Add the Stabilizer
For a proper structure, strength and stability, we need to add the fusible interfacing. Open both straps, place it and then press them again. You can go with both woven and non-woven materials, just make sure it doesn’t add the bulk.
Many people find this step optional but I like to have a good stabilizer for my bag straps.
Step 6: Fold the fabric & give it a final iron
Fold both handles of the bag in half and press it for the last time for a nice and firm shape.
Step 7: Stitch the fabrics
Stitch all 4 parts of each strap using the machine and your tote bag strap is ready to use.
FAQs
1. What material is commonly used for bag handle straps?
The most common ones are; nylon webbing, polypropylene webbing, cotton webbing and polyester webbing. For beginners, the cotton one provides both comfort and grip.
2. How to make your own tote bag straps?
To make your straps, get the right amount of fabric, measure it, iron the wrong side, fold it and properly do the stitches.
3. How wide should tote bag straps be?
For a secure grip, it is recommended to go with anywhere between 1-1.5 inches wide straps.
4. What is a normal size for a tote bag?
A regular bag would be 14 inches in width and 15 inches in height.
5. What are the different types of bag straps?
Some of the most popular ones are; wrist straps, shoulder straps, crossbody straps, adjustable straps and chain straps.
