Knot a Cotton Handle Wrap for a Market Tote
A spiral of cotton cord adds a textured grip to a flat market tote handle. The wrap is decorative and goes over an intact handle; it is not a repair for torn straps. Choose a tote with two handles and wrap them separately so the bag still opens normally.
What to measure
For each handle up to 1 inch wide, start with 10 feet of 3 mm cotton macrame cord for a wrap about 4 inches long. Have scissors, a ruler, removable tape, and a blunt tapestry needle nearby. Cord consumption varies with the thickness of the strap and how closely you stack the knots. Check after the first inch rather than cutting the second length to match automatically.
Work the spiral
- Mark the ends of a 4-inch section at the middle of one handle. Lay a 5-inch cord tail along the strap toward the far mark. Tape the tail tip to the strap temporarily, then peel away the tape as the knots approach it.
- At the start mark, pass the working cord around the strap and over the tail. Bring the working end through its own loop to make a half hitch. Snug it down without folding the strap.
- Repeat the same half hitch in the same direction each time, enclosing the laid-in tail as you go. Push each knot next to the previous one. Let the ridge turn naturally around the handle instead of twisting the handle to keep it on top.
- At the far mark, pull the final hitch snug. Use the blunt needle to tuck the working end back under several wraps on the underside, then trim the excess. Repeat on the other handle.
Fix an uneven grip
If the ridge suddenly reverses, undo the last knot and check which way the cord entered its loop. If the cover slides, unwind and retie with firmer, even tension rather than adding glue. Start with longer cord if your first inch consumes more than a quarter of the usable length. Remove or renew the wrap if the tucked ends work loose.
