I'M HERE TO INSPIRE AND BE INSPIRED!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Twisted Cord Purse Handle Tutorial

 As Promised, here is my twisted cord handle tutorial:


You are going to need about 3 yards of 12/32 upholstery cording. You can get this at Joann's and Hobby Lobby. Also, you need to cut 2 a 45" pieces of fabric on the bias. I cut mine 2and 1/8 inches.
Cut your 3 yards of cording in half. Make sure to tape the raw ends. 
Fold your bias strip right sides together(don't iron it, just fold) and sew with a 1/2" seam.
Cut off most of your seam allowance. I used pinking shears.
put a safety pin on one of your ends to get ready to turn.

I know this picture is blurry, but you get the idea.
I bought this handy little tool at Joann's in the notions section to pull cording through.
Stick it down the middle of the top of your cording and pull the little ring down to secure.
Insert the cording into your fabric tube that you made.
 You are going to need to push and pull the fabric to get it all the way on the cording. It gets slippery with the cording tool. if you noticed, it has a small loop at the top. you can stick a pin through the loop(just feel for it)to help keep the fabric from slipping back.

Once you get both of your cording all the way made, slip them BOTH around the ring and fold in half. Secure with a rubber band.
Cut 2 of you ends evenly and wrap thread around so they will be easier to insert onto the other ends.The other two ends need to be cut evenly as well. Also, you will need to peel back the fabric a bit and cut a chunk of the inner cording out-about 2X's as much as you wrapped the other 2 ends. NOTE: you can save this step for later if you are worried about the length of your strap.

When you cut the cording out, it should look something like this.
 Begin to twist your strap. It will naturally want to twist. Try to keep the pieces going in the same flow all the way down.

Put another rubber band on the end. If you haven't trimmed and wrapped and clipped the cord ends yet, do it NOW.
Fold in your 2 pieces that you cut a chunk of cording out of. At this point, if you don't have O rings that open, you are going to have to put them on and sew the pieces around them. I suggest using spring open o rings. I bought mine here. That way, you won't have to deal with trying to stitch around them and can it them on later.
Put your cord wrapped ends into the folded in ends. I already got my needle started in one end at this point. Then just stitch it shut.
At this point, you should have something like this. you can take the rings off for the next step as well.
I used jewelry wire 20 gauge.I like that they have colors! :)
bend your wire down so you can cover it as you wrap.

keep wrapping leaving just enough room for your ring. once all the way down, cut off your rubber band.
Now feed the other end of the wire behind the wrapped wire. If it's tight and hard to feed through, you can use a big blunt upholstery needle. That's what i ended up doing on one end that was very tight! (I wish I would have gotten a picture.)Cut down your wire ends and hide as good as you can!
You're DONE!

If you have any questions, just ask. 




Danielle

5 comments:

  1. Thanks! I especially like the way you used the jewelry wire on the ends - it looks very professional! And thanks for the link to order the rings. ~Jeanne

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  2. Oh wow, very cool, I also like the jewelry wire at the end, nice addition.

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  3. Fantastic handle! Would you be able/willing to share the pattern for this purse? I love the shape.

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    1. I'm thinking about doing a pattern. I need some research in this area first!;)

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  4. The jewellery wire is a great way to finish those ends, good idea!

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