Types of Clothing Closures

With a plethora of garment closures, it's difficult to know what's best for your next clothing sewing project, updating an old outfit, or fixing a broken closure on a piece you love.

Scroll down to learn about the following types of closures for clothing:

1. Snap Fasteners
2. Hook and Loop Fasteners
3. Hook and Eye Fasteners
4. Tie Closures
5. Loop Closures
6. Frog Closures
7. Toggle Fasteners

Snap closures are one of the most common fasteners for clothing and accessories. They come in a variety of sizes and finishes, can be made from metal or plastic, and are applied at spaced intervals like buttons.

Snaps either be sewn on or applied with a hand-held plier tool (depending on the type). The pieces go on the inward-facing sides of overlapping material. One piece is flat with a small hole, and the other has a rounded part that fits into it when snapped together.

Snaps are great for active-wear and other kinds of garments that are made with materials like rip-stop nylon. This is because the force of pulling open snaps can rip a very thin or delicate material.

It's always a good idea to reinforce the area where you'll be placing the snaps with interfacing or another stiffening material in between the layers.
 

Another popular closure is the hook-and-loop, commonly known by the brand name Velcro®. Today it's found on everything from coats to shoes to pants, and was a revolutionary product when it started to be used commercially in the 1950s.

Hook-and-loop still continues to be one of the most frequently used materials in the manufacturing of clothing and other goods and is a patented product. Practical, inexpensive, and effective, it's perfect for incorporating into a variety of sewing projects!

Consisting of two strips of nylon or poly material, it works by attaching the little flexible "hooks" on the rough piece to the "loops" of the softer piece. Then it can be opened by simply pulling them apart!

It can be sewn on (recommended for items that will be worn frequently) or purchased with self-adhesive backing attached (for use on items that aren't being worn). When sewing on a hook-and-loop fastener, work carefully to stitch a little bit inward from the edges, and completely secure both sides so they do not come off over time.
 

Hook-and-eyes lay quite flat and can close up small areas invisibly. These are typically very small (and sometimes a bit difficult to open and close), but the result is definitely worth it. Consisting of two parts (the angled "hook" and the rounded "eye" that it goes into), they are most commonly used on undergarments like bras.

They are also often found at the top of a zipper on a dress or skirt. This allows the zipper to remain together, reducing the chance it will come unzipped when a person is wearing the garment.

Most hook-and-eyes are inexpensive and made from metal that is coated in a variety of colors. They can be easily hand-sewn onto fabric and are usually placed so the fabric lines up flush instead of overlapping (except when used as a waist tab closure).

Always test the placement of the parts before completely securing them so that they line up correctly.
 

Two strings or straps can also become a tie closure, which is typically formed into a bow or loose knot. These are most often found on the waistband of lightweight items like beach wrap skirts or used on utilitarian garments like scrubs.

Fastenings can be made from extra self-fabric (the same material used to make the clothing or other item), or in a contrasting color or pattern.

A loop closure that goes around a button or peg is most often seen on sewn purses and jewelry rolls. It's such a useful type of closure for accessories as it is easy to open and close but still stays secure. The loop shape can be made from fabric (self or contrasting), cording, or even elastic.

This kind of closure must be sewn on very carefully, allowing a bit of tension when closing the loop over the larger piece. Doing this will keep the loop from stretching out and coming undone. Loops can be attached by hand or connected with a sewing machine.
 

This kind of fastening is typically used on traditional-style dresses from China, European military garments dating back to the 17th century, and sometimes on other coats or outerwear.

It consists of two sections (one on each lapel), made from braided cording swirled around in circular patterns and then hand-stitched to hold it in place. The looped side of the frog closure then goes over either a knot made from the same material or a button that is held by the other side.
 

As the bulkiest of all the closures, toggle clasps are mostly reserved for thick jackets and duffel coats. Similar to a frog closure, toggles come in two parts: a loop and a button or piece of horn that the loop goes over.

One part is attached on each side of the lapel, usually in spaced intervals. Toggles tend to be large and made from either strong nylon material or even leather, and are designed to be a prominent feature on the garment. They are typically sewn on by machine to reinforce the material for lasting wear.