How to Make an Adjustable Leather Bag Strap (for a Crossbody Bag) - The Handbag Atelier

This tutorial uses 2mm (5 Oz.) vegetable tanned leather and is for a single sided strap. You can alternatively use a thicker leather or you can make a double sided strap where you glue two layers together to create a thicker strap. If you are making a thicker strap, please check that the length of the rivet post matches this thickness as the 8x8mm rivets used in this example may be too short.
Get the pattern on my Livelogue page: www.livelogue....
The length of the strap will depend on your measurements; the shorter strap is 35cm long and the longer one is typically between 80-100cm. I suggest using a tape measure or a piece of string to measure how long you want the longer strap to be.
Tools:
Awl / Box cutter / Cutting mat / Mallet (rubber/nylon) / Rotary punch / Steel ruler / Strap cutter or wing divider
Additional tools, if you want to finish the edges:
Edge beveller, edge slicker, sanding block or sand paper
Gum Tragacanth or Tokonole burnishing agent
Hardware:
2x D-rings (20mm)
2x Swivel snap hooks (20mm)
3x double cap rivets (8x8mm, or longer if you are using thicker leather) and a rivet setting tool

[@JoFrostleatherwork]

Love this video! I like to refer back when it has been a while between making a step! Thank you!

[@danaprimavera9457]

Thanks very helpful. Also thanks for the description of materials and tools used. Beautiful job!

[@darwin.m.gutierrez]

Very helpful! Thank you for sharing this! 😍🤩

[@EddieSchirmer]

fantastic visual tutorial! i am in the process of creating a bag of my own, and want to make an over the shoulder single strap, with some type of belt to secure it on the waist (to keep it form flopping about.) or, some sort of back pack shoulder straps that i can adjust as needed. im still considering either style and how to go about doing them.

[@thehandbagatelier]

Thanks for the feedback! Perhaps you could add a kind of belt loop (one or more) on the back of your bag. You could then either make a belt for it or even attach the bag to an existing belt.

[@nicoles8176]

Thank you

[@suhaagha1537]

Wonderful!

[@lmorris72]

What is the length of the 2 straps? What’s common to make a crossbody style that can also be adjusted to over the shoulder style?

[@thehandbagatelier]

I recommend taking a measuring tape and placing it across your body and then adding a bit of extra so you can adjust the strap. The shorter strap in this example is 35cm (fixed length) and the longer strap I usually make 80 to 110 cm long.

[@nicothefantastic1012]

Thanks!

[@OnderKiremitci]

great job thanks

[@sylviabrown6617]

Nice

[@reneejdesignstudio]

Did you dye this leather? How’s the Leather the same color on both sides? Or did you buy this way? I’m new to the craft.

[@thehandbagatelier]

Hi Renee - I bought the leather like this.

[@delnellerobison7101]

Where is the best place you have found to buy rivets ? Also where do you get those templates ?

[@thehandbagatelier]

Hi Delnelle, I usually buy online in the UK. You can get decent rivets on Amazon or you can buy from leathercraft stores. I make the patterns, I should have them online in the next few weeks.

[@kimberlynong7755]

Hi! May i know what length you used for the straps? Thank you!

[@thehandbagatelier]

Hi Kimberlyn! The length of the strap will depend on how low you want the bag to hang and what feels comfortable for you. I recommend measuring an existing bag that you have or using a tape measure or a piece of string to determine a suitable length. For myself I normally make the shorter piece 35cm long and the longer one between 80-110cm.

[@lbdeuce]

Language would have made this video effortlessly much much better.

[@thehandbagatelier]

Thanks for your feedback.

[@maryjanefuller1246]

Not a video for beginners and went so fast I couldn’t see your tools or even how to begin. If your going to put a ‘How To’ video up at least put a list of tools and leather used so we can stop the video to watch step by step.

[@thehandbagatelier]

Sorry to hear that you didn't find my video useful. Fortunately there are many other how-to tutorials on KZbin that might be more suitable for what you are looking for :) The tools and leather info are listed in the description.