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Tutorials

Twist lock tutorial | Regular magnetic snap closures tutorial | Hidden magnetic snap tutorial | Bag feet tutorial | Downloadable pattern tutorial

Twist lock
Click here to view our twist lock. Our twist lock is best used with purses and bags which have a flap for opening and closing, much like a satchel bag. This tutorial deals only with the installation of the twist lock. For the purposes of this tutorial, we assume that you have already made a bag which consists of a flap for opening and closing. To get a pattern to make a purse suitable for a twist lock, please click here for Bag Bitz’s Twist Lock Folio pattern. Your twist lock set consists of 3 pieces: 1. the locking piece; 2. the flat piece with prongs; and 3. the backing piece.

Installing the first part of the twist lock: Take the flat piece with prongs and place it flat side down with the prongs facing up onto the front of the bag flap at the place where you would like to install the lock. Make sure that the piece is centered and that it is approximately 2cm up from the bottom seam of the flap. With a marking pen, trace around the inside of the metal ellipse. Turn the flat piece over so that the prongs are now pointing down. Place the prongs over the area you have just traced, make sure that the prongs are correctly positioned on each side of the ellipse area and press the prongs down firmly onto the fabric so that the prongs leave an indentation in the fabric. With a marking pen, mark where the indentations appear.	Using a craft scalpel, make a long incision inside the ellipse area from one side to the other. Carefully cut the ellipse shape out. To test if the ellipse has been cut away sufficiently, take the locking piece and insert it through the ellipse. If it is difficult to push the locking piece through the ellipse, cut a little more fabric from the sides of the ellipse. Note: It is important not to cut away too much fabric away as the metal ellipse pieces will have nothing to hold onto and the fabric will slip out.	Take the flat piece with prongs and run a small amount of glue around the rim on the back. Wait for 5 minutes until the glue becomes slightly tacky and insert the piece with the prongs pointing down into the cut out ellipse. Turn the flap over so that the prongs are facing up, press down firmly on the metal piece and hold in place for 5 minutes. Take the backing piece and run a small amount of glue around the rim on the back. Wait for 5 minutes until the glue becomes slightly tacky and place it over the prongs. Press the backing piece down firmly onto the fabric, making sure that the backing piece is directly over the prong piece underneath. Using the tip of a pair of scissors, bend the prongs outwards over the indentations on each side of the backing piece. If there is some overhanging fabric that is visible inside the metal ellipse, carefully scrape it away with a craft scalpel. The flap section is now complete.

Installing the second part of the twist lock: Fold the bag flap down onto the front of the body section as if you were closing the purse. Take the locking piece and place it through the metal ellipse that has been installed in the flap section. Press the prongs down firmly onto the front of the folio so that the prongs leave an indentation in the fabric. With a marking pen, mark where the indentations appear.	Using a seam ripper, make a small incision on each of the prong marks. Make sure that the incision goes through the front of the purse only - be careful not to cut through to the lining section. Take the locking piece and insert the prongs into the incisions. Note: If your bag is already complete, you will need to unpick the lining. Working through the lining of the bag, bend the prongs inwards over each other. Press down firmly with the tip of a pair of scissors. The installation of the twist lock is now complete.

Regular magnetic snap closures
We have snaps in all colors, shapes and sizes. Click here to view our range.

Apply a small square of iron-on interfacing to your fabric. Mark the spot where your snaps are to sit. Take your seam ripper or a pair of scissors and make two very small incisions.	With the right side of your fabric facing you, insert the prongs into the incisions.	Turn the fabric over to the wrong side and place the backing piece over the prongs.

With the tip of a pair of scissors, or a pair of pliers, bend the prongs down to the outside of the backing piece.	Your snap is now secure. Now repeat the above steps for the opposite snap piece.	Add a touch of professionalism to your handmade bags with our magnetic snap closures.

Hidden magnetic snap closures
We have snaps in all colors, shapes and sizes. Click here to view our range.

Position the snap.	Place the covering or lining fabric over the snap.	Pin the snap in place. Tip: Hold the fabric with the snap inside up to a window so that you can see the line around the magnetic part that you will need to sew. Mark the line with pins if you like. Using a zipper foot, sew about 5mm in from the edge of the PVC casing.

Your snap is now secure. Now repeat the above steps for the opposite magnetic snap piece. Be sure when you apply your hidden magnetic snaps that you sew them in the correct way - if you sew them in incorrectly your snaps will repel instead of click together.

Bag feet
We have bag feet in all colors and sizes. Click here to view our range. Also Iron-on interfacing. Note: Bag feet are to be applied when the bag outer has been constructed and before the lining is attached.

Mark the spot where you would like your foot to sit. Apply a small square of iron-on interfacing to your fabric behind where the foot will sit. Take your seam ripper or a pair of scissors and make a tiny incision.	Insert the prong end of the foot into the incision. Be sure that the foot part is facing out on the right side of your fabric.

Push the prong right through and bend the prongs out and back.	Your purse foot is installed. Repeat the process for the remaining 3 feet.

Downloadable patterns

We have a range of downloadable patterns which have been designed especially for use with select purse frames and handles. Click here to view our range of downloadable patterns.

Your pdf pattern will become available to download in your account after your payment has been completed.

Log into your account here and enter your email address and password that you used when you created your profile.

In your account, scroll down a little and you will see a link to the pdf pattern.

Left click on the link.

The pdf pattern will then automatically open. Choose "File", "Save As" to save the pattern to your computer.

Choose "File", "Print" to print the pattern.

You do not have to download your pdf pattern right away. There is a period of 5 days within which you have time to download your pdf pattern. The pdf pattern link will disappear when the 5 days has expired. Be sure to save the pdf pattern so that you can continue using it in the future.

Questions? Please contact us at info@tallpoppycraft.com.