Blog DIY Sewing accessory Tutorials

Snap it! :)

December 12, 2022 by Ilona No Comments

Buttons or snaps for your sewing projects? I have never really asked myself this question as my choice would automatically be the buttons. However, after my mother once accidentally proposed to think out of the box for one of my sewing projects and replace the buttons with snaps, I kind of fell in love with this idea 🙂 So, keep reading as I’m going to share my way of how easily attaching snaps to a garment. 

Before jumping right into snaps set-in instructions, let me list some of my favourite reasons why I like to work with snaps:

  • an easy and quick way of garment fastening
  • no need to sew buttonholes
  • simple installation
  • gives the garment a fresh and unhackneyed appearance as the snaps come in a variety of colours and finishes

Obviously, snaps cannot be an adequate replacement for classical buttons in every case, but sometimes they come in really handy. While working with buttons requires accurate manipulation during the buttonhole embroidering (especially working on buttonholes on delicate fabrics might be a real challenge), installing the snaps is truly easy. 

To fix the snaps onto a garment, a special pair of pliers is required. I work with Prym’s Vario Snaps pliers which come together with piercing tools, snaps installing tool sets and the removal tool. However, there are other accessories available on the market you can buy separately. It all depends on the fasteners type you’re working with (press fasteners, colour snaps, tubular rivets, eyelets, jersey press fasteners…)

Although using the pliers and all those little bits might seem complicated, it is actually a very simple and intuitive tool. For me, it was a real game-changer.

Each Prym’s Colour Snap comes in four parts – two decorative caps – one visible on the top of the garment and the second one completing the snap’s body at the very bottom of the fabric. The two remaining pieces are the socket and the stud, and they interlock together to form a strong, yet easy-to-use closure. Both socket and the stud are attached to the fabric by the caps.

The principle of fixing the snaps with pliers consists of two steps: first, we perforate the fabric using the pliers and their piercing tolls, and then we set in the snaps using a tool set that is specific to each type of fastening. With a little practice, you are done with installing snaps in a few minutes.

If you would like to give the snaps a try for one of your projects, I’m leaving below a step-by-step picture installation guide. With a little practice, you are done with installing snaps in a few minutes 🙂

1. As the first step, mark the position of the snaps on the fabric and prepare the piercing tool. This piercing tool can be used to pierce holes of either 3 mm or 4 mm.
2. Pop them into the pliers. To remove them after performing the fabric, use the removal tool as shown in the picture.
3. Press to perforate your fabric.
4. Once the fabric is perforated, snaps installing tool sets can be inserted into the holes at the tips of the pliers.
5. Depending on the snap size, you either use the white or grey plastic circular piece. This is where the flat snap’s cap will sit. The tiny metal part fits in the clear plastic bit.
6. Put the tool sets in the holes at the tips of pliers as shown.
7. Place the flat cap, the pierced fabric and the snap’s stud part at the bottom.
8. Then give it to a nice press. And voilà, you’re done 🙂 Repeat the same process for the snap’s socket.
9. For removing the tool sets, use again the removal tool, as shown in picture 2.

Note: if you work with light to mid weighted fabric, steps 1 – 3 with piercing instructions might be skipped. The flat cap has a sharp pointy ending which you can use directly to pierce your fabric.

As you can see, using those pliers is not a big deal and snaps can totally change the appearance of a final garment. Thus while sewing, do not forget the snaps, they can be a great addition to your projects 🙂 Below I’m leaving a small gallery of my snaps makes, so that you can visualize some of my results.

Jersey dress snap fastening detail

Image 2 of 5

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