Installing a twist lock is much easier than one can believe and gives a professional and sophisticated look to your bags.
The twist lock can sometimes replace a magnetic clasp. It would fit the look of the Ava bag for example.
How to install a twist lock tutorial
Some twist locks have front plates with prongs and others have front plates with screws.
Twist lock
The twist lock (with prongs) used for this tutorial will be installed on a clutch (simplified version of the free Cachotin pattern).
The twist lock with prongs has 4 pieces :
- front plate (with prongs)
- back plate
- twist button
- washer
The twist lock with screws has 6 pieces :
- front plate (with prongs)
- back plate
- twist button
- washer
- & 6. screws
The female half (front and back plate) of the twist lock is installed on a moving part: the flap of the bag or the flap of a pocket. This flap should already be finished : fabric and lining pieces of the flap sewn together and turned right side out (it may even be already basted to the bag).
The male half of the twist lock is the one that turns and should be installed on a fabric piece of the bag: bag body, pocket… The piece on which the male half will be installed should be unlined.
This type of lock has a significant weight and must be installed on heavy weight fabrics. It is advisable to interface the fabric pieces on which the lock will be installed.
Installing the female half of the twist lock
1. Position
Center a plate on the placement marking on the flap. Make sure the plate is horizontal.
If there is no marking on the pattern, place the plate where you want to install the lock. Make sure that this area of the flap will overlap with the body of the bag where the twist button will be installed.
2. Trace
Twist lock with PRONGS : Trace the inside perimeter of the hole.
Twist lock with SCREWS : Trace the inside perimeter of the center hole and the holes for the screws.
Connect the lines. This new outer line is the one you will cut along at the next step.
3. Cut
With embroidery scissors cut a cross in the middle of the oval marking, cutting through all layers. Then cut out the area, cutting 1 to 2 mm outside of the line.
4. Install
Twist lock with PRONGS
Place the front plate on the fabric side of the flap, sliding the prongs through the hole.
Place the back plate on the lining side of the flap
Fit the two plates together and spread the prongs apart over the back plate.
Tip if once assembled the plates of the twist lock are loose:
- Disassemble the plates.
- Cut a small rectangle of fleece slightly larger than the twist lock and cut out a hole in it, as in steps 1 and 2.
- Slide the fleece inside the flap (through the hole cut at step 2 or through the top of the flap).
- Align the holes of the flap and the fleece and reattach the plates.
Twist lock with SCREWS
Place the front plate on the fabric side of the flap.
Place the back plate on the lining side of the flap. Install screws.
Installing the male half of the twist lock
Installing the male half is done the same way whether the twist lock has PRONGS or SCREWS.
1. Position
If there is no placement marking on the pattern, position the flap properly over the bag body and make a mark at the center of the twist lock hole.
2. Mark
Centre the washer over the placement marking and mark the two notches.
3. Cut
Using your seam ripper carefully and gently nick through the two notches.
4. Insert
Slide the prongs of the twist button through the notches, toward the wrong side of your fabric.
5. Reinforce
To further reinforce the area, slide a small piece of ultra firm stabilizer through the prongs (Jeffytex or Pellon 70 Peltex).
6. Secure
Slide the washer through the prongs, over the stabilizer and fold the prongs toward the center.
Voilà, you know how to install a twist lock!
You can now sew the lining to the bag body.
Thanks for your help, unfortunately the twist locks I have are of a different type with the prongs for the flap piece on the outer rim and the back piece fits inside. The twist lock will not work as in this tutorial. Thank you, Lorraiine
I think if you have installed either of the two above locks, you will have no trouble at all installing this lock and will not even need to glance at these instructions. But just in case you haven’t, I am including these for you. It’s a big lock, but don’t be scared. You just really need to be carefully you measure a few times before you cut into that beautiful exterior of your bag – holes are permanent!