Fasteners have a very functional role in a garment.

They help the

opening of fabrics to close exactly and correctly.

They also serve as a decorative element. The Chinese frog

fasteners are one such decorative fastener that is functional as
well as decorative. An exposed zipper serves as a fashionable
touch in many a garment.

The lacing through eyelets that serve as fastenings for corsets

adds to the beauty of the clothing. The decorative effect should
be harmonious with the style of the rest of the garment, or it will
look odd.
Table of Contents

Somethings to keep in mind when sewing fasteners

Different types of Fasteners you can sew on your clothes
1. Buckles
2. Snaps /Press Studs
3.Velcro tapes (Hook and loop)
4. Safety pins
5. Cuff links
6.Brooches
7.Zippers
8. Metal Hooks and eye
9.Frog fasteners
10. Toggle fasteners
11. D-rings
12. Snap hooks/Clasps
13. Grommets / eyelets
14. Glass studs
15. Buttons
16.Cords and ropes
18. Clasps
19. Squeeze buckle
20. G-hooks.
Somethings to keep in mind when sewing fasteners

The fasteners should match correctly on both sides of the

garment to hang correctly.
Buttons are always placed on the left side for girls and the
right for boys.
Girls’ clothing has the right-hand side opening over ( on
top of) the left-hand side.
Boys’ clothing has the left-hand side opening over the
right-hand side.
Remember to measure and mark the positions of the
fasteners before sewing.
Buttonholes should be equally spaced, measured, and
marked with a gauge.
Different types of Fasteners you
can sew on your clothes
1. Buckles
This fastener is mostly seen in shoes, belts, and bags. They are
not so much used nowadays as a fastener in clothing. Buckles
are less likely to come undone accidentally, making them
suitable for items that need to stay in place.
2. Snaps /Press Studs
Snaps are the easiest of all fasteners and are frequently seen in
baby clothes. I cannot imagine a baby onesie without a snap-on
button. They are interlocking discs, easy to take on and off.
There are different types of snaps; there are sew-on, pronged,
and adhesive-backed options. Some can be hand sewn onto
clothes, while others need a snap plier. They are also available as
snap tape, with several snaps arranged in a row along the length
of the tape.
These black or silver metal studs are made of two parts, a ball
half and a socket half, which snap together. They are useful as a
close invisible fi nish to fairly fi ne materials but will not stand
much strain.
Magnetic snaps are usually used as fasteners in bags. Learn
more about attaching snap fasteners here.

Which clothes are fastened with snap studs ?

They are used on clothes and accessories that need to be

fastened or unfastened fastly. So they are used on diapers,
outerwear clothes like jackets.
3. Velcro tapes (Hook and loop)

Velcro has two parts – one with harder hooks and the other with
softer loops. They are pressed together, overlapping to close the
opening.

Hook and loop tapes are available in different sizes and colors.
Velcro was invented only after world war two, but now it is used
in apparel/accessory designing. They are mostly seen in
outerwear garments and active sportswear.

100%nylon,hook and loop is produced in several standard

colors and the following sizes: 3/8″(10mm), 1/2 (12.5mm) “, 5/8
(16mm) “, 3/4″ (19mm), 1″ (25mm), 1-1/2″ (39mm) ,2″(50mm),
3″,(76mm) 4″ (100mm) and 6 ” (150mm).
Hook side of the tape is attached to the under lap and the loop
part of the tape is attached to the overlap part.
You must have used safety pins as fasteners. Just remember the
safety pin that held the baby’s cloth diaper with a duck head. I
had a dozen of them when kids were young and lost them
frequently.

The safety pins come in many sizes, mostly silver or golden.

5. Cuff links
These are fasteners for the cuffs of shirts. The cuffs have
buttonholes on both sides. Cuff links have a fl at squarish surface
with a loop that fi ts in both the button holes and locks below.
6.Brooches

The brooch is a decorative item with a catch and a pin, which is

fastened to the cloth.

Brooch serves as a functional as well as decorative fastener

though the decorative element is more. They are usually
embellished with gems, decorated heavily with pictures, and
made of metal.

I like the sound it makes (zip).

7.Zippers
The zipper is the most popular fastener for kids and adults alike.
A zip fastener, also known as a zipper, fly, or clasp locker, is a device
that binds two edges of fabric or other flexible material
together. Zippers are used in many items, including clothing,
luggage, camping gear, and sporting goods. They come in a variety
of shapes, sizes, and colors

Zipper tape is usually made of polyester, but can also be made of

synthetic fiber, vinyl, or cotton. There are different types of
zippers, including closed-end and open-end
8. Metal Hooks and eye
There are two types of closures for hooks – Eyes which are
made with threads, and those which are metallic.

Thread eyes and small metal eyes are usually stitched on ladies’
garments, and the metallic fasteners are seen on men’s
trousers.

They are used on overlapping or edge-to-edge fastening where

there is a lot of strain. These small closures are arranged in rows
and help distribute the stress on seams like in the back of bras.

On overlapping spaces, the hook is on the upper, overlapping

edge. You should space and mark the position of the hooks and
eyes with a gauge, for accuracy.
9.Frog fasteners

A frog fastener is an ornamental braided loop fastening usually

seen in the front of garments. They are made by shaping fabric
tubes into a special design.
The frog fastener is a highly decorative fastening which also
serves the function of properly closing a garment. It is also
called a Chinese frog loop and goes very well with the mandarin
collars seen in Chinese garments.

You can make your own frog fasteners with fabric tubes. Follow
this tutorial to make frog closure
10. Toggle fasteners
A toggle is a button-like fastener made of wood, metal or plastic.
Unlike the round-shaped buttons, toggles are long and narrow,
with big holes for the cord to pass through. They are closed with
loops of rope or cord, or even leather, to fasten.
11. D-rings
These are D-shaped rings, and these fasteners are usually seen
in belts. 2 D rings are used on a belt, and one end of the belt is
looped through the D rings to fasten it.
12. Snap hooks/Clasps
Snap fasteners, also known as snap buttons, are a type of closure
that can replace buttons on clothing. They are made of two
interlocking discs, usually made of metal or plastic, and have a click
when they close. Snap fasteners are easy to use and can be used to
secure garment openings, such as cuffs, tabs, or pocket flaps. They
can be used in many different craft projects, such as curtain tie-
backs.
Snap fasteners are available in different types, including: Ring
snap, Capped snap, Pearl snap, Press button, and Spring button.
13. Grommets / eyelets

Grommets are metal or plastic rings that reinforce holes in

fabrics. Laces or ribbons, or cords are threaded through the
grommets. The hole is called the eye. Most usually, they are seen
in shoes, corsets, and belts.

Checkout this tutorial to make eyelets on clothes by hand

sewing. You can also attach metal grommets using some tools.

You need a grommet press and a grommet setting tool to apply

the grommets to the fabric.
14. Glass studs
These fasteners are mainly for decorative purposes. They are
pierced with holes in the fabric. They have a metallic base, and
the upper part is made of glass in different shapes and colors.

15. Buttons
Buttons are inarguably the oldest and most used of all fasteners.
They are mostly made of plastic, but you also get buttons in
metal, wood, and seashell.

The two kinds of buttons classified as per how they are applied
1. Sew through buttons and
2. Shank buttons.

The sew-through-buttons have two or more holes through which

a thread is inserted to secure it to the fabric by hand sewing or
machine sewing.

to the fabric are

There are different types of buttons available – Wooden
Buttons, Metallic Buttons, Leather buttons, Fancy buttons, Shirt
Buttons, Cardigan Buttons, Coat Buttons, Press buttons, Cloth
Buttons, Printed buttons, Lac Buttons, Pearl Buttons, Wax
Buttons.

Shank buttons have a plastic or metal shank which raises the

button slightly off the fabric and gives room for the button to get
under without straining the fabric.

Converting beads into buttons is easy and fun; You can easily
start making bead covered buttons.
16. Cords and ropes

Cords are mostly used as tie openings. They are usually used in
drawstrings in waistbands of pants, and skirts. You can learn
more about the different types of cords you can use here.

You can DIY cords with fabric scraps – checkout the tutorial for
making fabric tubes.

Checkout the post on waistbands to know how to add drawstring

waistband to your clothes.
17. Sliders

From jeans to suitcases to sofa covers to boots, chances are

we've all used more than one “slide fastener” (AKA “zipper”).
Hard as it is to imagine life without them, zippers have only been
around for about a hundred years.
18. Clasps
These fasteners join together with a twin or corresponding
fastener on the other side of the material and serve as a closure.

19. Squeeze buckle

This fastener is used in bag straps and belts.
20. G-hooks.
G-hook is a hook usually used in lingerie as a strap hook or as a
clasp for front open bras.

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