Luggage Straps

I made matching t-shirts, bought Disney lanyards, got some trading pins. What else would make our Disney World vacation magical? Maybe something with Mickey and Minnie Mouse? That's what I was pondering one day at Joann's while I waited to have some fabric cut. I started talking to the lady next to me and she said she was making  luggage straps to give away as shower favors. She was going to embroider each guest's name onto the straps for a personalized gift. I don't have an embroidery machine, but her idea still got me thinking.

If you don't know what luggage straps are, let me explain. They are like belts for your suitcase. You clip it around your bag and then when you are searching for your black suitcase on a carousel of similar black suitcases at the airport, yours is easy to spot because it has a brightly colored strap around it. Here's how to make an adjustable (between approximately 50-100 inches) luggage strap in less than 15 minutes. Seriously.

Materials

• quick release buckle
• strap adjuster
• 3 yards of 1 inch wide strapping or heavy ribbon

Directions

One note before we begin. I used a heavy duty ribbon that was pre-cut to 3 yards and finished on each end so it wouldn't fray. If your strapping or ribbon is not finished and could fray, make sure to turn the raw end under at least an inch so you can stitch it between the pieces of strapping or ribbon.

Start by laying out your buckle and strap adjuster with the right sides up. The female part of the buckle goes on the left, the strap adjuster in the middle, and the male part of the buckle on the right

You are going to start with the strap adjuster.

With your strap face down, pull the strap up on the right side of the center bar then down on the left side of the center bar. Pull the strap so about an inch comes over the adjuster. Pin the strap and stitch it as close to the adjuster as possible. Remove the pins.

For added strength you can secure the strap end by stitching a large square with an X through it.

Next, pull the strap up through the female side of the buckle.

No more sewing, yet.

Now you are going to pull the strap up through the left side of the adjuster and down through the right side of the adjuster.

Here's what it should look like so far.

The only piece not connected is the male part of the buckle.

Push the strap down through the far right slit in the male part of the buckle.

Again, pin about an inch of the strap under, secure with stitching, and remove the pins.

When you travel, secure your luggage strap tightly around your suitcase, under the handles, and you will be sure to spot your bag quickly when you arrive in your holiday destination.