Hooks, Eyes and Snaps

What you will learn

• Placing fasteners
• Sewing through metal loops
• Keeping stitches hidden

Materials and tools

• Hook and eye set, or snap fasteners (size 1 or 2)
• Hand-sewing needle (sharps, size 8)
• Strong thread, such as polyester, doubled
• Pins
• Chalk

Before you start

• Mark the position of the hook and the eye with chalk. Overlap the edges first and check where they meet.
• Double the thread and knot the ends.

1. Position the hook on the inside of the overlapping edge, 1/8 in (3 mm) from the fold. Hold it in place with a strip of tape, or with your thumb, so the hook points to the edge.
2. Sew round each ring (loop hole) with whipstitch, going through the hole and into the fabric. Take 4 to 6 stitches per hole and cover the ring with thread.

3. Slide the needle under the hook, between the layers, to the bend of the hook, where the metal rests on the fabric. Sew 2 or 3 stitches over the bend to stop it lifting.
4. Sew the eye to the other edge, stitching round each ring in the same way. Where the edges overlap, use the straight bar eye and place it on the outside of the underlap, where the hook lands. Where the edges meet without overlapping, use the round loop eye and let the loop extend 1/8 in (3 mm) beyond the edge.

5. For a snap, sew the ball half on the inside of the overlap and the socket half on the outside of the underlap. Sew through each hole with four stitches, going through the hole and under the snap to the next hole.
6. Finish each fastener with a knot hidden beneath the metal. Test that the closure fastens and unfastens.

Tips for a neat result

• Use strong thread so the closure does not pull off.
• Take stitches only through the inside layer so nothing shows on the right side.
• Place snaps so that they do not gap when the garment is worn.

Common mistakes and fixes

Check your result

• The hook and eye fasten and release smoothly.
• No stitches show on the right side.