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How to Make Jean Purse Straps

A purse is just a bag without a strap. When you make your own purses out of denim or jean fabric you need to know how to make a strap to complete the full construction process. It is important that you use the correct needle for denim fabrics on your sewing machine while working with the material. Beginners may also find it easier to use more lightweight denims for this project as they are easier to control while machine stitching.

Things You'll Need

Tape measure
Poster board
Pencil
Scissors
Pushpins
Lightweight denim jean fabric
Iron
Threaded sewing machine

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length you want the purse strap to come down from the shoulder. Double this measurement and add 2 inches for seam allowance to obtain your full length measurement for the strap.
- 2
  Measure the width you want the purse strap to be across the shoulder. Double this measurement and add 1/2 inch for seam allowance to obtain your full width measurement for the strap.
- 3
  Draw a rectangular pattern on poster board according to the full length and width measurements. Cut the pattern out and pin it to the jean fabric. Cut around the pattern piece and remove the pins from the poster board. Set the poster board pattern aside.
- 4
  Lay the denim fabric right side up with the short sides of the rectangle at the top and bottom and the long sides on the left and right.
- 5
  Pull the top right corner of the fabric over the top left corner to fold the fabric in half. Press the fold line with an iron.
- 6
  Fold under 1/4 inch of the left side of the rectangle. Press the fold line with an iron. Fold the denim fabric under another 1/4 inch and machine stitch down the fold to hold it in place.
- 7
  Pull the top edge of the fabric through the tube shaped sleeve you have created for the denim strap to turn the fabric right side out.
- 8
  Push 1/2 inch of the top edge of the fabric down into the strap "sleeve" and stitch a line across the top edge. Push 1/2 inch of the bottom edge of the fabric up into strap sleeve 1/2 inch. Machine stitch a line across the bottom edge.

Sewing