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HELP! (Moderated by Sharon1952)
Posted on: 4/9/11 4:43 PM ET
So I made a winter coat a few weeks back (review under my name), and I hand sewed on some Sew on snaps like this, except in a black color.
The problem is, even after a lot of use, they are so incredibly tough to undo, I have to pry my fingers in and push extremely hard to get them to undo. While it's great to know the coat isn't going to pop undone at any stage, it's a right pain!
Does anyone have any other invisible options for coat closures? These are on the inside of my jacket, so you see no fasteners from the exterior view of the coat.
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The problem is, even after a lot of use, they are so incredibly tough to undo, I have to pry my fingers in and push extremely hard to get them to undo. While it's great to know the coat isn't going to pop undone at any stage, it's a right pain!
Does anyone have any other invisible options for coat closures? These are on the inside of my jacket, so you see no fasteners from the exterior view of the coat.
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Check my blog :)
http://snuzalsews.blogspot.com/
Juki Exceed F600, Babylock Imagine, Janome 300E.
http://snuzalsews.blogspot.com/
Juki Exceed F600, Babylock Imagine, Janome 300E.
Posted on: 4/9/11 5:58 PM ET
The secret to opening snaps is to pry them open using your fingernail. I have a sweater with huge snaps and certainly don't want to pull the yarn when opening them. But if anyone else has the solution, I'm all ears.
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Oops, forgot what I was going to put here.
Posted on: 4/9/11 6:19 PM ET
Could you replace with hook/eye type closures, sewn to the facing only?
(Think the kind of hook & clasps seen on trouser waists.)
I couldn't find your review under Coats to see what kind of overlap you have on your garment.
There are also online companies that sell the fancy hinge-back clips etc. seen in fine RTW, if this is an option to show just 1 outside closure.
(Think the kind of hook & clasps seen on trouser waists.)
I couldn't find your review under Coats to see what kind of overlap you have on your garment.
There are also online companies that sell the fancy hinge-back clips etc. seen in fine RTW, if this is an option to show just 1 outside closure.
Posted on: 4/9/11 8:44 PM ET
Coat review This is the coat review. Hooks and eyes are a good idea. I also just read about covering them, and wondered if maybe the likes of a satin would help.
They are SO tough, it's a real put some muscle into it moment to get them undone. lol
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They are SO tough, it's a real put some muscle into it moment to get them undone. lol
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Check my blog :)
http://snuzalsews.blogspot.com/
Juki Exceed F600, Babylock Imagine, Janome 300E.
http://snuzalsews.blogspot.com/
Juki Exceed F600, Babylock Imagine, Janome 300E.
Posted on: 4/10/11 8:23 AM ET
Do you think the current snaps will get a bit easier with use? I would have to carry a tool in my pocket since I never have any fingernails. Hmm, maybe you could, temporarily, carry a thin coin or something to slip between the snaps until they are more used.
I wonder if the magnetized snaps that are made for purses would work? It might be too late for this coat since they have to be applied to facing before construction. I don't know if they would hold.
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I wonder if the magnetized snaps that are made for purses would work? It might be too late for this coat since they have to be applied to facing before construction. I don't know if they would hold.
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Barb
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Edison
"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." Woodrow Wilson
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Edison
"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." Woodrow Wilson
Posted on: 4/10/11 9:17 AM ET
In reply to snuzal
Trying rubbing a soap bar around the snap insides too.
Do you have enough left for a belt?
That would help close it too, but the style would look great with
a frog-type closure also.
Do you have enough left for a belt?
That would help close it too, but the style would look great with
a frog-type closure also.
Posted on: 4/10/11 12:50 PM ET
In reply to snuzal
You might try smaller snaps, that would be less stiff. I wouldn't have much hope that the snap will loosen up. They do loosen a little, but they're really made not to, so...
I have made a couple of coats with snaps, and I just grab the coat around the snap and pull them open that way. It gives you enough leverage to open the snap. This would definitely pull the snap out over time, especially with more loosely woven fabric, so I incorporate a stay under the snap. The idea is to spread the stress around enough so the fabric can carry it.
In your case, since the garment is already done, you would have a couple of different options. For the underlap, it would be easiest to use a clear four-hole stay button on the opposite side from the snap. You could add such a button without even taking the snap off, just add stitches through the snap and stay button.
For the lap, you need a stay on the backside of the facing (between facing and front), which is currently enclosed. So, you'd have to open the coat lining back up. Still ... Anyway, if it were my coat, I'd use a small (maybe 4 cm square) piece of leather centered on the snap. The best thing to do is to stitch the stay to the facing around the edge of the stay, then attach the snap through facing and stay. I think I used rubber cement one time instead of stitching, but you need to attach the stay to the facing somehow.
If not leather, I'd use a strong, tightly-woven fabric like a cordura. Fusible interfacing could also be used, although I'd be tempted to stack two or more layers to make the stay. With the fusible, if you can just get it into the right place, you can iron the RS of the facing with a lot of steam to set the stay in place.
When you sew on the snap, make sure to catch all the layers of the stay.
ETA: OR .... You could use a stay button on the lap side as well. If you can find a button that you would like to be permanently visible, you can just use that. Otherwise, you can sew the button on, and cover it with the coat fabric afterwards. This would work unless the fabric is too bulky. In that case, the bigger the button, the easier it would be. From more than about arm's length, the covered button would just blend in.
To cover it, cut a piece of fabric about twice the diameter of the button, run a gathering stitch around the edge about 1/2cm in from the edge. Pull up the threads enough to get a pocket for the button; cover the button; pull the threads tight and knot off.
You might or might not like the look, but it would be easy to try.
-- Edited on 4/10/11 1:29 PM --
I have made a couple of coats with snaps, and I just grab the coat around the snap and pull them open that way. It gives you enough leverage to open the snap. This would definitely pull the snap out over time, especially with more loosely woven fabric, so I incorporate a stay under the snap. The idea is to spread the stress around enough so the fabric can carry it.
In your case, since the garment is already done, you would have a couple of different options. For the underlap, it would be easiest to use a clear four-hole stay button on the opposite side from the snap. You could add such a button without even taking the snap off, just add stitches through the snap and stay button.
For the lap, you need a stay on the backside of the facing (between facing and front), which is currently enclosed. So, you'd have to open the coat lining back up. Still ... Anyway, if it were my coat, I'd use a small (maybe 4 cm square) piece of leather centered on the snap. The best thing to do is to stitch the stay to the facing around the edge of the stay, then attach the snap through facing and stay. I think I used rubber cement one time instead of stitching, but you need to attach the stay to the facing somehow.
If not leather, I'd use a strong, tightly-woven fabric like a cordura. Fusible interfacing could also be used, although I'd be tempted to stack two or more layers to make the stay. With the fusible, if you can just get it into the right place, you can iron the RS of the facing with a lot of steam to set the stay in place.
When you sew on the snap, make sure to catch all the layers of the stay.
ETA: OR .... You could use a stay button on the lap side as well. If you can find a button that you would like to be permanently visible, you can just use that. Otherwise, you can sew the button on, and cover it with the coat fabric afterwards. This would work unless the fabric is too bulky. In that case, the bigger the button, the easier it would be. From more than about arm's length, the covered button would just blend in.
To cover it, cut a piece of fabric about twice the diameter of the button, run a gathering stitch around the edge about 1/2cm in from the edge. Pull up the threads enough to get a pocket for the button; cover the button; pull the threads tight and knot off.
You might or might not like the look, but it would be easy to try.
-- Edited on 4/10/11 1:29 PM --
Posted on: 4/10/11 2:03 PM ET
I have just put magnetic snaps (like the ones on handbags) on my jacket. They work very well.
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Clare
Machines: Juki TL-2300(straight stitch)used for most things including brilliant free motion, Juki HZL-DX7, Juki 654 serger, Babylock BCLS2 , treadle Singer 201, Elna Lotus SP for easy travel
A Singer Featherweight Centennial recently given tlc and an old Necci in the loft waiting for tlc
Machines: Juki TL-2300(straight stitch)used for most things including brilliant free motion, Juki HZL-DX7, Juki 654 serger, Babylock BCLS2 , treadle Singer 201, Elna Lotus SP for easy travel
A Singer Featherweight Centennial recently given tlc and an old Necci in the loft waiting for tlc
Posted on: 4/10/11 5:35 PM ET
Thanks for all the ideas people. I don't really want (or have the time at the moment) to undo the coat to add in stays, purse snaps etc.
The snap won't loosen up, it's been a few weeks, and has had daily use, of at least 3-4 times a day putting it on and off, it's still as hard as ever.
I'm off to the sewing store in a moment to check out my options, I'm finding buttons too fiddly at the moment with my fibromyalgia, cold weather and shocking carpal tunnel, so I'm thinking that either some slightly smaller snaps, or some trouser hooks will be the way to go.
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The snap won't loosen up, it's been a few weeks, and has had daily use, of at least 3-4 times a day putting it on and off, it's still as hard as ever.
I'm off to the sewing store in a moment to check out my options, I'm finding buttons too fiddly at the moment with my fibromyalgia, cold weather and shocking carpal tunnel, so I'm thinking that either some slightly smaller snaps, or some trouser hooks will be the way to go.
------
Check my blog :)
http://snuzalsews.blogspot.com/
Juki Exceed F600, Babylock Imagine, Janome 300E.
http://snuzalsews.blogspot.com/
Juki Exceed F600, Babylock Imagine, Janome 300E.
Posted on: 4/10/11 5:37 PM ET
Oh and I've tried the grabbing around the snaps, but they are so tough, it's ridiculous. I've even had others try, and they've been grunting and getting frustrated with them, so it isnt just me lol.
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------
Check my blog :)
http://snuzalsews.blogspot.com/
Juki Exceed F600, Babylock Imagine, Janome 300E.
http://snuzalsews.blogspot.com/
Juki Exceed F600, Babylock Imagine, Janome 300E.
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