DIY Scarf Camera Strap

How many of you have a camera? I’m not talking about the camera on your phone but a real camera, camera. I love using the camera on my phone but for big moments like vacation, holidays and special events, I always use my “real camera”.

Speaking of vacations, our family does vacations right. New places, cool sights and good food! The past couple vacations I noticed that the strap on my camera was digging into the back of my neck. Hiking the mountains of Banff, Canada is hard enough on my muscles, my neck shouldn’t be hurting me too.

I searched a ton online for comfortable camera straps but I couldn’t find any that I thought would be soft enough or light-weight enough. I wanted something that wouldn’t dig into my neck as well as a fabric that would be breathable – when I hike, I sweat like crazy so breathable fabric is a must. Then I came across a really cool camera strap that was made from a pretty scarf. And I said to myself, as I usually do in this situation, “I can make that”. With that being said, here is my camera strap journey – Enjoy!

What You’ll Need

Webbing connectors - a link to purchase can be found in option #2

A scarf or scarf-like fabric that is as long as your original strap

Leather/Pleather: you can use the current camera loops or make one like option #2 below

Heavy duty sewing needle

Matching thread

Seam Ripper

Double sided tape or fabric glue

If you are using your current camera strap, use a seam ripper to take out the threads that hold the strap in (keep the threads that hold the webbing in). If you like your camera strap and you want to make an additional one, see the instructions below for how to create a whole new one in option #2.

Use the strap as a length guide for how long to cut your scarf (or scarf-like material). The width of the scarf will stay the same measure as the original scarf. If you are using scarf-like material from a bolt or leftover scrap fabric, bunch it and wrap it around your neck to see if it feels comfortable. I used two different scarves for two different straps: the first is 5 inches in width (I took a scrap piece of fabric and sewed it in half) and the second is 4.5 inches in width.

OPTION #1

Take your scarf and fold it lengthwise once and then again. If this doesn’t evenly fit into your camera strap holder, fold it one more time. Once the scarf is in the leather connector, use two clips to keep it in place. My fabric wasn’t slippery, but like some scarves that are silk, you may need a little drop of fabric glue or double sided tape to keep everything from sliding.

Be sure that your needle is made for heavy duty fabric. Start at one end of the leather connector and follow the needle holes around to secure the scarf in the connector. Complete the same steps for the other side.

OPTION #2

I purchased the webbed connectors from the link below, lined them up to my current camera strap and trimmed the extra webbing/buckle off.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LY5OWE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Take your original camera strap and trace the leather connector onto your leather/pleather scrap. You’ll trace one and then flip it over for the second side. When you cut it out, leave the inside connected. Move the connector and trace the second one the same way.

Lay the end of the webbing connectors on the bottom of the leather connector. Use a small piece of double sided tape or glue to hold in place. Clip the outside. Take your scarf or fabric and fold it lengthwise and then again. Make sure that it fits into the leather connector. If it doesn’t, fold it one more time. Use clips to hold together.

If you are a visual person, eyeball the old design and sew around the outside, across the center and then diagonal to ensure everything is secure. If you need a guide on the connector, use some chalk to map out the lines.

Be sure that your needle is made for heavy duty fabric. Start at one end of the leather connector and follow the needle holes around to secure the scarf in the connector. Complete the same steps for the other side.

Tada! Now you have a stylish, comfortable camera strap. You could make a bunch of them and change them out for each vacation, too!