First off, I just have to say thank you! Your emails and comments in regards to my camera strap cover “show and tell” post were amazing. I absolutely love hearing from you guys. And because so many of you asked for it, here is a tutorial on how to make your very own, Gathered Camera Strap Cover. Make one for yourself, for a friend, or make multiple to coordinate with every outfit, or how about one for each season or holiday……shoot, the options are endless!
Gathered Camera Strap Cover Tutorial
Supplies:
Two coordinating fabrics (1 for main body and 1 for ruffle)
Fusible fleece
Trim (ribbon, woven trim, ect.)
Sewing machine
Thread
Iron
Ironing board
Directions:
Gather all of your supplies. This camera strap cover will fit a standard DSLR camera strap.
Cut the main strips for your camera strap.
-Cut 2 strips 2.75″ x 27″ – this will be the main body of the camera strap cover
-Cut 2 strips 3″ x 33″ – these two strips will be sewn together to make your ruffle
Cut your fusible fleece – you will need one piece 2.75″ x 27″. Fusible fleece is great for adding extra body or padding to any of your sewing projects. You can usually find fusible fleece in the notions section of your local sewing supply store near the fusible interfacing.
Place your two ruffle strips of fabric, right-sides together and sew.
Sew both strips together along the 3″ end (1/4″ seam allowance).
Press open your seam. This will make your long ruffle strip which is now approximately 3″ x 65.5″.
Next apply your fusible fleece to one of the main body pieces of fabric. Apply according to package directions. You will iron the fleece to the wrong-side of the fabric (the side without the pattern).
Press with your iron on both sides. This is what your fabric will look like after you have applied your fleece.
Next, set your sewing machine to the longest stitch length (on my machine it is 5.0). Stitch down the center of your long ruffle strip – DO NOT back-stitch at the beginning OR the end of the strip – I repeat, DO NOT back-stitch. If you back-stitch you will not be able to gather your fabric to make the ruffle. By setting your machine on the longest stitch length this will begin to ruffle the fabric.
This is what your long strip of fabric will look like after you have run your long (gathering) stitch down the center. See how it has begun to look like a ruffle? Well, we need to ruffle it even more!
If you look closely you will notice that there are two threads at the end of your strip. You will need to pull the bobbin thread (which is the thread on the bottom) in order the gather your fabric.
Do you see how my finger is on the bottom of the two threads? This is the bobbin thread. Pull this thread to gather your fabric. There is one at the beginning of the strip and one at the end of the strip. Pull both and slide the fabric along the thread to make the ruffle 27″ long.
You need the ruffle to be 27″ long to fit perfectly along the top, main body, strip of fabric.
Place your ruffle on top of the main body strip of fabric and pin down the center (this is the piece WITHOUT the fleece). The edges of the ruffle may be a little wider than the main body fabric, but that’s ok.
Here is what the ruffle looks like after you have pinned it down the center onto the main body strip of fabric.
Next, press your ruffle on both sides with a hot iron. I highly recommend a steam iron.
This is what the ruffle looks like after it has been pressed.
Now we are going to baste the ruffle in place. Basically we just want to do a little stitching to hold the ruffle in place. So set your stitch length to 3.5 and baste into place (1/8″ seam allowance). Sew down both sides of the strip of fabric.
Now that we have secured our ruffle in place it is time for the trim. You can use any trim you like. On my last post, I used a woven, vintage trim, however, this time I decided to use some grosgrain ribbon layered with a thin satin ribbon (it’s always fun to change things up). But use whatever coordinates with your fabric.
If you recall from my piping tutorial, I talked about Wonder Tape. Well, here I am using it again – yes, Wonder Tape is WONDER-ful!! Run your tape down the center of your trim and tape into place. If you don’t have Wonder-Tape, just pin in place.
Tape your trim straight down the center of the ruffle covering the center stitching.
Stitch your trim into place. Stitch as close to the edge as possible with coordinating thread. Wonder-Tape is amazing at holding trim in place. You can find it in the notions section of your sewing supply store.
I decided to double-layer my trim.
I taped my satin ribbon into place down the center of the grosgrain ribbon and stitched it into place.
Next trim off any ruffle that is wider than the main-body strip of fabric. We cut the ruffle strip fabric a little wider just to make sure it would reach the edge of the main body fabric after being ruffled. But now we want everything to line up for the next step.
Place the ruffle fabric on top of the main body fabric (that has the fusible fleece) – right-sides together.
Stitch down one-side – 1/4″ seam allowance.
Here are your two strips sewn together on one side.
Press open the seam. I used my serger to clean up the edge (and because this was for a customer). However, feel free to leave this edge raw.
Fold over both ends 3/4″, press and pin in place.
Sew two rows of stitching. First, sew with a 5/8″ seam allowance and then move over and sew a 1/4″ seam allowance. Do this on both ends. This makes a nice finished look.
At this point, if you plan on using your own labels, stitch them onto the side with the fusible fleece.
Pin the other side (fabric right-sides together) and stitch closed (1/4″ seam allowance).
This is what the other side will look like after you have stitched it closed.
Trim off any extra fabric and fleece. Cut fairly close to the seam, but be careful not to cut through the stitching.
Turn your fabric strap cover right-side out. This will take some time and effort, but trust me, it can be done – just keep working it.
After you have turned it right-side out, press to finish and your gathered camera strap cover is complete!
Now slide your DSLR camera strap into the cover. Again, you may have to work it a little to get in in there, but you want it to be snug so it doesn’t slide around.
I have had several of you ask me where I purchase my woven clothing labels. I purchase them from Fancy Weaver on Etsy. They do a fabulous job and are very reasonably priced for a text only label. They do take 3-4 weeks to arrive after your order is placed, so just be aware of that before placing your order.
By the way, if you ever have any questions about things related to my business, The Cottage Mama, please don’t hesitate to ask – I’m always happy to help!
The fabrics used in this camera strap cover were Amy Butler “Love” (ruffle) and Heather Bailey “Pop Garden” (main body).
If you end up making this super-cute camera strap cover, send me a picture – I would love to see!!
Cottage Mama’s Note: Tutorials and patterns on The Cottage Home are for personal use only. If you are interested in using any of the patterns or tutorials seen on this blog for resale, please contact The Cottage Mama at [email protected] to discuss licensing agreements.
Lindsay Wilkes is the owner and designer behind The Cottage Mama. She creates timeless, vintage inspired sewing patterns for children’s clothes. She is also a fabric designer for Riley Black Designers / Penny Rose Fabrics, author of the book ‘Sew Classic Clothes for Girls’ and can be seen teaching nationwide and online in her video series ‘Lessons with Lindsay’ sponsored by Baby Lock Sewing and Embroidery machines.
LOVE IT! esp the ruffles, AND that you can slide it on. I’ve been looking at cute camera straps, but not loving the ones you have to take apart your strap for. THIS is perfect! I’d love it if you stopped by Topsy Turvy Tuesdays! http://imtopsyturvy.com
Adorable!!! Not sure if my husband would ever use the camera again, but I love it!
My hubby will use our camera after I make your cam strap with the animal print I selected. Love this, dahling!
Hi Lindsay, I tried this out. Thanks for the inspiration and tutorial. I love your blog and reading your posts. That bonnet you made on Blue Cricket was absolutely adorable.
http://letsgoflyakiteuptothehighestheight.blogspot.com/2010/08/camera-strap-rhymes-with-hemostat.html
I made one of these today, and it turned out beautifully! It took me all day, because I’m a novice seamstress, but it was well worth the effort! I plan on taking some photos, and will link here as soon as I do! Thanks again for your tutorial!
Love it!!! But I notice that in your original camera strap post the ends of the strap are tapered… I would love to do that… how did you do it?
Love it! So beautiful!!
Thank you so much for the tutorial! I just whipped one up & love it!
Thanks for such a thorough tutorial. As a novice, I was able to create a pretty amazing strap cover in less than 5 hours. =)
http://chroniclesinthekitchen.blogspot.com/2011/01/accessorizing-my-new-toy.html
Thanx for this awesome tutorial! I whipped up my first 2 of these earlier this week! I hope to blog about them in the next couple of days!!
Hi Lindsay! This tutorial is WONDERFUL and the strap just adorable. I wrote all about it in my blog today and linked back to your tutorial! http://mygreenbraecottage.blogspot.com/2011/03/ruffled-camera-strap.html
We should do a linky party with all of our versions!
Fabulous tutorial! It’s time I made a strap for my camera! Thank you for sharing!
Jo-Anna
Thank you so much for this tutorial! I just made one for my sister-in-law and it turned out SO cute – and less than 2 hours with the cutting and everying. I am so excited to give it to her 🙂
I just wanted to say thank you for this tutorial! I have made 2 for myself and I just LOVE THEM! I get so many compliments on them! I have 2 boys and so in this house of manly things it was fun to make me something totally frilly and pink!!!
So glad that I found your blog today. I found you with a google search looking for fabric organization for my sewing room. Your camera strap tutorial is wonderful. I will be using this to make my daughter a strap for her birthday coming up in early July. thanks, I look forward to following your blog.
Hey..your blog is very amazing, I love to visit everyday..
Don’t forget to visit my blog too DigitalCamerasReview.us
Thank you 🙂
Love your tutorial!! It worked out perfectly :0)
http://abasketofstrawberrypi.blogspot.com/2011/07/gift.html
What a fabulous tutorial! Thanks so much! I plan to create a camera strap cover using it and will post (linking back to your instructions) when it is completed. Thank you again. :o)
Sincerely, Trish
What a great tutorial. So easy to follow and clear, concise directions. Thank you for that!
Here’s my question? Could I hire you to make me one? I love your work and since you know what you’re doing it would only make sense to have you create one and I pay you. My sewing machine is broken and would love to have one b4 early September when I do a couple of large vendor events. Let me know if you’d be interested.
I love that you added a bit of padding, and the ruffle is so cool on yours and not over the top like some I’ve seen.
I’m really one that does’t go for much color and am thinking of taupes/blacks/browns/ivories for colors. I love the shabby French style and muted down aqua is a color I do love too (think aqua Ball glass jars). Let me know if you’d consider doing this?
Thanks!
Gretchen Schaumann
http://mimitoriasdesigns.blogspot.com
[email protected]
Fantastic tutorial – thank you so much Lindsay!
http://princesspursesandpearls.blogspot.com/2011/07/july-20-2011_31.html
Thank you so much for the tutorial! I finally got around to making one for myself this morning and it turned out beautiful.
What a great and quick tutorial! It was very easy to follow along. Thanks for all the great pictures. I did mine today and it turned out fabulous! Thanks again!
I made one of these for a Christmas gift, it turned out great! Here’s the link: http://www.thebarefootseamstress.com/2011/12/handmade-christmas.html
Now, I’m going to make one for myself 🙂
Thanks Cottage Mama! I made this today and I can’t belive it. Trust me…I’m NO seamtress. But I love it and it was pretty easy because of your step by step with pics.Thanks!
Oh yea…http://labgc.blogspot.com/2012/01/first-diy-of-2012.html
Thank you so much! I made one today and am very impressed with myself- super cute!
great publish, very informative. I’m wondering why the opposite specialists of this sector don’t notice this. You should proceed your writing. I am sure, you’ve a great readers’ base already!
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I just got my DSLR camera and one of the first things I want to do is make a strap cover. I binged ‘camera strap cover tutorials’ and came up with a list – you were on it! I was so excited to see one from someone I ‘know’!! LOL! I don’t follow many sewing blogs – it’s always kind of like I’m not learning anything I don’t already know and I don’t stick with them. But yours I love and I’ve been following you for awhile now. I can’t wait till you have time to post more about your business journey and I love that you are so willing to put the info out there to help out the rest of us. I’m trying to decide what direction I really want my business to go if I try to grow it. What do I really want to make, what do I really want to market and sell.
Also, thanks for the info on your tags – I will be checking out that site. I’ve been using printed ribbon and just cutting it between each name and using some fray block. It’s been great but eventually I want some tags that are ready to go without cutting and fray blocking. Blessings to you – I hope to get a camera strap made this week!
My daughter and I made one of your camera strap covers today and I LOVE it!!! Just wanted to say thank you so much for the tutorial it was absolutely wonderful!!
I just made a camera strap using this tutorial! I needed the actual strap (not just a cover) and wanted long enough to go cross body so I did some tweaking to the ends but loved how it turned out!!! Thank you so much for the awesome tutorial and pictures!
Excelent tutorial . I just made my first strap and I am a beginner , so if I can do it anyone can , thanks so much for your tuts , now I am making a tablet cover and some other straps for friends
this is wonderful!! I am so glad I came across this tutorial, people have been asking me to make them one, but i forgot how I made mine and I have to say, yours is so pretty!! Will be making one today:) Thanks for posting, can’t wait to try it!!
XOXO
April
I read many tutorial os strap, but yours is the best! Good explanation & clear photos with important details. Thank you for sharing.
I just finished this strap. I made one using the measurements in the tutorial and it turned out great. After putting it on my camera I decided that I wanted one a bit longer and wider just for my comfort. So I put the first one on my 35mm that I don’t use as often. I then cut another one just a bit wider and longer and changed the back fabric to minkyfor softness and added a pocket for the lens cap. I love the gathered detail it just adds that little something special. Thank you for sharing this project.
Thank you so much for this awesome tutorial! I’m very new to sewing, so I followed your instructions to make my own camera strap, and found it to be fairly simple. I think with a little more experience, this will become an easier process, but that can be said about everything in life, right?!
I blogged about making this camera strap cover this morning, with a link back to your blog. I hope that you’ll read it, if you have a chance
Thanks again!