DIY camera strap

Before I bought this camera, I had been taking all the photos for my blog with my phone. When I photographed my home for this post, a good friend of mine let me borrow her camera. The photos looked SO much better. So I splurged and bought the exact camera she had (Canon Rebel xs). I love love love it. I'm not naturally good at photography like some people are (I am trying to learn!) and this camera makes me look much better than I am. 

Anyway, last week I was browsing Hobby Lobby for some beaded garland for another project and the ribbon was 50% off. This pattern caught my eye so I bought a yard of it for like $2. I wasn't sure what I would use it for (I have got to stop doing that...I try my best to stay away from those kinds of stores). 

It just happened to be the exact width of my camera strap. About 1 1/2 inches. I grabbed some thread and got started. It was so easy!

SUPPLIES
Camera strap
Ribbon (you could use fabric, fold it in half to match the width of your camera strap, then sew all sides)
Thread
Needle

1. Cut to scale
Measure your camera strap (or just lay your ribbon next to you camera strap), add about two extra inches, then cut.

2. Fold over one end and sew 
Fold over about half inch of ribbon and sew it down to get a finished edge. I sewed this whole project by hand. The material was too thick to use a sewing machine. 

3. Sew finished edge to camera strap
Initially, I was going to make an entire new camera strap using only ribbon. But I got thinking abut it and got nervous that the ribbon would not be secure enough to hold the camera around my neck. The opposite side of my origional camera strap was plain black leather. I decided to keep that side as is and only add ribbon to one side. This made the project much simpler and ensures a more sturdy product (I also didn't think that the ribbon would be as comfortable against my neck as the leather).

4. Sew both long sides of ribbon to the camera strap
Do not sew the other short end before the long sides. I tried that originally and it was uneven when I got done so I had to take out the stitching and start over! Sew both long sides to the leather strap. Then proceed to the final second short end.

5. Fold the access ribbon under and sew final edge down
You should have three edges sewn to the leather strap. Take the fourth, fold the access ribbon underneath to make the ribbon the same length as the strap. Sew through all three layers (two of ribbon, one of camera strap.)

That's it! 

One of my new resolutions is to take more photos. I am trying to make a habit of it. I am hoping that now that my camera doubles as a cute accessory, I may be more inclined to take it with on more adventures. 

Have a beautiful day,
Han