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Home » Sewing » Sewing Bags

How To Make An Adjustable Strap - For Any Bag!

Aug 2, 2020

A bag that has an adjustable strap is so much better than those with a fixed-length one!

See how to make an adjustable strap for any bag. Do you want your bag to change into a crossbody bag like this one in a moment? Or shorten the strap to sling it over your shoulder?

You can do it all with this diy adjustable strap tutorial.

how to make adjustable strap

This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support. For more about learning to sew, check out these tutorials:

  • How To Make Your Bag Straps Look Pretty!
  • All my Best Bag Sewing Tips
  • How To Add Easy Zipper Tabs (These Will Make All Your Bags Look Cute!)
  • All About Interfacing (probably No 1 thing in bags!)

Love sewing bags? Let's make it even better with this easy-to-follow step by step tutorial for how to make an adjustable strap for any bag.  Two ways!

Not all bags come with an adjustable strap, but it's such a handy thing to have on a bag! Imagine the many times would like to wear your bag across the body, to keep your hands free! And other days, when you'd like it to keep it simple and short over one shoulder. With an adjustable strap, just change the length, so it suits all your needs!

Let me show you how easy it is, and I bet you'll always want to make all your bag straps adjustable! Here's the how-to.

How To Make An Adjustable Strap

An adjustable strap is not hard to make and instantly gives your bag a more professional look. You can make one that is adjustable but cannot be removed from a bag, like in my TEYA tote pattern, and a detachable adjustable strap, like in my AIDEN Phone Purse and the ENYA Wallet Bag (see photo below!), and a gazillion of other patterns out there.

detachable strap for bag
The ENYA Wallet Bag pattern comes With a Detachable Bag Strap - Get Pattern HERE.

What differs is the hardware, but not the process of sewing, so let me show you the hardware you need first:

Hardware and supplies to Make a non-detachable adjustable Bag Strap

You'll Need:

How to make adjustable straps for bags
  • bag hardware: 2 rectangular rings (width 1 ¼" = 32 mm)  and  1 strap slider adjuster (width 1 ¼" = 32 mm)
  • a long strip of fabric, at least 53 inch long (I prefer 57")
  • fusible woven interfacing

Hardware  To Make A DETACHABLE And Adjustable Bag Strap

how to make adjustable strap
  • bag hardware: 2 lobster clasps, also called swivel clips  and 1 strap slider adjuster
  • like above, a long strip of fabric, at least 53 inch long and fusible woven interfacing
  • in addition to above, you'll also need two D-rings, or O-rings or rectangular pieces to add to the bag as anchors, and to which the lobster clasps will attach.

How to Make an Adjustable Bag Strap -

Non-Detachable Version

This part of the tutorial is meant for the strap width of 1 ¼ inch (32 mm). If you want another width, adjust accordingly. 

FABRIC CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS

You'll need these pieces:

OUTER FABRIC:
- cut a long stripe at least 53" long, 5" wide (= 134.5 cm x 12.70 cm)
- cut two pieces for side strap tabs: each 2 ¾" long, 5" wide (= 7 cm x 12.70 cm)

INTERFACING:
- use stiff, fusible woven interfacing
- cut a long stripe: 52" long, 2.5" wide (= 132 cm x 6.3 cm)
- cut two pieces for side strap tabs: each 2 ¾" long, 2.5" wide (= 7 cm x 6.3 cm)

ALTERNATIVELY, you can use ready-made cotton webbing: length 60", width 1 ¼" will be the same as the fabric measurements above (for my metric-countries friends, that would be 150cm x 32 mm)

Sewing Instructions:

These instructions are split into 4 parts, to make it easier for you:
A) Make the SIDE STRAP TABS
B) Make The LONG STRAP, and 
C) Attach the SLIDER
D) ATTACH ADJUSTABLE STRAP TO THE BAG

how to make an adjustable bag strap

1) First, let's apply interfacing:

- to the middle of the entire long outer fabric stripe
- to the middle of the side strap tabs (mind the direction of the interfacing pieces! – see the image)

2) MAKE SIDE STRAP TABS

There are many ways a bag strap can attach to the bag. While bag patterns will have a top strap anchors, side strap anchors, or sewn in or sewn onto a bag, I need to choose just one way here (or risk this tutorial to become really really long haha!) So let's do the sewn-on, side strap tabs.

For each side strap piece, do this:

adjustable bag strap

- First press both unlined edges towards the center and then
- Fold the tab in half along the center. Press again.

adjustable bag strap

These are the two pressed stripe tabs. You'll finish one short end on each of these.
Unfold the center fold and re-fold it inside-out – see the image:

adjustable bag strap

Stitch over the short end, using the ⅜" (=1 cm) seam allowance.

adjustable bag strap

Trim the corners to reduce bulk and turn right side out and press. Now you have this:

adjustable bag strap

Repeat on ONE short end of the OTHER stripe tab.

adjustable strap tutorial

Fold the stripe tab through the rectangle ring, leaving the unfinished edge hidden behind the finished edge. (See the image?)

adjustable strap tutorial

I usually baste stitch to keep the fold in place.

Now it's time to attach the side strap tab to the side of a bag. You'll want to attach the tab so the top part with the hardware is either at the bag level or a bit higher.

adjustable strap tutorial

Get ready for bulk. Stitch slowly, pivot at corners.

I sometimes only stitch a rectangle when there is a lot of layers to sew through. The seam is strong enough, but if you prefer, you can do it the 'envelope style' (see below)

Repeat with the other tab: attach the second one to the other side of the bag side seam.

B)MAKE THE LONG STRAP

how to make adjustable straps

•First press both unlined edges towards the center and then
•fold the strap in half along the center. Press again.

how to make adjustable straps

You should have a long narrow stripe - here, it's 1.25″ (=32mm) wide.

interfaced fabric folded three times

Now we'll finish the short ends: unfold the center fold and re-fold it inside-out – see the image.
Stitch over the short end, using the ⅜" (=1 cm) seam allowance.

folded end of a fabric strap shown with a short seam across the end

Repeat on the other short end of the bag strap.

topstitched edges of a black bag strap

Turn both short ends right-side-out. Then topstitch first along the open (and pressed!) long edge, all the way to the end of the long stripe. Repeat the topstitching on the other long side.

a finished black bag strap shown on a white surface

This is the finished strap. Now you'll add a few pieces of hardware to make it adjustable.

C) Attach the SLIDER

Attach the metal slider adjuster to one end of the strap:

a finished bag strap on the left and a bag slider piece on the right

Place the slider adjuster 'right' (front) side down, and the strap should be placed with the outer side facing down, too.

strap slider piece slided onto a black bag strap

Thread the end of the strap around the middle bar of the tri-glider.

how to make an adjustable bag strap

Stitch in place, using the 'envelope-style' seam. Or you can simply stitch a rectangle to secure the end of the strap.

See the next image to learn how to form the 'envelope-formed' seam.

diy adjustable strap

How to stitch:   -Start at the green dot -Follow the steps 1-7 -End at the red dot.

D) ATTACH ADJUSTABLE STRAP TO THE BAG

You've already got the metal slider adjuster on one end of the strap. Place the strap so that the fabric fold is visible from the top of the stripe.

How to make adjustable strap

(1)Now, grab the other, free end of the strap, and guid it through one side strap tab on the bag.
(2)Guide it through the slider.
(3)Feed it through the other rectangular tab on the other side of the bag, from the bottom.

diy adjustable strap

Your free end of the strap now just needs to be attached to the side tab on the bag. Fold it ...

…and stitch in place.

diy adjustable strap

How to stitch:

How to make adjustable strap
  • Start at the GREEN dot
  • Follow the steps 1-7
  • End at the RED dot.

How to Make DETACHABLE Bag Straps

Now let me show you the part required to make detachable bag straps. It's just a little different from the one above, and it's a great option to have when you want your bag to double as a clutch. Just clip or unclip the strap - two bags in one!

As mentioned, these parts of the tutorial are the same, so I will not repeat them: fabric cutting, making the side strap tabs (see A above), making the long strap (see B above) and attaching the slider (see C above)

The only part that is different is the 'D' section:
D) ATTACH ADJUSTABLE STRAP TO THE BAG

So let me show you how to attach the lobster clasps to the finished long strap. This is the point where you've finished sewing your long strap and have attached the triglider (strap slider). 

how to make detachable bag strap

Please note that this photo shows a narrower strap, but the principle is the same: just use the width for your desired bag strap dimensions.

Now, the process is similar like before when attaching the strap to the rectangular - here, the lobster clasps will take their place, and you won't need to have them sewn into your bag.

Slide on the first Swivel Clasp

Once the adjuster is sewn onto one strap end, take the other, free end of the strap and guide it through the first swivel clasp:

how to make detachable bag strap

Then guide the strap through the adjuster/slider - see the next 2 images: 

sewing detachable bag strap
sewing adjustable bag strap

And finally, feed the remaining strap end through the other swivel clasp: slide the swivel clasp ring on the strap and fold 1” (2.5 cm) back over the ring.

Sew a rectangle over the strap end to secure. Bury the threads on your new bag strap when done:

attach lobster clasp

Now your detachable bag strap is ready to use on any bag you want. Congrats! You've just learnt how to make adjustable straps for any bag you want, and that two ways. let me know which one you prefer!

If you need ideas, here are two of my customer's Teya Crossbody Bags with non-detachable adjustable straps - aren't they cute:

crossbody bag with diy adjustable strap
Get the TEYA Pattern HERE.

And this is the Aiden Phone Pouch, with a detachable and adjustable strap.

phone purse pattern with adjustable straps
Get the AIDEN Phone Purse Pattern HERE.

There are limitless options, you can even make a few different straps to use interchangeably, on all the bags you love to cary around.

Several Bag Wearing Options With A Detachable Strap

You can use a single strap on different anchors:

The Nelto bag pattern has 3 wearing options, so you can clip the detachable bag strap onto different parts of the bag - see the features of the unique Nelto crossbody purse pattern - or check out all the different bag versions here.

Save For Later, so you keep the tutorial at hand for whenever you need it:

how to make adjustable straps for bags

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Or …check out the popular Enya Wallet Bag in our shop - use it as a crossbody, clutch, or regular wallet, it has everything a big bag has!

buy wallet bag pattern
My Best Wallet Bag! - Get Enya Pattern HERE.
wallet bag interior pockets
Inside the ENYA Wallet Bag

How To Make An Adjustable Strap - For Any Bag!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lisa G :-)

    October 27, 2020 at 12:23 am

    Thanks for this great tutorial! I just used it to make an adjustable bag for a post-mastectomy pillow-purse for a friend.

    Reply
  2. L. Moriarty

    September 19, 2020 at 4:45 pm

    Thanks so much for this tutorial! It was very easy to follow. I didn't have an adjuster, so I used two D rings and it works beautifully!

    Reply
    • Damjana

      September 19, 2020 at 8:46 pm

      Oh I always love seeing the two-D rings hack, good job! 🙂 Thank you for visiting my tutorial. xoxo, Damjana

      Reply

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