TUTORIAL: Corded Fabric Handles

Have you ever seen those beautiful matching corded handles...you know, the ones that are made from the same fabric as the bag they are attached to?  The ones that don't "smush" in your hand when you pick up the bag?  The ones that feel like they can carry a good amount of weight around?  I know you've seen them.  If you've ever picked up a Vera Bradley handbag, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.  Anyway, I am in the process of designing a laptop case (Yes, that will be a tutorial too!) and I knew I wanted those corded handles on it....the problem was, I couldn't find a "how-to" anywhere on the web....so guess what I did....yup, figured it out and am sharing the info with you!

What You Need:

• Two strips of fabric that are 4" wide x your desired length (I made mine 18")
• Two strips of fusible fleece the same length x 3 1/2" wide
• Two pieces of cording the length of your fabric/fleece strips (I used a simple clothesline purchased in my local Rite Aid!)
• Fabric or Craft Glue (I used Tacky Glue)

(Directions after the jump)

FYI: These handles are an optional part of my Quilted Laptop Case Tutorial!

Links to that tutorial:
Part 1
Part 2

STEP 1

Fuse your fusible fleece to the WRONG side of your fabric strips.  Be sure to center them...you should have about 1/4" of fabric on either side of the fleece.

STEP 2

Fold and pin each strip in half lengthwise and pin in place.  

Sew down the length of the open side using 1/4" seam allowance creating an inside-out tube.

Using a turn tool, or large safety pin, turn the tube right side out.  This may take a little time....

STEP 3

Flatten out the tube with the seam line in the center.  Iron flat.

Measure and mark 2.5" from each raw edge.  This will be the part of the handle that lays flat and gets sewn to the bag.

STEP 4

Lay the cording down the center of the handle, right on the seam line.

 Bring the long edges together, surrounding the cord and pin, starting and ending at the marks you just made.  Let the excess cord hang out - you'll clip this later.

Sew the edges together using a 1/4" seam allowance, starting and stopping at the marks at each end.  The cord will be secured in the center of the handle.

STEP 5

Now we need to secure the cord ends from slipping around later.

Lift up the end of the cord and dab some glue at the spot where the handle is sewn together.  

 Push the cord into that glue spot and let it dry.

Once dry, clip the excess cord.

Repeat for the remaining ends.

FINISHED!

(Ignore the excess cord hanging out here...I didn't get a picture of the handles AFTER I clipped the ends...oops!)

And there you have it....a set of handles that are sturdy, pretty and soft made to match your project.

I will show you how to attach these to your bag in my upcoming laptop case tutorial.

Enjoy!