I love making faux leather bags. I love that faux leather is available in lots of colors.
Usually you need a special foot to stitch this material, but I found that my walking foot works fine. When topstitching, I have to help a little the material to move under the needle. I stitch with longer stitches than usual (I set my machine at 3). I don’t get perfect stitches every time, but usually they look good.
Because faux leather can’t be creased with an iron, here is an easy way to stitch straps for your bags.
I made my straps in two colors. The inside (the side that touches your shoulder) is a little wider than the outside.
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| More pictures of the bag here |
First, choose the desired width for your straps. Then add 3/4” and cut one strip of this width and in the desired length. The other strip (in the other color) is cut 1/4” narrower than the first one.
So here is how I cut mine:
- taupe strip – 2 1/4”
- blue strip – 2”
- final width of the strap – about 1 1/2”
Check on which direction the faux leather stretches less and cut the strips along that edge.
Draw a line 3/8” away from both edges.
Fold the piece on the line and stitch. Fold as you stitch, you don’t need pins (yes, I use pins, they don’t leave holes in my faux leather- test yours first).
Stitch first one edge then the other.
Stitch close to the edge (not the fold).
If you need stronger straps (for travel bags, as example), draw a single line on the center,
then fold the edges toward the center. In this case, double the desired width of the straps and cut strips of this width.
Here are my strips.
Place the narrow strip over the other, keeping it centered.
First stitch on the center then secure the edges, stitching close to the edges of the blue strip.
I stitched with leather needles (Jeans needles work fine too); quality thread is desired too.
Ready to be attached to a new bag!
I love the faux leather bags I already made – more in the future.
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Want to learn more?
Download the free ebook below.
Enjoy your new bags,
Lindas as suas bolsas!!! Parabéns, sempre, pois seus trabalhos são perfeitos.
Beijos.
Thanks for the tutorial! I haven't worked with faux leather yet, but I may do some handles now.
Love the tutorial! I have been following you for a long time now (I even bought your book within weeks of it being released).
I don't know if you follow "the bitchy stitcher" but she shared about a parasite website that is ripping content from quilt bloggers and posting it as their own on their site. As you are one of my favourite bloggers I checked, and most of your posts are on that site. http://thebitchystitcher.blogspot.com/ has more details.
Thanks for showing us how you do the strap. Lots of nice bags you have made 🙂
Well done! I love the 2 tone look.
Kelly – Some people have no couth. I wonder how many people that site is ripping off.
LOVE your blog! My "all" time goal is to make bags with faux leather! I bought your zip pouch – love the idea of the middle pouch! I love your bag patterns too but, they would be super perfect if you would add a recessed zipper to the pattern – well, it's a must-have for me since my bag seems to go airborne alot?? And… thanks so much for the interfacing and quilting lesson!
I love all your patterns, but especially like the colorwheel spiral.
Ótima dica, obrigada!
Beijos
Thank you for the tutorial. I'm going to be making faux leather straps for the first time and now I'm less intimidated!