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Handles are one of the most important features in a bag! In this simple and quick tutorial you’ll learn the easiest method to make corded webbing straps for bags!
Webbing straps for bags
Sewing webbing straps for bags is the easiest method ever to make corded bag handles! Seriously, you’ve got to give these a try, they’re incredibly easy and quick to make! If you always wanted to make your own corded bag handles but the idea scared you, this method for webbing bag handles is your best option! It can’t get easier than this so even the ultimate beginners can do it.
I saw a lovely canvas pillowcase with a pretty embroidery in a local shop and I simply had to have it. But it wasn’t because I wanted to add it to my home décor! No, no, my sewing brain is restless, it works 24/7! And sees sewing opportunities in every little things around. My sewing brain wanted that pillowcase to become a bag, ha! The idea of making (yet) another bag got me just too excited, so I bought the pillowcase without second thoughts. This is the bag I made with that pillowcase.
But I didn’t have enough fabric left from the pillowcase to make the handles so I thought webbing straps would look great, they would even match the color and the texture of my pillowcase.
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But plain webbing straps for bags is just not my thing and I didn’t see them working for my new bag at all! Making corded bag handles with cotton webbing sounded like a much better option to me, am I right? Corded handles look so much prettier and professional and the handles are sturdier and offer more padding. Plus webbing is pretty flexible so no creases form when the handles bend; a bonus if you are a perfectionist!
I’ve made corded bag handles before (in this post, for this gorgeous canvas bag), and while I loved making those literally from scratch, these webbing straps for bags were better! Using webbing for this project proved to be countless times easier. When using webbing there’s no cutting fabric on bias, no fraying and no tube turning is needed (which used to be such a headache for me until I discovered this trick). This project is the simplest ever!
To make these cotton webbing bag handles I used the same type of cording as in this rope bowl tutorial but any cording that fits inside your cotton webbing will do. You will also need a zipper foot and canvas needle and thread. My cording foot didn’t fit the size of this pipping so I tried to use my second zipper foot which I never got to use but unfortunately this wasn’t a good option for this project either and had too revert to my old bud. It worked like a charm!
How to sew webbing handles
Materials:
- 2 strips of webbing (mine were 30″ long and 1 1/2″ wide)
- scissors
- 2 ropes of 21″ long and 1″ in diameter (similar here)
- jeans needle
- jeans thread
- zipper foot
- tape measure
- pins
- sewing machine
Directions:
- Place one of your ropes/piping in the middle of one of the webbing strips, about 4 1/2″ from each end of the webbing strip.
- Fold the webbing over the rope and pin in place.
- Change the foot, needle and thread on your sewing machine and adjust the pressure of your presser foot accordingly.
- Start sewing as close to the edge of the webbing “sandwich” as you can, leaving the ends of the webbing hang loose as allowance for when you’ll insert the handles in a bag (assuming you’re having a bag project in mind and you’re not doing this just for practice). Sewing this step as close to the edge as possible can prove a little tricky, so sew slow and use your fingers to keep the webbing and cording in place while sewing.
- Stop sewing where the cord ends. You can glue the ends of the cord onto the inside of the webbing casing to secure them if you like to be extra cautious but in my experience the cord has stayed in place even without the glue, especially after inserting the handles into a bag project. Cotton cording is even better as it will stick to the cotton webbing a lot better than polyester cording or rope.
- That’s pretty much it! Your corded cotton webbing bag handles are done! Now go use these gems on a pretty bag!
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Thanks for these instructions with pics! Your site is so inviting because you have pics and I’m grateful!
Thanks so much for letting me know, Marie!
I have not been able to find an active link to the tutorial for sewing the corded bag handles, please advise. I have been looking for 2 days now.
Hi Doris. This tutorial here is for corded bag handles with webbing and this tutorial is for corded bag handles with canvas fabric (see page 2 for step by step)https://theseamanmom.com/how-to-make-corded-handles/
Great idea, can you dye the webbing before or after you make the handles to match the handbag color?
I haven’t dyed mine but I think best practice would be to dye webbing before turning into handles.
Brilliant idea! CraftGossip Newsletter just shared your link today.
Thanks so much!
Jan
Aww, thanks so much, Jan!
Im thinking about using a plastic tube instead of rope.but a bit afraid to even start.is it the same procedure as the rope?thanks
It’s the same method but riskier since your needle might touch the tube & break.