How To Make a Camera Strap

 What do you do the night before you're leaving for a DIY Blogger conference? Well, I must confess....I was making a custom camera strap. Why, you ask?

As I was packing, it dawned on me that my camera looks like most others, and I didn't have my name, or any other identifying marks on it.

Fortunately, I had a fabric stash, and the instructions I found 

online were easy cheesy!

 My neighbor works at a furniture store, and she brought me the samples that were being discontinued....SCORE!!

Do I have plans for these?  Just wait and see...Hehe

I found DIY instructions here at Cluck.Cluck.Sew.  She made hers with 2 different fabrics, but gives the measurements if you want to use one. 

Most camera straps are similar length, so be sure to measure yours and then add 1".  My strap is about 2" wide, so cut your strip of fabric

5.5" wide X 26" long

I also cut a strip of thin batting I had 2" wide X 25" long.

First, fold the short ends of the fabric back 1/2" (wrong sides together), and sew across both ends, about 1/4" from fold.

Then, fold along the long side of fabric, right sides together, matching ends of fabric and pin in place.  Stitch 1/4" from edge.  Zigzag edges.

Turn the tube right side out...if your fabric is thick, like mine was, it may get stuck, so use a wooden dowel to help push it through.

 

(If you notice the decorative trim, you could add it now. I used 

fabric glue and pinned it in place until it was dry.

 I explain later why I had to use it.)  

I decided to add the batting so the strap would be cushy!

I put a safety pin at the end of it, thinking it would help me feel and push it through.  I also used my little wooden dowel to help shove it to the other side. It worked!!

Next, I wiggled my camera strap through there,

 using the dowel as needed.

Hmmmm, like some of my projects, I'm not always exact...and my strap cover was about 1/2" too short.  Great!

Measure twice, cut once...I gotta remember that rule!!!

I took my camera to the Haven Conference with the "too short" strap cover, and sadly, I never took it out of my purse, or hotel room. 

I had planned on taking the photography class...maybe next year!

Now that I'm home, I had to come up with a FIX.

Ahhh...decorative trim.  I went through my stash and found 2 kinds of trim that matched, so I glued some on each end with fabric glue.

Voila! Problem solved!!

Then I decided to top stitch the edges, so the strap would fit snugly and not shift or move on me.  I placed the presser foot on the edge of my fabric, then moved my needle over so it would stitch 1/8" from the edge.

I wuv it! I love the added cushion the batting provides.

Next year, I'm just gonna wear my camera around my neck!

Can't wait for Haven 2013!!!

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