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How to Do Reversible Snaps

Some styles of garments or sewn items look best with snaps. Using snaps on baby clothing makes dressing the infant easier than using buttons, and western clothing often uses snaps instead of buttons. Purses or pouches are also easier to close with snaps than with buttons. If you want to make a reversible garment or object, it makes sense to make the snaps reversible as well. Putting on snaps is not difficult and making them reversible is simple.

Things You'll Need

Snap kit
Measuring tape
Pins or marking pencil
Hammer
Interfacing

Instructions

- 1
  Count the number of snaps you need. When you buy the snaps, you'll have to double the number since you're using two caps instead of one.
- 2
  Use a tape measure to place the pins or marks for the snap placement.
- 3
  Separate the snap kit into its separate components. Snaps have four parts. The cap is the decorative snap cover that has prongs to fit into the socket, a round part with a groove in the middle to hold the prongs. The stud holds the snap cover when it's closed and the open prong ring has prongs to secure the stud. The kit likely comes with a solid base on which you place the parts of the snap you are securing.
- 4
  Place the snap cap through the fabric and place the socket on the other side, verifying that the prongs for the cap sit inside the groove. Remove the pin if you used one to mark the placement. Carefully lay the snap on the solid base or a firm surface and tap the snap cap with a hammer. Do not hit it so hard that the snap dents, but use enough pressure to bend the prongs inside the socket.
- 5
  Place another cap on the bottom of the fabric on the opposite side where you need to secure the stud that holds the snap closed. Push the prongs through the fabric, remove any pins and lay the cap on a solid surface. Place the stud on top of the cap's prongs and tap it with the hammer, using enough force to bend the prongs into the stud, but not enough to bend the stud.

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