A TOTE-ally easy way to help the Earth

Step 2 Prepare your straps

If you're attaching purchased straps or using ribbon you can skip this step, otherwise:

img 1 Cut the fabric that you picked for the straps in half lengthwise so that you have two 4-5 inch wide strips.

img 2 Next, with the outside facing down, fold the long edges of the outside edges in so that they meet in the center. Iron this flat.

Fold the strap in half lengthwise. You should now have a strap with four layers of fabric 1-3 inches wide (depending on what you started with)

img 3 Finally, stitch along length of the straps on the edge of the fabric with the folded in sides, holding together the open side.

img 4 This is a quick illustration of cutting and attaching straps made from the same fabric as your main bag. (The darker areas show the fabric being used for straps)

Comments

[kerri9494]

The strips should be 4"-5" wide, but how long should they be?

[LauPre]

Oh, I'm sorry if it wasn't clear. The length of the strap is the same as the original width of the fabric (if you're cutting your straps from the same fabric as the main bag, that is.) If you're using different fabric for the straps than for the main bag you'll want it to be about as long as the long side of the main bag fabric. Of course you can always make them longer, but I don't recommend going any shorter. Since fabric widths vary (generally they're 32" to 36", but can be shorter or longer) it will depend on the fabric you're using. I hope this is clear. I've uploaded another image to illustrate the cutting for the straps, assuming that you're using a single length of fabric. (it's image 4 in step two. It looks like the one below, but bigger) Let me know if you have any other questions, and thanks for looking!