Technique - How to place a twist lock

I just love the fancy look a bag gets, whenever you place a metal lock on it. It can transform your bag from dull into amazing! I’ve ordered different styles of locks to try. You might have seen a few of them already on the ‘Camera Bag‘, ‘The Ladies Bag‘ and in the latest DIY ‘Chanel Inspired Quilted Clutch‘! Those were twist and tuck locks but there are so much more (check also the bag hardware guide over here!). You have some choices to make; shall I go for the modern look, the traditional look, which colour and which material? It makes your project looks so much more professional and it isn’t even that hard to place… But, the question remains… how do you do it? In this case, I will explain the placement of the ‘Twist lock’.

Part I – What parts do we have?

A lock consists of multiple parts. In my case, it contained 6 pieces, the twist lock part, the back of the twist lock part, 2 skews, the front plate and the back plate. Some of them might have other parts or less but it isn’t rocket science, you will manage!

Part II – The twist lock part

The first parts you will need to assemble of the Twist Lock is actually the twist lock part and its back plate. This will determine where you will place the other parts on your project.

Think twice before you cut into your project and maybe place a little bit of tape to see how it will look in the end. Besides the twist lock part, you will need the back plate on the other side of the leather. I’ve hidden this part in between the lining and the quilted leather.

Make two little slits in the quilted part and put the twist lock part through them. Place the back plate over the two little legs just like the image below.

Make sure it is straight because you won’t be able to fix it hereafter…

To fasten this part, fold them as tight as you can over each other. Often you can just fold them by hand but you might also use a jewellery plier or flatten them carefully with a mallet.

Part III – The front & back plate

The last part contains the front and the back plate you slip over the twist-lock part. But this part is equally important. You will have to line them up really carefully since you will only get one chance. Punch four holes. One for each skew and two for the middle part. Connect the two middle holes to open it up.