Carry All Flexi Clutch – Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3

Carry All Flexi Clutch - Add a Shoulder Strap Option #3 - Pattern Hacks - Andrie Designs

Today I have one more option to show you if you’re looking to add a shoulder strap to your next Carry All Flexi Clutch and this is probably my most favourite of all! The lovely Aimee from The Little Bird Designs is back and brings you another fantastic tutorial using some bag bling this time, namely grommets and swivel hooks!

Not familiar with the Carry All Flexi Clutch? Not a problem! You can find the pattern here.


This fun little hack is a personal favourite of mine! I somehow ended up with a collection of these grommets from Emmaline Bags and was trying to think of a use for them so when Lisa asked if I had any strap hacks, I knew I had to use them!

Finished Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

For this hack you will need:

  • Your finished Carry All Flexi Clutch (if you aren’t familiar with the pattern, you can find it here)
  • Grommets – available at Emmaline Bags, Betty Box Pleat or Bobbin Girl UK
  • Swivel Hooks – you want larger ones than you normally use! These ones are 1.5″ (3.8cm) from Emmaline Bags, any smaller and they won’t fit over the edge of your clutch!
  • Piece of vinyl for your strap – 6″ x 22″ (15cm x 56cm) (or longer if you like!)
  • Rivets to secure your strap.

The supplies you'll need - Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

First we are going to mark the spot for our grommet placement. Mark the centre of the side gussets then down ½” (1.3cm) from the top finished edge of the clutch. The inside edge of your grommet will sit at this point. Draw that INNER oval shape.

Marking the placement of the grommet - Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

If you are using fabric, pin all your layers in place because the next step can be tricky. If you are using vinyl or leather either clip the edge down or hold those layers carefully together as you go.

Carefully cut out the hole you just drew. Start with your seam ripper and then switch to your scissors. ALWAYS start with a smaller hole than what you will finish with! We can make the hole bigger but we can’t make it smaller!

The hole for the grommet - Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

You want the grommet to sit perfectly in place so no fabric is showing through.

Make sure there's no fabric showing - Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

Carefully apply Fray Check (or similar) around the inner edge of the cut hole. It will help prevent it from stretching.

Apply fray check to hole - Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

Install your grommet as per the directions, making sure the pretty side is on the outside, and then repeat for the other side as well!

Need help? Installing grommets is very similar to installing the female half of a turn lock. You can find step by step photos on how to do this in the Hardware Heaven posts here and here.

Inserting the grommet - Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

Close up of grommet - Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

Next we’ll create the strap! If you’re making a fabric strap, follow the directions in last weeks Adding a Shoulder Strap post here and then pop back here prior to attaching to your clutch. If you are using vinyl or leather, continue below!

Take your piece of vinyl/leather and draw a line down the centre.

Mark the vinyl strap - Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

Fold each long edge into the centre and clip in place. Now fold your strip in half and clip it again.

Using clips to hold the vinyl strap - Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

Stitch around all four edges to give a nice smooth line. I don’t worry about tucking the short raw edges in because it won’t fray. Make sure you start stitching on the “open” folded edge, not the edge that has been folded. This will give you a cleaner top stitch!

Strap ready for rivets - Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

Mark 1 1/4″ (3.2cm) up from each bottom end of the strap – this will be where your swivel hooks will sit. Mark up ½” (1.3cm) from the bottom raw edge then ½” (1.3cm) in from each side. These points will be where you will punch the holes for your rivets.

Prepping for the rivets - Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

Fold your strap at the 1 1/4″ (3.2cm) and punch your holes. This will get all four holes done on one side! Repeat for the other end of the strap.

Marking for the rivets - Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

Slide a swivel hook into the fold of the strap and install your rivets. Repeat for the other end of the strap, attach your swivel hooks to the sides of you clutch and you’ve got yet another option for adding straps!

Need help? For help on installing rivets, see this post from the Hardware Heaven series here.

Back of rivets - Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

Close up of shoulder strap hack - Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

This strap option is excellent for those times when someone decides after you have finished, that they would like that strap added. We all know that this happens… 🙂

Side view of Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

Gorgeous modern Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

Plus it means you can remove the strap and just have a clutch, making it now a multi-use bag!

Finished Carry All Flexi Clutch - Adding a Shoulder Strap: Option #3 - Andrie Designs

I’m SO excited to start making more Carry All Flexi Clutches with straps! Now which style should I choose…? 🙂


Thank you for another wonderful tutorial Aimee! I’m absolutely LOVING this grommet and swivel hook idea!!! Might have to try that myself on my next one!

You can see more of Aimee’s amazing bags via any of her social media below –

Click here to find out more about the Carry All Flexi Clutch pattern! Feel free to leave a comment below and let us know which strap hack is YOUR favourite!

Until next time, happy sewing! Lisa x

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