On light fabrics especially, you can always make a bar of thread.
Back and forth a few times, and then tat (half-hitch) over the
threads to make them one solid bar. Matches the fabric! If you need
extra strength you can use quilting thread or buttonhole twist.
--Ruth Anne Baumgartner
scholar gypsy and amateur costumer
On Apr 10, 2009, at 10:15 PM, ladybeanofbun...@aol.com wrote:
Good evening all and thanks for the input. One time Hancock fabrics
near my house was going out of business and everything was on
clearance. I was always hesitant to buy the tape only because it
was so expensive! They wanted like $15 per yd which to me, was
really overpriced. But of course there is always that project that
is running way behind and needs to be done like an hour earlier and
I was desperate so I sent my dad over to get me a yard and a half
on clearance, and it still added up, but boy what a difference!
The only problem I had, unless there are other kinds (and after
this I am going to search online and see what's out there) the
hooks and eyes seemed a little too big for most wearable projects,
especially for lightweight summer fabrics.
With my machine I can't drop the feed thingies but it has a little
cover you place over them. I did my row of about 50 eyes with the
machine and the zigzag stitch, It took a while but not nearly as
long as by hand. By hand definitely results in much stronger and
evenly placed closures it seems. However, while it is always a
better idea for me to do them each by hand, when there is a real
time shortage it's not always possible to do that type of careful
work. The hooks are always the biggest problem, mostly in lining
them up evenly. This must be the type of skill that is acquired
cause mine usually come out so poorly and when the outfit is on and
they are closed you can always see the opening spread, or part of
the hook. Why can't they bring back bars instead of just selling
the round eyes?
I don't know if any of you have ever come across these, but on one
of my period gowns from the 1880's the bodice closes with little
black hooks and eyes that are quite unsual, and hard to explain,
but the hook slides over and the eyes or bars have like a flap so
that when the hook slides over it catches with ease and closes
automatically and holds it tight so it won't pop open again! They
must have been a new patent at the time and just did not survive.
Really was a good idea no less.
Take care and have a lovely weekend, and happy Easter to those who
celebrate it :)
-Justine J.
-----Original Message-----
From: stils...@netspace.net.au
To: Historical Costume <>
Sent: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 7:42 pm
Subject: Re: [h-cost] Hook & Eye closures (was Club for enthusiasts
o...)
> Ps: does anyone know a really easy way to securely and
> evenly attach the corresponding hooks of hook and eye
Have you tried hook and eye tape? I've seen two kinds, one is rather
flimsy,
studs. I've heard it works well, but I've not bought any yet. I tend
to
Hook and eye tape is great, even used for corsetry during the Roman
empire,
according to "Gladiator".
It is easy to use for a good line-up of hooks and eyes. The colours
of the tape
are limited but you can usually dye the white stuff to suit. You
can also place
the stuff inside your garment with only the metal showing if you
are very
careful.
The only real problem comes with machine sewing, the studs can be
lumpy under
the machine foot or push you off course; try a one-sided foot,
-C.
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