How to install a snap button?
What is a snap button?
Snaps are buttons made up of two or, more often, four parts. They are very practical for everyday use because they snap together and apart easily. There is a male end, with a small protrusion, and a female end, which is concave.
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The choice of snap type depends on the fabrics you need to fasten. Some are more suitable for woven fabrics, while others are specifically made for stretchy materials like jersey. They are not designed the same way: anorak snaps or plastic snaps have a central stem that requires pre-punching the fabric, whereas jersey snaps have prongs. These prongs help distribute tension but do not handle thickness well. Stem snaps can hold more layers but risk tearing due to the hole from the central stem. Therefore, the key to avoiding problems is to choose the snap suitable for your project and fabric.
These snaps can be attached using the small tool that usually comes with them, with a hammer, or with pliers. It is also possible to sew them by hand.
Tips for Properly Installing Snaps
Interfacing Before Installing Snaps
To ensure your snaps last, start by interfacing your fabric on the wrong side with a thin, flexible fusible interfacing. You can use a long strip along the button placket or interface just the spot for a snap with a small square of fusible fabric.
If you forgot to interface, you can add a small square of interfaced fabric on the wrong side between your project's fabric and the snap. Once the snap is in place, trim around it, leaving a 2mm margin for an almost invisible result.
Positioning Snaps Correctly
There is a small rule for positioning snaps correctly. Traditionally, the female snap is placed on top, and the male snap underneath. On a closed button placket, the outer part of the female snaps is visible.
To align your snap parts accurately (a small challenge!), here are some tips:
- Position the snaps and mark with an erasable pen or tailor's chalk.
- Position the snaps and make a temporary mark with your fingernail by pinching the spot, then mark with an erasable pen or chalk.
- Insert a needle or pin at the center of the identified spot on top to see where it comes through on the bottom placket. Then, mark it with a pen or chalk.
Finally, if you misplace a snap, you can always remove and redo it. Open it with an awl or a pair of scissors that aren't too sharp, trying to pry it open from the side.
Jersey snaps are unique due to their small prongs, which allow them to hold well over time. There is no need to pre-punch the fabric. However, as mentioned earlier, you should properly interface the fabric.
These snaps require specific attachments, usually provided with the pliers or even with the snaps themselves. The two attachments are similar, but you must ensure the snap parts are placed correctly to avoid crushing them.
- Position the two parts of the female snap in the attachments.
- Place your fabric between the two parts of the tool, ensuring nothing has shifted.
- Either give a few taps with a hammer or press with the pliers.
- Repeat the process with the male part of the snap.
Installing Anorak Snaps with a Hammer or Pliers
To install an Anorak snap, you need to pre-punch your fabric on both sides. Then, place the two attachments of the female part and the fabric between the attachments. This step is very delicate because the elements should not move during placement. Next, give a firm hammer strike directly at 90° over the snap or use the pliers, and you're done.
How to Install Jersey Snap with a Hammer?
Jersey snaps are specific, thanks to their small claws which allow them to last over time. It is not necessary to pre-drill the fabric. On the other hand, as mentioned at the beginning, the fabric must be well covered with fabric.
These snaps require specific snap fastener tool dies, which are usually supplied with the snap fastener tool or even with the snaps themselves. The two dies are similar, you just have to be careful to put the snap parts in the right direction so as not to crush their volume.
We place the two female snap parts in the dies, then we will position our fabric between the two parts of the tool. We make sure that nothing has moved. We either give some knocks with the hammer or press the snap fastener tool.Then we start again with the male part of the snap.
How to Install Anorak snap with a Hammer?
To apply an Anorak snap, you need to pre-punch the fabric on both sides. Then you place the two ends of the female part and the fabric between the ends. This part is very delicate because the elements must not move during the installation. Then give a sharp hammer blow at 90° above the snap or clip and that's it.
Installing Plastic Snaps with Snap Pliers
This step requires snap pliers as well as the specific attachments for plastic snaps. These attachments consist of a large hollow attachment plus a large silicone cylinder. Once your fabric is interfaced at the snap locations, punch the center with an awl. The attachments are the same for both the female and male parts. Position your female snap as follows: the outer part in the large hollow attachment, the inner part against the silicone attachment. Place your fabric without moving the attachments, and press. Then, do the same with the male snap.
Sewing Invisible Snaps by Hand
Finally, there are invisible snaps that can be sewn by hand, always on fabric interfaced with thin fusible interfacing. I recommend making several passes of thread through each hole, and a triple knot at the end, to ensure the durability of your work. Do not cut your thread after each hole; instead, slide it to the next hole by passing it under the snap. This method is a bit long and tedious, but it can be very practical when you don't have pliers or a hammer on hand, or if you simply want a discreet button placket.
Those are all our tips, now it's your turn! See you soon at Ikatee.