A wrist strap is a fine detail to add to just about any bag that is small enough to carry in your hand. And you can often just put one in to an existing pattern. But how do you sew it without a visible join? And what about hardware? How big should it be?

The ‘without a visible join’ bit is a bit of trickery that I think you will love! It is so easy and so elegant but it really makes the strap look awesome. Like plastic surgery – there are scars but they are not visible. Same thing here. The join is cleverly hidden and in plain sight.

And hardware? Well for those of you who have been following me for a while will know that I LOVE bag hardware, Nothing like it to make your bags look really professional. When you make my style of wrist strap, you get to play with a rivet AND and swivel clip AND a D ring! I cannot possibly add more fun than that!

So why do we need a wrist strap? Well I am a fan of hands free just about anything and if it is not already hands free, it can be made that way with the addition of a simple strap. It is extra security for your bag and it means that if you need to do something but cannot put your bag safely down anywhere, you can just let it dangle. Security and convenience. Winning at life!

I am going to be referencing my new pattern the Bakersfield Clutch just to give some real world relevance to this tute but to be honest, you can add this detail to many bags. The Bakersfield has a 3/4″ strap and it is just big enough to fit comfortably over the wrist, It is detachable too which is also nice sometimes. It means that the choice is yours.

So what do we need to make a wrist strap? The pattern will tell you the specifics of size needed and fabric but in case you are winging it and just adding the strap I will put some measurements in here too.

• the strap itself which for a 3/4″ strap will be 3″ wide and 13 1/2″ long
• an additional piece 3″ wide x 2″ long for the tab.
• a swivel clip to fit a 3/4″ strap
• a 3/4″ D ring (or rectangle ring. Either one is great although for a slightly wider strap like this one, I might lean towards the rectangle ring).
• a rivet
• your usual sewing needs including the right tools for attaching the hardware.

By the way, spend as much as you can afford on the hardware, It has a security component about it and you don’t want cheap rubbish which can break. Also, cheaper ‘gold’ can rub off which also looks a bit nasty.

Okay, the fist thing that you might notice about the list is that there is no interfacing needed. Normally I am the interfacing queen but for a strap made like this, you don’t need it. It would be too stiff and bulky. So the fist thing to do is to fold the strap in half length-ways and iron a crease.

Now bring the two raw outer edges to that centre crease and press again so that you have three creases. At the moment, we are basically making straight binding.

I like to fold everything up at this point to make sure that It is nice and even – much easier to correct now.

Right, ready for the abracadabra bit…. thread the swivel clip on.

Now take the two ends, unfold it and, making sure that the strap is not twisted, sew the seam…

And press the seam open…

You now have a loop and the swivel clip is in it. It can look a bit of a mess

Fold the strap using the creases. I actually like to add a small amount of glue at this point rather than pins or even clips (although clips would be the better of the choices).

Sewing time! Topstitch along both long sides of the strap, just moving the clip along and out of the way as you sew.

Finally (for this bit) find the join and fold it over the swivel clip. Putting it here, as I mentioned, in plain sight, is a great trick because people won’t notice it and you won’t have bulky bits along the strap.

Pin, clip or glue and make a hole for the rivet

Add the rivet…

By putting the join where we have it, you cannot feel or see it along the strap. Right, let’s make the tab. Fold it exactly the same way as the strap and press. Topstitch it along both sides.

When you have done this, fold it over and include the D or rectangle ring in it. Secure it at the bottom with a stitch or two.

Make a hole in this bit too

Then add a rivet. This sort of attention to detail is for looks but also to stop everything moving about and pulling.

The tab goes onto the side of the bag (the pattern will tell you exactly where). Attach it before you put the front and back of the bag together so that it goes into the seam like this…

The swivel clip attaches on to the ring and the the tab will be included in the side seam of the bag, usually on the left hand side.

That is actually all there is to it! This is another little bag making detail that is handy to know.

Do take a look at my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/listing/841730787/bakersfield-clutch?ref=listings_manager_grid for the Bakersfield Clutch and my other bag patterns. See you next time!

Hugs

Debbie xx