Snaps

Snaps have been around since 210 B.C. and were developed for the Chinese Terracotta Army for saddles. The modern snap version was invented in Germany in 1885 and later popularized in the US by Western wear. Cowboys preferred shirts with snaps because their shirts would open and come off in the event of a fall. They could quickly slip out of the shirts if they snagged or caught on something. Since then, we’ve come to use them for all kinds of decorative and practical projects. They’re available in metal and plastic, and a wide range of sizes.

Snaps are also popular in children’s clothing and clothing for the disabled, making garments more comfortable to put on and remove. Costumes and stage clothes also use various snaps for quick changes and “pull-off” parts during concerts and other performances.

Their simple design makes snap fasteners useful for all kinds of applications, including:

  • Purses
  • Coats
  • Tote bags
  • Luggage
  • Footwear (decorative and functional)
  • Saddles
  • Other leather goods
  • Animal leashes
  • Canvas, including sails
  • Attaching the fabric to a non-fabric object, such as wood

Snaps can be used in place of buttons on many garments and craft applications as long as there is enough space to add them. They’re useful in various craft projects, from curtain tie-backs that snap together to bespoke ad-hoc additions like a snap-in sweatband for hard hats. You can find many more unique and useful snap projects on blogs and websites like Pinterest.

Snap Fastener Anatomy

These closures consist of four pieces, two for each side of the snap:

  • The socket, or “female” part of the snap
  • The snap cap, or the top that attaches to the socket, is outside the garment or project.
  • The stud, the ball, or the “male” part of the snap, snaps into the socket, holding two pieces together.
  • The open prong attaches the stud part to the fabric from the underside. The prongs are slid into the stud's backside and connected by setting pliers, a press, or a hammer with an anvil tool.

Once assembled, they create a secure closure that keeps fabrics or other items together.

Our heavy-duty Nickel-To-Cloth Nickel Cloth-to-Surface Snap Fastener (sometimes known as a “gypsy snap”) is the exception. It’s slightly different, consisting of three pieces, not four. The top of the snap is a two-part cover, but the third piece consists of a Phillips screw that’s fastened into wood or other surfaces to allow the fabric to be snapped on and attached.

Types of Snaps

Snaps used on shirts and other decorative fashions come in four parts, which look similar to a button. The “cover” is usually a metal or a decorative “cap,” such as the pearl-look versions of Western shirts.

Our open-ring snaps have a pronged ring for both the socket and the stud part of the snap. We also carry them with button caps, both metal and enameled colors, for a more finished look. These metal snaps come in gold, silver, bronze, and gunmetal.

We also carry plastic snaps, including plastic snap buttons, commonly used for home sewing, baby items, and other household craft projects.  We also offer a plastic snap fastener kit with 100 snaps in multiple colors, pliers, and tools to make installation easy. 

Magnetic snaps are a more modern version using simple magnetic force to keep something closed. Commonly used on purses and bags, they’re great for many applications. These snaps consist of two backing washers, along with pronged snap and socket (“male” and “female”) parts.

Want a more concealed snap closure to keep your purse or bag safer? Our round and square hidden snaps can be added nearly anywhere to ensure a tight, hidden closure without special equipment. You’ll need to construct a small pouch to stitch them to the inside of your bag so they don’t move around. Bags close and stay closed until you open them and snap them back closed when you want. 

Snap Fastener Installation

 Sewists can be intimidated by snaps, but once you learn installation and practice it, they become easier.

Like buttonholes, you must decide where you want your snap fasteners on your finished project. Measure and mark your snap spots with disappearing ink to prevent staining.

Start with the bottom or stud part of the snap. This is the part of the prong that goes inside of a garment or other project. Insert the prong ring on the underside of the fabric and push it through it so that the prongs appear on the top. Add the stud part on top. The snap cap is centered over the socket in the same manner.

If you’re using eyelet and snap fastener pliers, you’ll center the parts in the work area and squeeze them firmly until the snap is set. However, you’ll need one for each snap size you want.

If you’re using a hammer and anvil setter, you’ll need a firm surface like a cutting board and a towel to prevent damage to the snap. Use enough pressure to set the snap, but not so much that you flatten it!

Maybe you have more than just a few snaps or need to add them more often. The fastest, easiest, and most accurate way to install snaps is with our Press Machines. Made for snaps, grommets, eyelets, and other embellishments, you can install any number of snaps accurately and quickly. Set up the snap with the prong ring on the bottom die and the stud or socket in the top, then put your fabric in place. An easy push of the handle sets the snap in place fast and correctly every time. 

You’ll need a die for each size of snap you want to install. Our press machines have over 1,500 dies, so getting the right one is easy. Watch us demonstrate how easy it is in this video.

Magnetic snaps are more straightforward, with wide prongs on the back of the snap and socket parts that slip into washers. You’ll need to cut holes for the prongs and slide the prongs through the fabric and the slots on the washer. Once you’ve joined the two parts, bend the prongs inward. As demonstrated in our video, you can also use our press to install the 4-part magnetic snaps.

GoldStar Tools Is Your Snap Headquarters

From baby clothes to heavy canvas and sailcloth, snaps are as popular as buttons and hold even better. We have snaps for nearly any project, from home sewing and crafting to professional factories and shops, and all the tools necessary to help you install them. Our snaps come in various metals and colors and are available in any size you need.

Are you considering buying a press instead of a snap fastener tool to speed up your snap installs? Check out our selection of presses first and the dies you need for your snaps. You can also purchase new dies in the correct size to go with other sizes and types of snaps you need.

Want to see more? Our YouTube channel has over 200 videos of our products in action. Learn how to install snaps and other fasteners using our exclusive presses and see what works best—before you buy. 

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What Are Sewing Scissors Used For?

Fabric-specific scissors and shears are used for one thing: cutting fabric.

They should cut smoothly and cleanly and feel comfortable when you use them. You should always use the appropriate type of scissors and shears for your fabric if you want them to last and you want your fabric to cut cleanly.

Using your sewing scissors to cut anything but fabric is a quick way to ruin a good, and possibly expensive, pair of scissors. Keep them sheathed or otherwise properly stored when not in use and always use a different pair of scissors for paper and other non-fabric cutting applications.

Choosing the Right Scissors for Your Fabric

Different types of scissors have specific functions, such as spring-mounted thread clippers, which are perfect for opening buttonholes and snipping off thread ends in everyday sewing. Dressmaker shears are designed to cut just about any type of fabric, from fine silks and cotton to the heaviest denim and leather.  Synthetics tend to shred a little with dressmaker shears and standard fabric scissors, so serrated-edged scissors are a much better choice. These Mundial shears have cushioned handles and micro-serrated stainless steel edges that ensure clean cuts without slipping.

What to Look for In A Pair of Scissors or Shears + -

Of course, you want to look for a good quality brand. At Goldstar Tool, we carry brands like Mundial, Wescott, Wiss, and our own Goldstar brand of scissors. Scissors can be expensive, but price isn’t always a good indicator of how good they are. Just because they are pricey does not automatically make them good. Stainless steel forged blades are strong, sharp, and will last a long time. When choosing a good pair of blades, you should ask yourself… Are they comfortable? If they don’t feel right when you’re cutting, they’re not right for you. A good pair of shears should be sharp and cut cleanly through your fabric from the start to the end. Of course, with use, they may need sharpening, which should restore them to a like-new condition. However, if they don’t cut well when they’re new, sharpening really won’t help, and it may be time to invest in a better pair. When you buy new shears or scissors, ask yourself… Is it the right type for your needs? Do you need a longer set of dressmaker shears, or would a pair of offset scissors work better? Will they cut thin fabrics as well as thicker fabrics, or do you need a separate pair for heavier materials? Remember that a good pair of scissors is an investment, so put some thought into your choice and be sure to take care of them. Repeatedly buying inexpensive scissors that you throw away can add up to a costly expense. 

Types of Shears + -

Dressmaker shears are the most important scissors to have. Heavier than traditional scissors, they’re designed to cut fabrics of all types and typically do so very well. These Mundial shears are engineered for right-handed or left-handed users, and come in 6”, 7” and 8” models (including left-handed 8”.) Our Goldstar brand 8-inch forged stainless steel shears cut the entire length of the blade, all the way to the tip. If you prefer pinking shears, we have two types from the GoldStar line. Our heavy-duty shears have classic metal handles, and the other has cushioned plastic handles. For the quilter, Mundial professional quilting scissors in either 5 ½,” 8 ½, or 9 ½” offer soft grip cushioned insert handles for comfort and extended use.  Do you enjoy applique work? Our Mundial applique scissors help you make quick work of trimming around appliques, as well as evenly trimming Are buttonholes your nemesis? Our exclusive buttonhole scissors have a screw that stops you from cutting through your carefully made buttonholes. Safer than regular scissors or a scalpel, the screw limits your cutting length, so you cut exactly the length you need.

Other Cutting Products + -

Keep your scissors handy with a leather belt/hip holster, animal print belt holster or a lanyard that hangs around your neck. These will keep your shears handy and always available. Rotary cutters are a great way to do precise, fast cuts with ease. Goldstar Tool’s rotary cutters make fast work of whatever you need to cut. We also carry the replacement blades for all of our rotary cutting tools. Straight paper cutting is fast and easy with Westcott Titanium Bonded Paper Trimmer. It trims up to ten sheets of paper quickly with a completely safe, no-touch covered blade assembly.

Caring for Your Shears and Scissors

Caring for Your Shears and Scissors

Keeping Your Shears and Scissors in Tip Top Shape + -

The first thing you should NEVER do is cut anything but fabric with your scissors and shears intended for fabrics. The second is to never cut into a pin or needle since it will damage them permanently. When you’re finished using your shears, the best thing you can do is wipe the blades with a dry cloth to remove lint, threads, dust, and other small particles that can make them harder to use. Synthetic fibers can also dull the blades. Clean away the dry particles after every use. Keep your shears and scissors working smoothly with a small drop of quality sewing machine oil in the fulcrum or the pivot screw. Carefully open and close them a few times (point down) to distribute the oil, and wipe them, spreading some of the remnant oil over the blades. You want to oil your scissors and shears about once a month, more if you use them daily.  Of course, be careful not to drop them, or they could be damaged to the point of being unworkable.

Sharpening Your Shears and Scissors + -

When they just don’t cut like they used to, sharpening is a must to prevent damage to your fabrics. You may have heard that cutting through aluminum foil steel wool and/or sandpaper as a way to quickly sharpen your dulled scissors. Despite their popularity, we don’t recommend these methods. Think about it—if you shouldn’t use your sewing shears and scissors for paper and other things, or attempt to cut through a pin or needle, why would you use either of these to sharpen a blade? There are better ways to sharpen your shears at home or in your commercial shop. Need something small and efficient to keep around? These handy Scissors And Blade Sharpeners are economical, convenient, and sharpen on the fly. Our ExtremEdge V2 Knife and Shear Sharpener is a fast, easy way to sharpen non-serrated scissors and knives safely. The bottom section holds it in place for simple one-handed operation, and it’s sold for a reasonable price. If you have more than a few pairs of scissors, sending them out for sharpening can shut down operations. Our Wolff Industrial Twice as Sharp Scissor Sharpening System is an investment that will save you and your workers time and money, and keep your scissor arsenal sharp and cutting perfectly every time. Priced at under $500, you can sharpen your tools in-house whenever you need to. Plus, it comes with instructions so that anyone can learn to use it for fast on-demand sharpening.  Pinking shears, like our own soft-handled or heavy-duty shears, are best sharpened by a professional. There’s no reason to keep working with dull scissors and shears. Get one of our exclusive sharpening tools today.