Hardware Heaven: O-Rings, D-Rings and Rectangular Rings

Hardware Heaven: O-Rings, D-Rings and Rectangular Rings - Andrie Designs

O-Rings, D-Rings and Rectangular Rings are some more common hardware components of bag making that are not only practical, but add a whole new level of blingliness to your bag.

They’re particularly useful as attachment points for handles and removable straps.

Hardware Heaven: O-Rings, D-Rings and Rectangular Rings - two pretty poppets
Summer Lovin’ Beach Tote by Andrie Designs

Thankfully, they are super easy to install! In fact, if you can sew a straight(ish) line you can install a ring. You don’t even need any special tools, though a zipper foot will help. A narrow zipper foot is even better, but it certainly isn’t essential.

Hardware Heaven: O-Rings, D-Rings and Rectangular Rings - two pretty poppets

Installing an O-Ring, D-Ring or Rectangular Ring.

The following tutorial details how to install a 3/4” (19mm) D-Ring. You can apply a similar technique for any size of D-Ring, O-Ring or Rectangular Ring.

Determine the size by measuring the inner edge of the ring at the widest point.

Hardware Heaven: O-Rings, D-Rings and Rectangular Rings - two pretty poppets

You will need:

  • A D-Ring sized 3/4” (19mm)
  • A piece of fabric measuring 3” x 2” (7.6cm x 5cm)
    • The strap width is four times the width of the ring.

Fold the fabric in half, wrong sides together and matching the short sides. Press to form a centre crease.

Open it out and fold each side in again, this time meeting the raw edges at the centre crease. Press. Fold again along the centre crease to enclose all raw edges (like double fold bias tape).

Hardware Heaven: O-Rings, D-Rings and Rectangular Rings - two pretty poppets

For most straps and handles it’s a good idea to fuse a strip of interfacing through the centre to add stability and increase durability.

Top stitch along each long side, using a 1/8” (0.3cm) seam allowance.

Hardware Heaven: O-Rings, D-Rings and Rectangular Rings - two pretty poppets

Slide the D-Ring onto the strap and fold it in half, matching the raw edges. Stitch as close to the D-Ring as possible. This is where a narrow zipper foot can really come in handy.

Hardware Heaven: O-Rings, D-Rings and Rectangular Rings - two pretty poppets

Baste the D-Ring strap in position ready to be stitched to your bag (within the seam allowance).

Hardware Heaven: O-Rings, D-Rings and Rectangular Rings - two pretty poppets

If you’re using an O-Ring try following the curve of the ring, rather than sewing a straight line, for something a little extra fancy-pants. (This is where a narrow zipper foot reeeaallllyyyyy comes in handy!)

Hardware Heaven Introduction - two pretty poppetsThat’s it! Of course, there’s many other ways to install them such as by using strap connector tabs (shown above on the Summer Lovin’ Beach Tote). More often than not these will require a pattern piece and placement measurements to show you exactly where to place them on your outer panels.

Where to buy

Some fabulous online suppliers of handbag hardware include:

Betty Box Pleat – Queensland, Australia.

Sew Creative Supplies – Western Australia, Australia.

Voodoo Rabbit Fabric – Queensland, Australia.

Emmaline Bags – Canada.

Bobbin Girl – United Kingdom.

Do you have a favourite, go-to shape of rings…? Or a favourite size…? I’d love to know which ones YOU love!

Happy sewing.

Lisa x

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