Strap Length

[Magic Flying BootsParticipant]

Hiya!

Is it ok to modify the strap length, to make them shoulder bags?

Also, is it ok to use polypropylene webbing for the straps?

Thanks

Jen

[beattieKeymaster]

Hi Jen, yes, do make modifications if you like. We find that shoulder bags with long straps are quite popular. I also sometimes make bags with extra short handles – popular with the less tall. For children I find slightly smaller bags are good – about 15″ wide works well, and correspondingly shorter. We try to make the best use of the material and if that means that they are a bit varied that’s just fine! I find “Beach bag” shaped bags that are wider than they are deep and with long handles are popular too – just go with the flow.

If you want some variation, I have a few really GIANT bags that I take when buying loo rolls or kitchen rolls (or big Lego sets for Christmas presents), or on holidays to contain laundry. As long as it is made out of reused or repurposed fabric, has a morsbags label on it, is used instead of a plastic bag and is given away free (or used by the maker!) it counts as a morsbag.

Re the polypropylene tape you ask about, we’ve used it, but find it hard to find wide enough. It’s very hard and tends to cut into the hands or shoulders of the bag user unless you find a wide one, and it tends to break sewing machine needles. Himself (who also makes morsbags) comments that you don’t want it to be too thick (as opposed to wide…) as it is more likely to break needles when it is thick and is hard to bend upwards into position when sewing across the handle so it points up out of the bag.
On the plus side, it does save sewing up lots of handles and is almost indestructible. Also comes in lots of jolly colours.

[Crafty OneParticipant]

I tried that polypropylene stuff and it’s way too stiff (although it’s perfect for the bucket bag style of bag suitable for knitting/crocheting project bags), but there is a product called ‘herringbone tape’ that comes in various widths, cotton or poly and is much thinner and easily folded up for the Morsbags. Buy it wholesale in 100 metre rolls. I use the black one since it goes with everything and it has increased my bag making speed by heaps.

[beattieKeymaster]

Thanks for giving the name of the tape that does work Sandra. I made a bag yesterday (day 2 of Sewvember) that has black tape handles but it wasn’t the polypropylene stuff, but a more pliable cotton-like tape about 1″ wide. I think my stash of it is used up now. You’re right, it makes bag production miles quicker as you don’t have to fold and sew handles.

[Crafty OneParticipant]

I made my first hundred or so bags with the hand made handles, but love the tape. It’s about $2/m in the shops, but wholesale around 60c/m – big difference!

[WhissybagsParticipant]

Hi
Crafty Foxes here – surely we shouldn’t be using polypropylene – Morsbags are meant to be washed and this will be leaking microbeads into the water system.

[Magic Flying BootsParticipant]

I’m using cotton webbing stuff now – much softer and nicer to use

[beattieKeymaster]

That’s a great result, Magic Flying Boots! 🙂 I’m glad you asked and got answers that helped.

[Author]

Posts