Handles

Handles are so important in bag making as they define how comfortably the bag will be to carry. They have to gently distribute the weight on your hand or shoulder and be suitable for your application.

I spend quite some time testing different handles and I am very happy with the ones I offer here. They are comfortable to grab and carry, very strong and durable and even pretty to look at.

Have a look below at the general design and offered types (slide for examples). You can also check out the bag gallery.

If you need anything else, just let me know.

Top view of handbag, L — Grab handle & cross-body strap

How to handle?

Shape it!

Almost all handles are simply very long rectangles that are attached at the top of the bag to allow you to carry it. I love making them out of fabric as it allows me to match the color and dimensions and also gives me full control over their texture and stiffness.

Straps: These handles are made from twill fabric, interfacing and heavy stitching. They soft and sturdy, have a nice grip and keep their shape (default for: handbags and shoppers)
Loops: These handles are slender and soft loops to help you carry the pouch and/or attach it somewhere (default for: pouches)

Stretch it!

Tabs, grab handles, shoulder straps, cross-body straps… All are basically the same strap, just with a different width and length. I offer a wide range it length (2-150 cm) to cover most preferences and requirements. To make things easier for you, I will automatically select the suitable width (1.5-4 cm) of the strap.

Tabs: (short) 2 cm long straps; for attaching the actual strap
Grab-handle: (short) 20-30 cm long straps; for carrying the bag in your hand
Shoulder strap: (medium) 50-80 cm long straps; for carrying the bag on you shoulder, close to your body
Cross-body strap: (long) 90-150 cm long straps; for wearing the strap across your body, keeping your hands free
Loops: (short) 4-36 cm long loops; for carrying pouches

I strongly recommend to measure the length of your favorite strap(s) to ensure selecting the right one.

Attach it!

Handles can be attached to the bag body in several ways. But don’t worry, all handles have their default position and this section is for information only.

Sides: (default for straps) the single strap is attached on either side. For zipper closures curves over the top corners and thus their strap positions are lower
Top: (grab-handle & shopper handles) the straps are added to the top edges of the bag at the back (and front)
Front/back: (two tapered shoulder strap) the straps are attached directly onto the bag body, father away from the opening (not possible for flap closures)

Upgrade it!

Do you want more flexibility? No problem! Currently, I offer three upgrades. All upgrades are quite time-consuming to make, resulting in a higher price but they are worth the effort. See here for pictures.

Adjustable: (cross-body strap) add a slider to adjust the length of the strap to every situation, ranging from shoulder strap to tight and comfortable cross-body strap
Removable: (cross-body strap) add hooks to completely remove the strap when not in use, can also be used if you want to switch straps
Tapered: (shoulder-strap) add two slender yet comfortable tapered shoulder straps instead of a single straight one attached to the bag’s side

If wanted, I can use ready-made straps for adjustable and/or removable straps to reduce the costs. Please be aware though that I have a very limited number of bough straps

My recommendation

I always recommend to look at your current bags and consider what you like about then and what bothers you. Which handles do you usually use? How long are they? Do you like their length? This will make the decision far easier.

Personally, I have a fixed setup of straps I use for all my handbags and I love it because it covers all situations.

Grab-handle: For the million of times you pick up your bag or hang it up in a bathroom; the handle is so convenient that after adding the first to a toiletry bag it became obligatory to all my handbags as well
Adjustable cross-body strap: At its shortest length it is a shoulder strap for close quarters, at medium length a tight strap for biking and at full length a comfortable cross-body strap

Short handles

Short handles make it very easy to quickly grab your bag, hang it up somewhere, attach something to the bag and help to hold the bag in place when you open the main zipper. The types in this category have quite different applications.

Grab-handle

This short handle is sewn into the top back seam and stiff enough to always stay upright, ready for your hand to grab and lift.

Tabs for straps

Tabs are small loops with metal D-rings. I use them to attach adjustable and/or removable straps but I offer them separately as well in case you already have the perfect strap.

Loops for pouch

Pouches usually don’t carry a lot of weight but it can be quite practical to add straps to them. Loops are slender, soft straps that attached to one side of the pouch.

Medium long handles

Medium long straps are long enough to sit comfortably on your shoulder and provide sufficient room for your elbow when slip through. They are great whenever you want to keep the bag close to your side.

Please ensure the correct length by measuring a strap that fits well for you as their length cannot be adjusted.

Shoulder strap

This is very simple strap, sewn directly into the side panels and is made entirely out of fabric.

Two tapered straps

This fancy version of the shoulder strap consists of two handles sewn directly onto the bag body (front & back). The straps are tapered for elegance and comfort.

Straps for Shopper

These soft yet sturdy straps are great for shopper bags even when carrying very heavy loads. The length is short enough to carry even the largest shopper in your hand but also long enough to easily lift the straps onto your shoulder.

Long handles

Long straps are meant to be long enough to comfortably wind diagonally around your body. This way, the bag sits on your back and you have your hand free. Upgraded versions of the cross-body strap can be adjusted in length and/or removed.

Please ensure the correct length by measuring a strap that fits well for you as their length cannot be adjusted unless stated otherwise.

Cross-body strap

This is very simple strap, sewn directly into the side panels and is made entirely out of fabric.

Adjustable strap

This cross-body strap has been fitted with tabs and a metal adjuster to allow to to quickly adapt the strap length to each situation. At its full length, it fits across the body and at it shortest length it is perfect to carry on your shoulder. Its also great for biking as it can be pulled tight to secure the bag onto your back.

Length: max 90-150 cm (20 cm steps; can be shortened to 50-80 cm, respectively)
Width: 2, 3 or 4 cm depending on bag size
Price: € 32.20 to € 37.80 (bought strap: €10.00 to € 11.00)
Great for handbags
This is an upgraded cross-body strap

Removable strap

This cross-body strap has tabs and metal hooks to easily remove the strap entirely. This is suitable e.g. if you have two shoulder straps or want to switch between different straps. It should be noted that this variant has metal on metal and thus can make a sound while moving.

Length: 90-150 cm (20 cm steps)
Width: 2, 3 or 4 cm depending on bag size
Price: € 33.60 to € 39.20 (bought strap: € 12.40 to € 13.20)
Great for handbags
This is an upgraded cross-body strap
This strap cannot be adjusted (ensure correct length)

Removable & adjustable strap

Do you want to have all the options? Long, short, adjustable, removable? Then this is the strap for you! You can adjust the length to fit onto your shoulder to across your body and also remove it whenever it is not needed.

Length: max 90-150 cm (20 cm steps; can be shortened to 50-80 cm, respectively)
Width: 2, 3 or 4 cm depending on bag size
Price: € 35.40 to € 39.40 (bought strap: 13.20 to € 14.20)
Great for handbags
This is an upgraded cross-body strap