How to handle – Technique No. 1 the folded technique

Since this last post about how to handle all those handles, I though it is time for some techniques. I won’t discuss all techniques of making handles because I haven’t tried them myself (yet). But I will try to explain, the ones I have done, as clearly as possible. I will make this into a series because it is too much to put in one post. The technique which will be discussed in this series is the folded technique, the flat strap technique and the rolled handle technique. Today’s topic is a short introduction followed by the folded technique.

Flat or rolled or Folded

First of all, we start with the difference between all these types of techniques: the rolled ones are with a core while the flat or the folded ones overall don’t have a core to strengthen the handle. So depending on your project you will have to take into account how strong your handle needs to be. Sometimes also the folded ones have an inner core to overcome any stretch.

But why are these properties, like shape and strength, of a handle important? The shape will define if it is comfortable to carry. If it isn’t comfortable it is likely that you or your client will not use the bag as regularly as intend. So the most important message is to try it yourself, feel and judge.

1. Folded technique

The first technique is the folded strap. When you use thin leather like calf or goat it is important to know the properties of the stretch of these types of leather when making handles. These handles will overall be attached to a light weighted bag but still need to be strong. The folded strap technique is the techniques to use in this case since you will fold the leather multiple times.

a. Strap before stitching b. Strap after stitch. From The Leatherworking Handbook by Valerie Michael

How to:

• First, determine the width of our desired strap.
• Multiply this by 4 to find your final width you need to cut.
• Mark the middle of the strap on de flesh side
• Glue the whole flesh side optionally and fold the outer sides towards the middle (leave 1 mm on each side of the middle line).
• Glue again the ‘wrong’ side of the leather
• Fold the strap double like in the figure below
• The last step is to mark the stitching line and sew it all togeather.

If you did it correctly you will not have any flesh edges (except for the top and the bottom of the strap of course).