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Fasteners & Closures

Fasteners & Closures

The fastening is the bit everyone touches and nobody plans for. This collection covers the clothing fasteners that finish a garment properly: hooks and eyes in every size from bodice to fur, trouser and skirt hooks and bars, sew-on and press snap fasteners, magnetic closures, coat toggles, hook and loop tape, self-cover buttons and bag hardware. Mostly Prym and Hemline, so they'll outlast the garment.
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Fastenings get chosen last and matter first. They're what your hands go to every time you put a garment on, they take the strain at exactly the points where a garment is under tension, and they're usually the first thing to fail. Spending a little more on a decent hook and bar than on whatever came in the multipack is one of the cheapest upgrades in sewing, and it's the difference between a skirt that still closes properly in five years and one that gapes after a season.

Hooks and eyes make up the largest part of this collection, in more variety than most people realise exists. There are standard sew-on hooks and eyes in small and extra small, spring hooks and eyes in sizes 1 to 3, bodice hooks for corsetry and fitted eveningwear, fur hooks for heavier closures, and hook and eye corset tape by the length for anything with a run of them. Alongside those sit trouser and skirt hooks and bars from 6mm to 20mm, waistband fasteners, sew-on and press snap fasteners, anorak press fasteners, magnetic closures, coat toggles, hook and loop tape, self-cover buttons and strap hardware for bags.

Choosing the right fastening

Hooks and eyes are the discreet option, and they sit flat, which is why they're used at the top of a zip, on a bodice or anywhere a closure shouldn't show. Trouser and skirt hooks and bars are the flat, sturdier version for waistbands, where a round eye would show through the cloth. Snap fasteners come in two kinds: sew-on, which need no tools, and press or anorak fasteners, which are fitted with pliers and hold far better on outerwear and heavy cloth. Toggles suit duffle coats and anything you'll fasten with cold hands. Magnetic closures are for bags rather than garments. Hook and loop tape is quick, though it snags fine fabrics, so keep it away from anything delicate.

Fitting them well

Most fastening failures are fitting failures rather than product failures. Sew hooks and eyes through the interfaced layer, not just the facing, so the strain goes into the structure of the garment rather than pulling one layer out of shape. Use buttonhole or a doubled thread and work several stitches through each hole. Press fasteners want the right pliers and a bit of practice: fit one to a scrap of the same layered thickness first, since the setting depends on how thick the cloth is and getting it wrong on the garment means an unpickable hole. Position the hook first, then close the garment and mark the eye through it, rather than measuring both independently.

Where to get everything else

A few things people expect to find here live in their own collections, so it's worth knowing where to look. Zips have their own collection, as do buttons beyond the self-cover ones here, and elastic, threads and cords. For waistband supplies specifically, see waistbands and waistband elastic, and there's the wider haberdashery range too.

What's the difference between a hook and eye and a hook and bar?

The shape of the part it catches on, and what that suits. A hook and eye uses a small round or looped eye and is used where the closure should be discreet and sit flat, such as the top of a zip or on a bodice. A hook and bar uses a flat metal bar, is sturdier, and is what waistbands on trousers and skirts want, since a round eye can show through the cloth.

What size hook and eye do I need?

It depends on the strain and the cloth. Extra small and small suit fine fabrics and light closures such as the top of a zip. Spring hooks and eyes in sizes 1 to 3 cover most general dressmaking, with the larger numbers taking more strain. Bodice hooks are for corsetry and fitted eveningwear, and fur hooks are for heavy closures. Check the individual product page for the exact dimensions.

Do you sell zips?

Yes, though not in this collection. Zips have their own collection, which is worth browsing separately. This collection covers hooks and eyes, snaps, press fasteners, toggles, hook and loop tape, self-cover buttons and similar closures.

Do I need special pliers for press fasteners?

For press and anorak fasteners, yes, you'll need vario pliers or a similar setting tool, and we stock those. Sew-on snap fasteners need nothing but a needle and thread, which makes them the easier option if you're only fitting one or two. Practise on a scrap of the same thickness first, as the setting depends on how many layers you're going through.

Which fastening is best for clothing?

There's no single answer, as it depends on the garment. Hooks and eyes are the discreet choice for bodices and the tops of zips; hooks and bars are sturdier and made for waistbands; snap fasteners suit casual wear and outerwear, with press versions holding better on heavy cloth; toggles suit coats. Hook and loop tape is quick but snags fine fabrics, so avoid it on anything delicate.

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