How to Make an Adjustable Bag Strap (Step-by-Step Tutorial)

If you’re making the Churnet Belle Crossbody Bag — or any bag with a crossbody strap — knowing how to create an adjustable strap is an essential skill.

The good news is, it’s much simpler than it looks.

In this post, I’ll guide you through the process step by step, and you can follow along with my video tutorial below.

🎥 Watch the full tutorial

✂️ What you’ll need

To make an adjustable strap, you’ll need:

  • Webbing
  • 1 slider buckle
  • 2 rectangle rings (or D-rings)

If you're making the Churnet Belle, these are all included in the bag making kit, or available separately in the shop.

📏 Choosing your strap length

Cut your webbing to your desired length.

As a guide, I am 5’8” and find that 1.5 metres of webbing works well for a comfortable crossbody strap.

🧵 Step-by-step instructions

1. Attach the webbing to the first rectangle ring
Insert one end of the webbing through the left rectangle ring (when looking at the bag), feeding it from left to right.

To prevent fraying:

  • Fold the end under to hide the raw edge, or
  • If using synthetic webbing (such as polypropylene), carefully seal the edge with a lighter (take care)

Clip in place.

2. Thread the webbing through the slider
Take the long length of webbing and pass it over the centre bar of the slider buckle, then pull it through.

3. Attach the second rectangle ring
Insert the webbing through the second rectangle ring, this time feeding it from right to left.

4. Create the adjustable section
Now take the end of the webbing and pass it up and over the centre bar of the slider, feeding it underneath the webbing from the first pass.

This step can feel a little fiddly.

Tip: Gently pull the webbing from the first pass upwards — this makes it much easier to see the centre bar and feed the strap through.

5. Finish and secure the strap
As before, either fold the raw end under or carefully seal the edge if using synthetic webbing.

Clip the loose end to the lower section of the strap. This creates your adjustable strap.

Finally, stitch in place to secure everything neatly.

💛 A little note

This is exactly the method used in the Churnet Belle Crossbody Bag pattern, and once you’ve done it once, it quickly becomes second nature.

🧰 Want everything ready to go?

If you’re making the Churnet Belle, I’ve created a bag making kit with everything you need — including webbing, hardware, and interfacing.

🎁 New to the pattern?

You can download the Churnet Belle Crossbody Bag pattern completely free.

👉 [Download the free pattern here]

💬 I’d love to see your makes

If you give this a go, I’d love to see your finished bag — feel free to share your makes with me, and you might be featured in my newsletter to inspire other makers.

 

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