Sometimes I amaze even myself

So I was working on a tutorial for luvinthemommyhood's Baby Bonanza this weekend (it'll be up on Wednesday, sorry to tease), and I needed to make straps.  I hate making straps (as in ties on a hat or drawstrings or purse handles, etc).  It's always something like "fold the fabric in half and then tuck the ends under and sew it shut" in which case you see the stitching, or "sew it inside out and then try and figure a way to turn it right-side out", something that always leaves me sticking pencils and other sharp objects through my fabric and screaming. I can't tell you the number of times I've sewn a ribbon inside the strap and then had it pull through the seam as soon as I started pulling. 

Not this time.  This was so easy it blew me out of the water.  I don't know why I never done it this way before, and I'm certain I can't be the first person to discover this, but honestly I'm feeling pretty brilliant right now so if you've done this your entire life just keep your yap shut.  OK, kidding. sortof. 

So here's my Easy Strap Tutorial.  (click on images to enlarge)

Step 1: Cut your strap fabric.  The finished strap I needed here was 3/4," so I cut it 2" wide.  Your finished width will be =[Starting Width - 1/2" / 2].  Two straps are shown here because I was making a pair.  You only need one piece of fabric for each strap. 

Step 2:  Fold strap in half lengthwise to find the center.  Place a safety pin along the fold near one end, with the head of the safety pin facing the other end.  Note: the width of the safety pin needs to be pretty small compared with the strap width since you'll sew it inside the strap in the next step; for very narrow straps you will need a very small safety pin.  

Step 3:  Fold the strap in half lengthwise so the pin is covered by the fabric.  Line up edges.  If you want a finished end, sew across the end of the strap nearest the pin with a 1/4" seam.  Turn needle at corner and continue sewing the entire length of the strap with 1/4" seam, leaving the other end of the strap open.  Clip corners at finished end.

Step 4: Push pin towards open end to turn the strap right side out.  You can stick a tweezers or other sharp object into the strap to help push the corners out if you want. 

Step 5:  Remove pin and press strap flat.  If you want the other end of the strap finished, tuck those raw edges under and press.

That's all.  Easy, peasy.