As promised, here are instructions for installing the 2" eyelet as the strap opening for this clutch.
These eyelets are easy to use & you will feel confident with these in no time at all. If you are concerned about making a mistake your first time through, you can do a test run with some fabric and batting first. Just skip the glue part and then you can take it back out and reuse it.
The key to these is to minimize fraying of the fabric and to have the flap--or wherever it's being installed--be as thick as the eyelet channel.
What You Need:
- 2" eyelet
- magnet - I'm using one off my fridge. Any size magnet is fine--it is used for safekeeping for the tiny screws so they don't get lost.
- sharp scissors that can handle detail work
- scrap of batting or fleece about 3.75" wide x 2" high (10cm x 5cm)
- glue - I'm using E-6000. Gutermann Textile Glue (HT2), UHU All Purpose Glue, or any other glue compatible with fabric & metal will also work.
- Fray Check
- tweezers can be helpful for picking up the tiny screws
- very small screwdriver - sorry, I don't know the technical size. The smallest screwdriver in a 5-in-1 hammer is what I'm using. Eyeglass screwdrivers will probably work too.
- fabric marking pen or chalk
- ruler
1. Take Eyelet Apart
a) Remove the two screws from the back & put them on the magnet for safe keeping. If possible, take them out in a confined area where they can't fly across the room and roll away under something.
2. Trace Opening Outline
a) Center the front half of the eyelet on the RIGHT side of the exterior fabric of the flap, with the bottom edge of eyelet 1" above the bottom of the flap.
b) Trace around the inside of the opening.
3. Trim
a) Trim around outline draw in previous step, cutting through one layer of fabric at a time, and trimming slightly outside the outline. You will probably have to trim more later, but it best to start small.
b) Cut through the batting layer, following the outline trimmed in a).
c) Cut through the lining layer, following the outline trimmed in b).
d) Place front eyelet piece under the opening to see how it fits. Slowly trim more away until it fits.
e) Trim tiny notches from each side so you can see the screw holes.
4. Trim & Apply Batting Scrap
a) Trace the outline of the eyelet center on the batting piece and trim an opening in the batting scrap. This piece is going to go around the opening to build up some thickness to stabilize the eyelet.
b) Place the batting scrap in the middle of the flap, and align it over the opening trimmed in step #3. If you can no longer see the screw holes, trim some batting away until you can see them.
5. Apply Fray Check
a) Apply a thin layer of Fray Check around the opening on both sides of the flap to stabilize the fabric.
6. Apply Glue
a) Dab small dots of glue around the inside of both eyelet pieces.
b) Place the front piece on the exterior side of the flap, and the back piece on the lining side.
c) Line up screw holes and screw the eyelet together tightly.
That's it! Allow glue to dry for a bit and you are ready to go.
