If you've ever admired the sleek look of a top European designer jacket with invisible magnetic closures and wanted to get that look, you have a couple of options. You can order high energy magnetic closures for $4 per set from the MJ Trims website, though you'd have to add on an undisclosed, and possibly expensive, shipping fee.
http://www.mjtrim.com/Catalog/Product/894513/26763/26763.aspx
Or you can create your own sleek magnetic closures for less than half the cost and save the shipping fee, too. My local Walmart carries PROMag's high energy Magnetic Neo-Buttons for $3.59 for a set of four, enough for two closures. Note that these are not the bulky magnetic purse closures used for handbags and totebags. They're flat, half an inch in diameter and slightly thinner than a nickel. I believe they're the same thin, high energy magnets offered by MJ Trim, but they don't include the clear plastic pockets.
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj46/nancynancy2001/P2130951.jpg
Michael's also carries the same high energy PROMag neodynium magnetic buttons in a different package.
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displayProductPage?productNum=gc0468
But regardless of where you find your magnetic buttons, please make sure they're specifically marked as "high energy" because weaker magnets will not be strong enough to keep your jacket closed.
To create a magnetic closure, simply take a magnetic disc and sew a small pocket to contain it. I used a tissue thin quilted polyester fabric, but any thin fabric will do.
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj46/nancynancy2001/P2130950.jpg
Then sew the pocket to the wrong side of your jacket facing. The stitches will be visible from the right side of the jacket facing.
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj46/nancynancy2001/P2130953.jpg
But the magnet will not be detectable from the right side of the jacket.
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj46/nancynancy2001/P2130954.jpg
You can cover the spot with a regular button if you wish.
I recently sewed a lightweight jacket with magnetic closures, and the high energy magnets are strong enough to keep the jacket closed. |
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Great tip - thanks! These look graet on your jacket.
2/14/09 5:33 PM
Do you remove the magnets before washing the garment?
2/15/09 8:21 AM
Great tip Nancy!!
2/15/09 9:28 AM
Excellent......I will use this for all those bulky textured fabrics that my machine buttonholer hates. Thanks for the tutorial.
2/15/09 11:41 AM
Blondie, It probably wouldn't be a good idea to wash a garment with a magnetic closure in a washing machine because the high energy magnet would stick to the machine's steel tub. But I don't see why you couldn't hand wash it.
2/15/09 1:40 PM
Terrific tip, Nancy, thanks for sharing it. I also think your jacket looks quite nice!
2/15/09 5:57 PM
Super tip! Thank you!
2/15/09 8:22 PM
Great idea - will have to do a search here in the UK. Thanks very much
2/16/09 5:34 PM
I wasn't even aware of these closures, but I love the idea. Your directions were clear and concise. Thanks
2/19/09 7:49 AM
Thank you, I have several uses for your tip.
2/28/09 10:31 AM
Great tip, thank you!
3/4/09 12:43 PM
Sounds very clever
3/6/09 1:01 AM
Great idea! Thanks.
3/7/09 3:26 PM
Thanks so much , I was not aware of the thin magnetic closures being available . I will look for some , super idea .
3/20/09 9:54 AM
How interesting! I can see all kinds of uses for this tip -- thanks!
1/2/10 10:45 AM
I was wondering if you thought this might work through wool.
11/15/11 10:58 PM
Thanks for explaining the type of magnet and the way to enclose it - so useful.
8/29/12 7:09 PM