Make Soft Bag Handles

This is a handy method for making soft bag handles to attach to a wide array of bags that you might be stitching.

Steps

Take the long strip of bag handle fabric and fold it in half lengthwise with the right side facing out, and press.
Lay the strip of double sided fusible fleece down the centre of the fabric.
Fold the long edges of the fabric into the centre, and press - this will activate the adhesive in the fusible fleece and bond it to the fabric.
Fold the resulting strip in half length ways again.
Take the strip and divide it into 2 equal lengths. Open up the strip again and fold the raw edges down, as shown in the photo, fold back in half again.
Top stitch the handle all around.
Attach to Bag- First place pin onto the bag where you would like them to be and try it out for fit. The length and placement can be adjusted before they are sewn down. Overlap about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of the handle on the bag. Sew a square or box shape over your top stitching and across the top, then sew an X through the box by sewing corner to corner inside the box. This strengthens the handle. Sew over the stitches at least one more time depending on how much weight you intent the bag to carry.

You can try sewing the handles on the inside of the bag if you don't wish to see them.
Another way to keep the edges from fraying is to sew the cut handle fabric into a tube after ironing on the fusible interfacing. You will want to cut the handles about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} wider to make a seam allowance. After the tube is turned right side out iron it flat, fold the raw end sections in {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} and sew as directed above.
Consider using a contrasting fabric for the handles.
If you do not have a pattern (and you do not need one) cut your strips of fabric for the handles twice as wide as you would like the finished product to be (add 1/2 inch if sewing into a tube) and about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} longer than you would like them to be. Use a bag you like the handle length of as a guide. The extra length is for the part that will be sewn onto the bag to attach the handles. The fusible interfacing should be cut half as wide as the finished handle and the same length.
You can pad the handles if you wish.
Any fusible interfacing will do, it does not have to be fleece. A heavy duty kind will work best.
If you plan to wash the bag you will want to stitch all of the edges of the fabric before any other step. A zigzag stitch works well, or if you have access to a serger, serge the edges. If you never plan to wash it don't worry about this step.

Original source of article, Lisa Lam, Sew a Curved Bag Gusset; shared with permission and appreciation.