There are many different types of bag handles to choose from that give the bag you're making a character of it's own. Well, these handles are wonderful but they are also expensive ranging anywhere from a couple of dollars (for the unfinished rattan round handles) to over $8.00 for the fancier handles made of finished wood or leather, or acrylic.
In making my bags I have found it fun (and cheap! $$$) to make my own handles using the unfinished rattan handles at about $2.99 per pair:
To make the handles special for each bag I either use a single crochet onto the handle as I did for my Toasty FBB found HERE.
OR
I cover the handles with material that matches the lining I'm using for the bag as I did below:
Below is a brief tutorial on how to cover the rattan round handles found at Joann's...
(It's easy-peasy!)
1. Separate the handle where the joint is. You'll have to use a flat head screw driver or something similar to loosen it first because it is glued together. There is also a nail driven into the handle which you'll pull out of ONE side of the handle:
(Be careful not to poke yourself with the nail, it may try to spring back into the hole it came out of.)
2. Cut a strip of material that matches your lining for each handle (2): Make the strip 2 1/8" wide and approximately 3 feet long. (really!) If you don't like the bunched up look and want it smoother than that you can always cut your strip of material shorter. I just rolled the handle down the strip of material twice to figure how long to make it bunchy.
3. Sew the strip lengthwise, right sides together, using the presser foot as a guide for your seam allowance (guide the edge of the material along the edge of the presser foot so your seam will be approximately 1/4" wide) . If your seam allowance is too big it will be hard to get the material over the handle.
4. Attach a large safety pin to one end of the sewn strip and push the safety pin inside your strip to turn it right side out. Just keep pushing and gathering and pushing and gathering until you reach the end. It's a long tedious process but it's worth the results you get:
This photo shows what it looks like when you've got the strip half way turned out. It does get easier from here. Don't try to push too much fabric down at once - it'll get all bunched up and be a real pain to push down.
(If you want me to show photos of this process in more detail please leave your request in comments below. ;-)
5. Now that you have your strip turned right side out, just slide it over the side of the handle that does not have the nail in it. (Again, be careful of that nail.)
(Sliding material over side of handle without nail)
6. Now that the entire strip is bunched up on the handle you want to turn in the ends so there aren't any raw edges showing and take a few stitches in it just to keep it securely in place. This is the part of the handle that would go inside the handle flap of the bag.
That's it, no biggie, easy-peasy right? Makes a great looking handle for your FBB or any other bag you make...
This is a bag I just finished that was ordered from me by a friend on Ravelry. If you'd like to order a bag like this, please contact me HERE Each bag is unique and if you'd like to see more like this check out my other posts or Anitalite on Ravelry.com.
