Any leather bag, no matter how well made, will eventually show signs of wear and tear. Because the primary purpose of the straps is to serve as leather bag handles for the user to carry, it can break under the combined stresses of heavy use and poor maintenance.
Leather purse strap repair may cost a great deal. Besides, it can also be environmentally harmful to throw it away and purchase a new one. You’ll want to take care of your quality leather handbag to the best of your ability to maintain its functionality and aesthetic. Fortunately, with the proper techniques and tools, it is possible to repair a leather bag strap and extend the life of your favourite purse.
Here is an easy-to-follow guide that explores the different ways you can fix your leather handbag strap yourself:
1. Manually Sewing the Broken Leather Purse Strap
This method requires the following materials:
- Seam ripper
- Sharp scissors
- Heavy-duty needle or Glovers needles
- Thick, waxed thread
- Leather sewing palm (optional)
- Sewing awl
- Clear nail polish
What to do:
- After getting all the materials you need, you can begin by using a seam ripper to take out the last few stitches before cutting the strap.
- If your leather purse strap has been torn at the end, you can start trimming the strap but be careful to remove only a small amount of fabric or the strap will be too short. If your purse has two straps, take the threads from one end of the unbroken strap and trim it down until it’s the same length as the broken strap.
- Next, using a sewing awl, make needle holes to serve as a guide for where you will sew the leather later.
- Sew the straps into place. To effectively sew the straps in place, it’s best to use a leather point needle or Glovers needle while using a thick waxed thread. Use at least two or three strands of thread when hand sewing to get a stronger stitch.
- Sew the first pass. After passing through both layers and the following hole, bring your needle back up through the previous one. Continue until you get the first “good” stitch on the opposite side of the worn area. Tightly pull the thread after every stitch.
- To keep the leather from fraying, you should not sew too close to the edges. If the leather is too thick, you may use a leather sewing palm to push the needle through the leather while protecting your palm from the end of the needle.
- To finish it off, pass your needle through the stitch you just made (only the thread, not the leather hole) and pull your thread until it forms a tiny loop to form a knot. To create the knot, thread your needle through the loop two to three times and pull it down firmly. To keep the knot from unravelling, dab a tiny bit of clear nail polish over it, then wait for it to dry.
2. The Glue Method
For this method, you’ll need the following materials:
- A small, thin leather strip
- Small clamp
- Gorilla super glue
- Scissors
What to do:
- First, ensure the little leather strip is the proper size and length. Then, fold it over where the strap should reattach.
- Spread the Gorilla super glue all over the damaged strap’s inner loop. Make sure to apply adhesive to the torn edge as well.
- Finally, wrap the little leather piece with the broken strap loop. To form a closed loop, the tiny leather piece must fold toward the initial tear.
- Use the clamp to secure the area for 24 hours.
3. The Ribbon Method
You can opt for this method only if your leather purse strap has minor damage.
For this method, you’ll need the following materials:
- Fabric ribbon
- Scissors
- Glue
What to do:
- Determine the amount of ribbon required to wrap your leather purse straps six times over.
- Apply glue to the inner seam of the strap nearest to the hardware and attach the ribbon there.
- Start tying knots, being careful to cover the width of the strap.
- Continually move along the length until you reach the other end.
- Put a knot, glue the end and place it on the strap’s inside seam closest to the hardware.
While this helps cover minor damage, it won’t fix a completely snapped handbag strap. Only go for this method if your strap still generally holds its shape and the issue is mainly cosmetic.
Aftercare for Your Leather Purse
After repairing your leather purse strap, you should follow up with a consistent aftercare routine to prevent further damage. A dry leather purse strap indicates that it will be prone to cracks. In a nutshell, prevention is the best type of treatment. To avoid cracks, you should use high-quality leather conditioner.
A good leather conditioner should be able to restore the natural moisture and oils of your leather bag, improving its condition and making it less prone to cracking. Leather conditioner can also help in making your purse strap more pliable.
Professional Repair for Leather Purse Strap
Although DIY repairs may temporarily improve the state of your damaged purse, it is best to consult the purse repair experts from Love Your Purse for optimal results. Our purse repair experts have over 30 years of experience repairing damaged trims, handles, and/or lining and more.
If you are looking for purse repair and purse cleaning services in the Toronto and GTA area, our experts from Love Your Purse is here to assist you.
Look no further than Love Your Purse for the best-quality purse cleaning and repair in Toronto. Over the past 30 years, our purse cleaning and repair experts have specialized in handling designer purses and more.