Adding Hard Base, Bag feet and Magnetic Closure to a Bag

  
Inserting Bag feet:

1. Make a small slit in the bag base where you want to insert bag feet. Get the bag feet prongs together and insert through slit.
2. Create small gap between bag feet prongs.
3. Insert washer, through the prongs.
4. Press prongs on to the washer to lock the bag feet in place.

Hard Base and Bag feet:

1. There are 2 options here, either to use corrugated plastic cardboard sheet or a normal paper based cardboard. Measure the base of your bag and cut your cardboard sheet.

My Faux Leather base Tote Bag has a base of 11x4 inches. I upcycled a carton box I had at home for the hard base. (Since the carton is not strong enough i took 2 pieces of 11x4 size of the carton, layered them and stuck them together with duck tape all around.)

2. Through the opening in your bag lining, place the cardboard piece in between bag exterior and lining.

3. Secure the cardboard in place with binder clips.
4. Mark the 4 spots on your base where you want your bag feet to go. Its better to place them atleast 1 inch inside from bag base corners.

5. Using your seam ripper or sharp craft knife, make small slits on the marked places through both exterior fabric and cardboard piece. Be very careful not to slit too much. You just need a slit size little less than your bag feet prongs.

6. Now add your bag feet and secure cardboard in place.

Adding Magnetic Closure:

  
1. Separate your magnetic snaps from washers.
2. Place the magnetic snap where you want it on the bag and mark the prongs positions.
3. Make a small slit (about little less than prongs width) with sharp craft knife or seam ripper.
4. Insert the magnetic snap prongs into the slits made.
5. On backside, add the washer through Prongs.
6. Press the prongs towards each other to secure the snap in place. (Usually you need something hard to press these prongs. I used my metal ruler I had on hand.)

 If you are following my Faux Leather base Tote bag tutorial, then you need to insert the magnetic snaps to the fusible fleece we added at the top of our lining pieces. (Use the opening left in lining to reach there.)

Now bring the lining outside and close the opening.

Isn't it cool? Simple additions can get our handmade bags to next level ;)

In my next post I will share with you an easiest way ever to make faux leather corded hand bag handles.

Do you like sewing? Have you ever tried making a tote bag? If yes, I would love to see them. Leave a picture or link in your comments. Thank you for stopping by :)