How to make a non-turn strap

Look Ma, no turning!
Look Ma, no turning!
What’s worse than making a thin tube and then having to turn it right-side out? Uh … nothing. Here is a painless, turn-free way to make a nice, neat strap for a handbag or tote. A full tutorial for the bag shown can be found here.

Supplies

Annie sweet potato/natural - ANESWL
Annie sweet potato/natural - ANESWL

Interfacing
Interfacing - I like to use Craft Fuse
I use Craft Fuse interfacing, which is nice and stiff. The pattern piece for this strap is a rectangle measuring 25″ x 4″.

The process

Press in half
Press in half
Fold your interfaced strap piece in half longwise and press.

NOTE: Depending on what you’re using your strap for, you might not want a raw edge on one or both ends. If that’s the case, before you do this step, press 1/4″ under on each short end so that the ends are encased.

Raw ends in
Raw ends in
Take the raw ends and bring them to the center crease you just made. Press.

In half again
In half again
With raw edges tucked inside, fold again on the original crease and pin.

Top stitch
Top stitch
Top stitch along the open edge, about 1/8″ from edge. Then top stitch at the same distance down the other side, where the fold is. This makes it look pretty.

Attach to bag
Attach to bag
Attach to your bag. Measure how far in from the sides of the bag you’d like your straps, mark and then pin the straps on. Whatever side you want on the outside when you’re using the bag should go face down here. Extend the raw ends of the strap a wee bit from the top edge of the bag. Baste in place. Here is the rest of the tutorial for this pleated handbag.