Jane's patchwork guitar strap
January 26, 2010
Fatty and I gave Jane a guitar for her 10th birthday in December. Included with the gift were lessons and the promise of a mommy-made guitar strap. A promise because this girl is picky. If I had gotten it wrong in any way, she wouldn't have used it. She may not have ever played the guitar. That's how particular she is. On the upside, it's good she knows what she likes and she isn't afraid to tell me. (No pink, but still girly. Green is good and so is aqua. Remember, no pink!) As a result, this project was a complete collaboration.
The bummer about having a December birthday is that your mom might be a little too busy to sew your guitar strap right away. (Ahem. And let's not even get started about the birthday shirt. I swear it's next on the list! Again, I was afraid it wouldn't be right...) Thank goodness that her lessons didn't start until January - that bought me some time. It was a good thing, too. There were a couple of fabrics that she liked and then abandoned. But when I bought fat quarters of Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane, she zeroed in on one print in particular. Ten days later, she was still sold on that print. On Saturday, she picked the others to go with it, laid them out in the order she wanted them and I started cutting. She went to swim practice and I got sewing while bread was baking. It was finished when she came home.
I made two other guitar straps for friends this past fall. With both of those and this one, I bought inexpensive nylon webbed straps and cut them apart for the hardware. I searched the internet a few times and couldn't come up with decent leather bits at a reasonable price so re-purposing was necessary. I made all the straps (one for an adult, two for children) adjustable so that the fit would be just right.
She likes it a whole heck of a lot. That makes both of us smile.
I didn't know the love of green was hereditary :) I think soon we'll need an youtube video of her rocking out, or Mary Had a Little Lamb. That would work too.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | January 26, 2010 at 08:02 AM
What a beautiful little girl.
;) liz
Posted by: Liz Provo | January 26, 2010 at 08:26 AM
I love it. Those are such beautiful fabrics. She looks happy as a lark!
Posted by: solstice letters | January 26, 2010 at 08:41 AM
this is fab Erin,your girl sure looks happy with it!
do you repurpose the camera straps too?I ask as i would love to "try" and make one for myself as canon one is VERY boring but i should hang on to it(not cut it up) in case i screw up
thanks :0)
Posted by: natasha | January 26, 2010 at 08:46 AM
So cool. You are one awesome mom.
Posted by: minnesota:madre | Sarah Jane | January 26, 2010 at 08:57 AM
Next up: a movie of her playing?
I've been trying to talk J into lessons for awhile now. Brian even offered to take them with him, but no go. He is just not a musical kid.
Posted by: Alicia A. | January 26, 2010 at 09:10 AM
Awesome strap! I think we bought my 8 year old daughter the exact same guitar for Christmas. She's enjoying her lessons quite a bit. Yeah for us!
Posted by: Susan | January 26, 2010 at 09:23 AM
that is so great, erin! she picked some great fabrics, too! glad she likes it.
Posted by: kirsten | January 26, 2010 at 09:26 AM
awesome! she is going to do some serious rockin' with that!
Posted by: julia | January 26, 2010 at 09:29 AM
what a cutie! And what a great idea Erin.
Posted by: blair | January 26, 2010 at 09:31 AM
She looks pleased as punch with her Bday gifts.
Posted by: Pam - captured by our cameras | January 26, 2010 at 09:34 AM
Love the strap! My 9 year old has been taking guitar lessons for a year now and loves it! Hope your daughter will too!
Posted by: sUsAn | January 26, 2010 at 09:55 AM
Nice work! (But I'm not surprised.) I bet you are beaming just she is for getting that custom strap right.
Posted by: Suzanne | January 26, 2010 at 10:03 AM
This is such a great idea for a gift! And that fabric keeps popping up everywhere. It's getting hard to resist it!
Posted by: Kelly | January 26, 2010 at 10:14 AM
What a fantastic strap, she looks so happy. I think it's nice and girly for having no pink, great job.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 26, 2010 at 10:18 AM
what a great gift! i like that she is particular :)
Posted by: sarah | January 26, 2010 at 10:38 AM
Oh, I'm going to have make me one of those. I'm just starting guitar lessons myself...any chance of a tutorial???
Posted by: Barb | January 26, 2010 at 10:43 AM
Love this post, E. Guitar straps (for L. and me!) have been on my sewing to do list for forever! Well, over a year anyway. This was just the inspiration and direction I needed. Thank you! xo P.S. The girls obviously need to have a jam session. ;-)
Posted by: betsy | January 26, 2010 at 10:54 AM
That is indeed a most fabulous guitar strap!! Rock on!
Posted by: Krista - Poppyprint | January 26, 2010 at 11:28 AM
I love it! She looks very happy.
I just ordered that exact fabric to do the girls room - Annika picked it out. And she wanted no pink, either.
Posted by: Sarah ::greenclogs | January 26, 2010 at 11:38 AM
i love your blog erin! and am so loving the guitar strap!
Posted by: brittany | January 26, 2010 at 11:40 AM
This needs to go on my Christmas list for next year for husband and boys. Would LOVE a tutorial if you are ever so inclined! Thanks for such an inspiring blog!
Posted by: mary | January 26, 2010 at 11:47 AM
Howdy! Love the strap (wish I had a reason to make one....). Looks like she seems to like it as well. Success!!
Just wanted to let you know, if you're looking for that type of hardware, you need to look no further than
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_listing.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302803667&bmUID=1264524627996
...where you can order online and have them shipped to you. The quality is good and their customer service is great. They also have really nice "tubular" webbing that is perfect for belts and bag straps (I make yoga mat straps with it).
Hope that helps!
Posted by: dw | January 26, 2010 at 11:56 AM
Rock it. Very cool.
Posted by: dani | January 26, 2010 at 12:32 PM
I did a similar thing for my son's present this year. I bought a cheap nylon guitar strap because I, too, had a hard time finding what I wanted online. Then I just sewed the fabric right on top, turning the edges under. The fabric matched the color of the strap, and it still was adjustable, so it worked out okay. I didn't have enough fabric to recreate the whole thing, and I was worried about taking the strap apart and having it go back together right, so I'm glad to see it can work! Thanks!
Posted by: Sarah | January 26, 2010 at 12:57 PM
What a cool mom! She looks just like Fatty (and she looks very happy with her gift)>
Posted by: Monica | January 26, 2010 at 01:01 PM
I love the way it came out! And I totally need to make one for my eight (almost nine) year old son. He's in year three of guitar lessons and doing pretty well. I have all the scraps left from making his messenger bag for his music (the gnome bag pattern from sew liberated). Ah, you inspire me! Hopefully, he'll think a matching strap is totally cool!
Posted by: water works | January 26, 2010 at 01:26 PM
I love it! The colors are fantastic. That is one lucky girl.
Posted by: Lia | January 26, 2010 at 01:28 PM
So cool for a girl rockin' it out on the guitar!
Posted by: AJ | January 26, 2010 at 01:31 PM
that is so awesome!
Posted by: katie | January 26, 2010 at 01:32 PM
yes please, a tutorial for this, my 11-year old son would love one (and he would want it in pink!!!)
Or, maybe they could be an item for the shop if you ever get hold of the hardware?! please?
Posted by: Andrea | January 26, 2010 at 01:55 PM
I have a green and aqua girl too. Very cool project!
Posted by: Wendy | January 26, 2010 at 02:23 PM
Erin this is beautiful, what a great idea. I'm going to try and figure out a camera strap this weekend (:
Posted by: Mary-- The Yellow Door Paperie | January 26, 2010 at 02:56 PM
That guitar strap is seriously amazing! And Jane is my kind of gal.
Posted by: Bridget | January 26, 2010 at 03:05 PM
Your daughter rocks! I'd love to buy my daughter a strap like that - I am handy but not with sewing - wish I was. Maybe I should try...
Just found your blog and I really enjoy it.
Posted by: Nicole | January 26, 2010 at 03:17 PM
That's great! If I were still playing my guitar, I'd want one, too. :)
Posted by: amy h | January 26, 2010 at 04:25 PM
Any chance we'll be seeing these straps for sale (or custom order) in the shop? I know a 7yo girl who lives in my house who would LOVE one. Just like Mommy's camera!
Posted by: Sprocket | January 26, 2010 at 05:50 PM
wow - great job, erin!!!!!!!
Posted by: connie | January 26, 2010 at 07:33 PM
wow, that is really awesome! I'm sitting here on my couch and when I saw your first picture, I showed my husband (a guitar player) and oooooooooooooohed! So inspirational!
Posted by: Caroline | January 26, 2010 at 08:57 PM
You know what I like a whole heck of a lot? That girl of yours! She's absolutely perfect. :)
Posted by: Grace | January 26, 2010 at 09:28 PM
What an awesome present! Hope she likes her lessons! That strap is perfect...good taste she has in colors! That gives me an idea to sew something for my banjo...
Posted by: Jessie | January 26, 2010 at 09:31 PM
First... your header is SO you, and so fabulous.. so fabulously you!
Second that girl is so stinking cute.
And third, I know a little guitar player that would SO love a cool strap like that. If only he had a mama that was as crafty wonderful as you are!
Rock on sweet girl!
Posted by: Stefani | January 26, 2010 at 10:28 PM
you are a rock and roll hero!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: leslie | January 26, 2010 at 10:36 PM
I have plans to make a strap too for my four year old... no she isnt really old enough but it was the ONLY thing she has EVER asked for! How could we not buy it for her...for her she will want pink! Did you use a pattern or make it up?
Posted by: Amy | January 27, 2010 at 12:07 AM
So stinkin' cute! ditto on the tutorial! I wonder if I could make one manly/cool enough for my brother?
Posted by: Annalia | January 27, 2010 at 12:40 AM
My fourteen year old guitar playing son walked by the computer and said, "What's that?" - he likes it! maybe in some more manly colors for him.
REally nice!
Warm wishes,
Tonya
Posted by: Plain and Joyful Living | January 27, 2010 at 08:48 AM
Love the green on your walls--do you know the name of it?
Posted by: Mindy | January 27, 2010 at 06:09 PM
Okay, my 8 year old daughter just started guitar lessons so I showed her your post. Her eyes practically popped out of her head. "Make on for me....please." This is perfect for her. What could be better than two beauties, rocking out with their handmade patchwork guitar straps! Yeah.
Posted by: stacey s. | January 27, 2010 at 08:13 PM
I LOVE that!! Great idea! Are you going to sell those?
Posted by: Mary Smith | January 28, 2010 at 12:27 AM
love the post, love the strap, love the smile on that girl!
Posted by: darlene | January 28, 2010 at 01:42 AM