I have been asked by a lot of people to post a tutorial on how I do the straps when I make the singlet grocery bag.
I did not design the singlet bag - queenofdiy made the amazing tutorial but I just had issues all around with the strap so I (with the help of my friend Susan who put the huge finishing touch on how I do them now perfectly each time) redid only the strap part of the tutorial..
For the rest of the tutorial - go here...
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=177482.0Okay - cut out your pieces... check
lay right sides together outer/inner, outer/inner - check
sew around but do not stop before you get to the end - just keep on going!!!
gratuitous picture of my sewing machine foot - yeah, I like to use the F foot. I like to see where I'm going and where I've been
See? It'll be okay - just sew right off the edge of the straps.... don't look back - just do it!!
Okay... turn right side out... check
iron.... check...
put right sides together - doesn't matter which way - lining to lining or outer to outer - just match up either way...
Now. Here is the fun part... stick your hand up through one of the straps and grab the three layers under your fingers - I took a picture of a safety pinned section - those three layers are what I am going to pull through the strap...
(yes it is kind of like putting your hand up someone's skirt
)
And you know what I wasn't going to post this picture since my nail polish is looking really really sad in this one... moreso than the others. I only do my nails once or twice a week - I am due...
But see here - hand shoved up through the strap (No it will not fit all the way through so don't even try it - your fingertips can make it through though, grab ahold of those three layers as shown by the safety pin - heck, if you have to - safety pin them first and do it til you get the swing of it...) Then pull them back on down through the strap and out - smooth it all out and move on...
Line the edges up all nice and tidy and sew through all 4 layers...
Sweet, aye? Now what you ask - I have this strap that is all sorts of inside out and whatnot - well stick your hand down there (uh, from the top now, so now you are putting your hand down someone's shirt
) and pull it all back up - all right side out and looking oh so fabulous and perfect - no wiggly seams because this part didn't quite match up with this part - or nothing...
It's like pulling a rabbit out of a hat! Whoo hooo!
So now you ask what do I do now?
Well move on with your tutorial (uh, after you do the other strap...
Put your right sides together and sew down the length of the lining to the outer fabric on both sides... yaddah yaddah looking great - still laughing about the putting your hand up someone's skirt... but you're loving your bag...
flip it all around... do your topstitching because it makes it look oh so finished and tidy...
do your awesome french seam that queenofdiy has us all hooked on now..
And done. One gorgeous bag with a no stress strap!!
And I get to show off my kickarse macro lens for my digital camera - not really thrilled about the rounded off edges but hey, it's all good. I can take a close up of a dime and it looks fantastic...!
I hope this tutorial on the way I do the straps for the singlet styled bags is helpful and it is understood. If I can clear it up let me know - I can definitely whip up another (I am sure I have more cut out somewhere but I can't find the floor of my craft room - or get the shelves.. or the closet... and the sewing machine is in the kitchen because I can't move around in there *sigh* but that is for another day - I am sure I can whip up another bag and take more pictures if need be if it isn't crystal..
Thanks for reading my long winded version of how I do the straps for the singlet styled bags..
