Tutorial: Adjustable Strap with Swivel Clip

An adjustable strap is great, but what happens when you want to add an adjustable strap to a bag that has swivel clips on both ends? Today I wanted to show you how! I used this method in my upcoming pattern for the Tudor Bag. I made this version in delicious Tula Pink ‘Elizabeth’ fabrics.

Supplies Needed

• Strap Fabric (I cut mine at 4″ x the width of fabric for a 1″ wide finished strap – if you would like to end up with a 1-1/2″ wide finished strap, cut your fabric instead 6″ x width of fabric)  *
• Fusible medium-weight interfacing (I use Pellon SF-101 Shape Flex fusible woven interfacing), cut to the same size as the strap. If you are going to lengthen the strap as below, make sure that you lengthen the strap as directed below *first*, and use the fabric piece to cut your interfacing.
• Metal rectangle slide (either 1″ wide or 1-1/2″ wide)
• Two swivel clips (with opening of either 1″ wide or 1-1/2″ wide)

* The strap in the photo above is all the way extended. If you are tall or to accommodate a cross-body carry across a large bust (neither of which I am), you may want to extend the length of your strap. To do this, I would suggest cutting your strap fabric plus an extra piece (either 4″ x 15″ or 6″ x 15″). Sew the short piece to the width-of-fabric piece, right sides together at one short end, and press the seam open. This will give you a longer strap.

Let’s get started!

1. Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of your strap fabric using manufacturer instructions.

2. Press the Strap in half along the long edge, wrong sides together, so that both edges meet. Press. Fold the top of the fabric down to the crease. Open out again, then fold the other edge in to meet the crease and press. Fold the entire piece along the first fold and press. You should have created a piece that looks like double-fold tape.

3. Topstitch along both long edges, 1/8” from each edge.

4. Make a mark on one end of the Strap only, that is 1/2” away from the short end and again 3” away from the short end. Press at those marks.

5. Thread that same end of the Strap over and under the middle bar in your metal slider.

6. Nestle the middle bar of the metal slider at that 3” pressed edge. The 1/2” pressed edge should remain folded under and pinned to the Strap. Sew a little rectangle on that pressed edge to enclose the raw edges of the strap.

7. Slide one swivel clip onto the Strap facedown.

8. With the opposite end of the Strap, thread it under and over the middle bar in your metal slider.

9. Make a mark on the loose end of the Strap that is 1/2” away from the short end, and again 2” away from the short end. Press at those marks.

10. Slide the last swivel clip onto that end of the Strap. The swivel clip should rest at that 2” pressed edge, and the 1/2” pressed edge should remain folded under and pinned to the Strap. Sew a little rectangle on that pressed edge to enclose the raw edges of the Strap. Put your finished Strap to the side for now.

This is what your finished adjustable strap with swivel clip should look like.

I hope this was helpful! Now your clipped strap will adjust!