How to cover worn purse handles
The purse strap is one of the crucial things that make it convenient and fashionable for us to use. When your purse starts to wear, especially the belt, you will be worried about buying another one or dispose it cause it won’t be as beautiful as before. But you don’t need to purchase or dispose of it cause you can cover the worn strap and make it as attractive as before. Here is how to cover worn purse handles.
Take your purse and lay it out flat on a table. You’ll need to measure the width of each handle, but be sure not to forget about the length of the strap between them. Once you have those measurements, cut two pieces of fabric about six inches longer than those measurements (so if your strap measures 6 inches across, cut your fabric 12 inches long). Lay one piece of fabric over the top of another with the right sides together and sew around all four sides using an inch-and-a-half seam allowance.
Then turn right side out through one side seam only and press flat with an iron. Now take one end of your new handle cover by pinching together its two layers (which will also pinch together any loose threads from sewing), then fold up half an inch onto itself and press again so that you have made a crease which will help keep everything aligned when making stitches later on. Cut off any excess material so that only an inch or two hangs below the edge of your purse. Sew along
How to reinforce purse straps
You can learn how to reinforce purse straps with these simple steps:
- Cut out a piece of leather or canvas that will fit around the strap where it meets the purse body. Of course, the size depends on your strap’s thickness, so measure carefully before cutting.
- Sew the leather or canvas piece around the top side of your strap with solid stitches, making sure that there are no gaps in which water can leak through later (this will cause mould growth).
- Don’t sew it too tight! You want some wiggle room so that water can drain out quickly without damaging your stitching when you wash the purse later on down the road.
How do you fix a worn leather purse handle?
If you have a worn leather purse handle, there are a few ways to fix it.
The initial thing you can do is use a leather conditioner. You want to find one specifically designed for cleaning and conditioning leather items. Spray the conditioner onto the purse handle and rub it in with your fingers until it’s fully absorbed into the leather. Then wipe away any excess using a soft cloth or paper towel.
Another option is to use saddle soap, which you can find at most hardware stores or saddle shops. The main ingredient in saddle soap is tallow, which helps make the leather pliable and keeps it from drying out over time. If you choose this option, you’ll also want to use a water-based conditioner afterwards so that it doesn’t dry out too quickly.
How do I restore my purse hardware?
If your purse is losing its shine or it’s time to replace the hardware, you may be wondering how to restore it.
First, you’ll need to decide what kind of metal your hardware is made of. If it’s brass, silver, gold, or nickel-plated, you can use a polish containing tartar or lemon juice cream. If your purse has aluminium or stainless steel hardware, you’ll need an abrasive polish like Brasso or Simichrome Polish.
To start the process, clean off any dirt or grime on the surface of the metal by wiping with a damp cloth and then dry completely with a soft cloth. If there are still spots on the metal after cleaning, use either cream of tartar or lemon juice diluted with water in a ratio of 1:4 (one part cream of tartar to four parts water).
Then rub this solution over the cleaned surface until all streaks are gone and wipe off any excess solution from around the edges with a clean cloth before drying again with another soft cloth afterward.
Finally, be sure that all surfaces are free from dust before applying any polish. They’ll have maximum effectiveness when buffing them up after using these solutions first.
How to cover worn purse handles
- measure the length of the handle you want to cover. Then, cut two pieces of fabric that are at least one inch longer than the measurement.
- Fold one piece in half and press it with an iron. Fold the other piece in half and press it with an iron.
- Place one piece over the other so that their folded edges touch. Sew along both sides and across the bottom of this seam using a straight stitch. This will form your purse handle cover.
- Turn your purse inside, then slip the cover over your old handle. Make sure it fits snugly around both sides of the original handle. This will help keep it in place and provide extra padding for comfort.
How do you fix a frayed leather purse strap?
To fix a frayed leather purse strap, you’ll need a sewing machine, thread in the same color as your purse (or a contrasting one if you want to make it look more intentional), needle and thimble, scissors, and some time.
- cut off the frayed end of the strap as close to the seam as possible.
- Then, use a seam ripper or sharp knife (sharp enough to puncture through leather), open up the seam, and cut out any loose threads that might be causing a problem for you.
- Sew over any areas where there are holes or tears in your strap; if you’re worried about being able to see through them before they’re sewn over, try applying some clear nail polish first so that any stitches will come out looking like part of the design rather than something added on later.
How do you wrap a purse strap?
First, make sure you have the strap in the correct position on your shoulder. If it’s too far forward or back, it could slip off. If it’s too loose or tight, you’ll have trouble getting it on and off.
Next, take one end of the strap and loop it through the other end’s hole (or buckle). Then take that same end and bring it back through its hole (or buckle) to have a little loop hanging from the front of your bag. (The length can vary depending on whether or not you want to use a purse chain.)
Finally, fold over this loop and secure it with a safety pin or other small fastener to keep everything tight.
How to repair coach purse handle?
Here’s how to fix a Coach purse handle:
- Unscrew the handles from your purse. If they are stuck, use a hammer to loosen them. Be careful not to destroy the paint or leather of your bag.
- Remove the old handle with a utility knife or other sharp object. Be careful not to cut yourself. You may need to sew through some of the stitching holding it together.
- Cut two pieces of leather that are long enough to wrap around both sides of your new handle (about 4 inches longer than the original). Place one bit on top of the other so that they overlap by at least an inch in each direction; this will help strengthen the seam later on when you sew it together (see Step 5).
- Use an awl or other sharp object to punch holes through both leather pieces needed for sewing; these will be used later when you sew them together (see Step 5).
- Thread one end through one side and pull tight so that all four layers are touching each other; then knot tightly.
How to cover worn leather purse handle
First, you’ll need to buy some super glue. Then, follow these steps:
- Cut a piece of duct tape that’s about twice as wide as the width of your purse handle (if it’s not already).
- Stick one end down on the top of the purse handle, making sure that it overlaps with itself by half its length.
- Press it down so that there are no wrinkles or creases in the tape. Then stick another piece of tape over this first piece to overlap by half their length again (in other words: trim off any excess before sticking another piece on top).
- Repeat this until you have covered all sides of the handle with tape you may need more than one roll depending on how big your purse is and how much leftover tape from previous rolls.
How to repair bag handle
- Take the broken handle off your bag.
- Cut a strip of fabric about 1/4 inch wide and 1 inch longer than the length of your handle.
- sew the fabric onto the inside of the loop end of your strap with a running stitch.
- Sew a second line of stitching, 1/5 inch from the first, to reinforce it and create a channel for threading through the holes on either side of your old handle.
How to cover purse handles
When you’re ready to cover your purse handles, the first thing you’ll need is a roll of clear vinyl. You can discover this at most craft stores or even in the fabric section of some department stores. Once you have your vinyl, it’s just a matter of cutting it to size and securing it to your handles.
To start, measure the width of your purse handle from end to end and then add about 3 inches on each side. This will allow for enough overlap so that the vinyl doesn’t slip off when carrying your purse around. Next, cut two pieces from this new measurement.
Carefully wrap one piece around the handle and secure it with double-sided tape or glue (depending on what kind of materials are used on your purse). Repeat for the other handle. That’s it! Now go out and show off those pretty handles.
How to replace purse handles
Replacing purse handles is a relatively simple process that you can do yourself.
First, remove the old handle by using a screwdriver to pry it off the strap of your purse. If you have trouble removing the old handle, use tweezers or pliers to pull it out.
Then, slide on your new handle over the strap of your purse and snap it into place.
If you are unsure which type of handle to buy, measure the length of your bag’s strap and then compare that measurement to the measurements listed on each pack of replacement handles.
Recommended post: How to stop bag straps from slipping
How to repair vinyl purse handles
If your vinyl purse starts to get worn out or damaged, you can fix it yourself by following these steps:
- wash the area with soap and water.
- Cut a piece of vinyl to fit over the damaged area. Make sure it’s large enough to cover all rough edges and doesn’t overlap with other bag parts.
- Apply glue to the back of the vinyl piece and place it over top of the damaged area. Allow time for it to dry totally before using it again.
How much does it cost to fix a leather purse strap
This depends on a few factors: where you go to get the work done and what kind of leather you’re working with. The good news is that some places will be pretty cheap and others where it’ll be more expensive.
If you go to a local tailor or seamstress, they’ll probably charge anywhere from $10-$20 per hour, which isn’t bad if they’re doing something simple like replacing a zipper or adding buttons. However, their hourly rate will go up accordingly if they have to do more extensive work (like replacing a purse strap).
But suppose you want something more professionally done, like having someone who specializes in leather craftsmanship do their thing. In that case, you can expect prices closer to $50-$100 per hour for basic repairs that require only minor threading or fitting new parts onto existing pieces (like a new strap).
Conclusion
How to cover worn purse handles. Be aware that purse handles are one of its most used features. Therefore, they usually show signs of wear earliest. The best way to cover worn grips is to use the same vinyl you used on the interior of your bag. You can discuss with a publisher if you want a specific color or if you can have some pieces of vinyl left over from a previous job for free. Otherwise, you can purchase rolls in an office supply store like Office Depot or Staples.
Note: The only way to get an exact match is to buy new ones. Which gives you a chance to ditch that old one and find your perfect handbag.