I like the concept of bone buttons used by the early humans but definitely, things have improved since they were used. The variety of fasteners now available to us when we sew is marvelous. The ease and efficiency of the fasteners are also greatly improved.
Buckles, Buttons, snaps, velcro tapes, zippers, and hooks are the best sewing fasteners available.Â
Choice is always a good thing, though it sometimes confuses us. I am always in a dilemma about choosing between buttons and hooks; though buttons are definitely my favourite, the buttonhole bit always makes me hesitate.
(Checkout the 8 different types of buttonholes you could sew on your clothes and  the tutorial to make a handsewn buttonhole or sew the buttonholes with a machine )
Fasteners have a very functional role in a garment. They help the opening of fabrics to close exactly and correctly.
They also serve as a decorative element. The Chinese frog fasteners are one such decorative fastener that is functional as well as decorative. An exposed zipper serves as a fashionable touch in many a garment.
The lacing through eyelets that serve as fastenings for corsets adds to the beauty of the clothing. The decorative effect should be harmonious with the style of the rest of the garment, or it will look odd.
Related post: Different types of openings in clothes. Â
Somethings to keep in mind when sewing fasteners
- The fasteners should match correctly on both sides of the garment to hang correctly.
- Buttons are always placed on the left side for girls and the right for boys.
- Girls’ clothing has the right-hand side opening over ( on top of) the left-hand side.
- Boys’ clothing has the left-hand side opening over the right-hand side.
- Remember to measure and mark the positions of the fasteners before sewing.
- Buttonholes should be equally spaced, measured, and marked with a gauge.
Different types of Fasteners you can sew on your clothes
 1. Buckles
This fastener is mostly seen in shoes, belts, and bags. They are not so much used nowadays as a fastener in clothing.Â
2. Snaps /Press Studs
Snaps are the easiest of all fasteners and are frequently seen in baby clothes. I cannot imagine a baby onesie without a snap-on button. They are interlocking discs, easy to take on and off.Â
There are different types of snaps. Some can be hand sewn onto clothes, while others need a snap plier. They are also available as snap tape, with several snaps arranged in a row along the length of the tape.
These black or silver metal studs are made of two parts, a ball half and a socket half, which snap together. They are useful as a close invisible finish to fairly fine materials but will not stand much strain.
Magnetic snaps are usually used as fasteners in bags. Learn more about attaching snap fasteners here.
3. Velcro tapes (Hook and loop)
Velcro has two parts – one with harder hooks and the other with softer loops. They are pressed together, overlapping to close the opening.
Hook and loop tapes are available in different sizes and colors.
Velcro was invented only after world war two, but now it is used in apparel/accessory designing. They are mostly seen in outerwear garments and active sportswear.
100% nylon, hook and loop is produced in several standard colors and the following sizes: 3/8″(10mm), 1/2 (12.5mm) “, 5/8 (16mm) “, 3/4″ (19mm), 1″ (25mm), 1-1/2″ (39mm) , 2″(50mm), 3″,(76mm) 4″ (100mm) and 6” (150mm).
Hook side of the tape is attached to the under lap and the loop part of the tape is attached to the overlap part.Â
4. Safety pins
You must have used safety pins as fasteners. Just remember the safety pin that held the baby’s cloth diaper with a duck head. I had a dozen of them when kids were young and lost them frequently.
The safety pins come in many sizes, mostly silver or golden.
5. Cuff links
These are fasteners for the cuffs of shirts. The cuffs have buttonholes on both sides. Cuff links have a flat squarish surface with a loop that fits in both the button holes and locks below.
6.Brooches
The brooch is a decorative item with a catch and a pin, which is fastened to the cloth.
Brooch serves as a functional as well as decorative fastener though the decorative element is more. They are usually embellished with gems, decorated heavily with pictures, and made of metal.
Check out the tutorial to make easy brooches with fabric.
7.Zippers
The zipper is the most popular fastener for kids and adults alike. I like the sound it makes (zip).Â
Checkout the post on 11 types of zippers and their different parts .
Related postsÂ
- How to sew a pant zipper on the fly
- How to  sew an exposed zipper
- 3Â ways to sew zipper on clothes
- How to sew Invisible zipper – with or without the special foot
- How to fix zippers when they need a repair.
8. Metal Hooks and eye
There are two types of closures for hooks – Eyes which are made with threads, and those which are metallic.
Thread eyes and small metal eyes are usually stitched on ladies’ garments, and the metallic fasteners are seen on men’s trousers.Â
They are used on overlapping or edge-to-edge fastening where there is a lot of strain. These small closures are arranged in rows and help distribute the stress on seams like in the back of bras.
On overlapping spaces, the hook is on the upper, overlapping edge. You should space and mark the position of the hooks and eyes with a gauge, for accuracy.Â
5 ways to fasten a Hook on to your clothes
9.Frog fasteners
A frog fastener is an ornamental braided loop fastening usually seen in the front of garments. They are made by shaping fabric tubes into a special design.
The frog fastener is a highly decorative fastening which also serves the function of properly closing a garment. It is also called a Chinese frog loop and goes very well with the mandarin collars seen in Chinese garments.
You can make your own frog fasteners with fabric tubes. Follow this tutorial to make frog closure
10. Toggle fasteners
A toggle is a button-like fastener made of wood, metal or plastic. Unlike the round-shaped buttons, toggles are long and narrow, with big holes for the cord to pass through. They are closed with loops of rope or cord, or even leather, to fasten.
11. D-rings
These are D-shaped rings, and these fasteners are usually seen in belts. 2 D rings are used on a belt, and one end of the belt is looped through the D rings to fasten it.
 12. Snap hooks/ClaspsÂ
13. Grommets / eyelets
Grommets are metal or plastic rings that reinforce holes in fabrics. Laces or ribbons, or cords are threaded through the grommets. The hole is called the eye. Most usually, they are seen in shoes, corsets, and belts.
Checkout this tutorial to make eyelets on clothes by hand sewing. You can also attach metal grommets using some tools.
You need a grommet press and a grommet setting tool to apply the grommets to the fabric.Â
Check out this post on the tools used to attach metal grommets here.
Learn different ways to do the lacing on these eyelets here.
14. Glass studs
These fasteners are mainly for decorative purposes. They are pierced with holes in the fabric. They have a metallic base, and the upper part is made of glass in different shapes and colors.
Buttons are inarguably the oldest and most used of all fasteners. They are mostly made of plastic, but you also get buttons in metal, wood, and seashell.
The two kinds of buttons classified as per how they are applied to the fabric are
- Sew through buttons and
- Shank buttons.
The sew-through-buttons have two or more holes through which a thread is inserted to secure it to the fabric by hand sewing or machine sewing.
There are different types of buttons available – Wooden Buttons, Metallic Buttons, Leather buttons, Fancy buttons, Shirt Buttons, Cardigan Buttons, Coat Buttons, Press buttons, Cloth Buttons, Printed buttons, Lac Buttons, Pearl Buttons, Wax Buttons.
Learn more in detail on different types of buttons here.
Checkout the tutorial on how to sew the buttons on to fabrics with a machine as well as by hand.  & the best way to sew an easy hand made buttonhole ; Also 8 types of buttonholes you can make. Checkout the post on sewing buttonholes with your sewing machine as well.
Shank buttons have a plastic or metal shank which raises the button slightly off the fabric and gives room for the button to get under without straining the fabric.
Check out the 6 ways to make fabric covered / cloth buttons.
Converting beads into buttons is easy and fun. Check out these posts on turning a bead into a button as well as making bead covered buttons.
16. Cords and ropesÂ
Cords are mostly used as tie openings. They are usually used in drawstrings in waistbands of pants, and skirts. You can learn more about the different types of cords you can use here.
You can DIY cords with fabric scraps – checkout the tutorial for making fabric tubes.Â
Checkout the post on waistbands to know how to add drawstring waistband to your clothes.Â
17. Sliders
18. ClaspsÂ
These fasteners join together with a twin or corresponding fastener on the other side of the material and serve as a closure.
19. Squeeze buckle
This fastener is used in bag straps and belts.
20. G-hooks.
G-hook is a hook usually used in lingerie as a strap hook or as a clasp for front open bras.
Related posts : No-sew fasteners for clothes; Different types of materials used to make bags ; 20 different types of tapes used in sewing; How to sew a waistband in a skirt
 Interesting reading : Ladies’ clothing always buttons right over left, men’s clothing left over right. How has this come about?
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thank you for the information. Godbless
I liked the idea and I have learned much. Much more is required
very interesting information… expecting lot more about such topic…
Wonderful guide!
I really like it is nice website
on. my y68 the button stud broke I don’t need a new strap, just the stud. only had it 3 months
do you know what the buckles/clasps used on old raincoats, clickers, and boots are or where to find them? They have a metal hook you slide through aloop or a track, and then you flip the buckle hook closed and it locks it in place. Sometimes they were on belts and accsories
Looking for a closure found on the front of a front closure brassiere.
A small thin rod slides into a space to fit then clasp folds out.
Have no idea what to call this or where to find. I am converting my nice bras to front opening because of shoulder problems.
If you can think of a better way to do this, please let me know. TY. Lorraine
Hi Lorraine
In Etsy you can look for Front Closing Bra / Bikini Hook Closure – you will get the clasp used for the front closure of bras
Or Are you talking about a g-hook ? It consists of a ring with a an extra hook which makes it look like a small letter g. This is a bra hook used on the front of the bra – the projecting part slides into a loop you have on the bra.
trying to find a specific closure not listed on your site, its like those old fashioned buckles used on rain coats, slickers and over boots. Its a metal hook that goes through a track and then its clipped shut. Its not a rachet buckle but some times you would see them on elastic ornamental belts and other things. It doesn’t always have a track but sometimes a loop
i’ve been looking all over the internet and can’t find them no matter what I search for.
Hi Eric
I get the buckle you mean. I am afraid I do not know where to get it from.
Are they anything like the clasps that are used on ski boots? Just a thought….or boots used by horsemen? Regards Corinne.
Love this site. Preparing for a class on closures. Wonderful.
Informative please add the application of fasteners to dresses
Hi Annabelle
The information on how to sew the fasteners are given as links on the page
What are the straps called that are found on the sides of older military grade uniforms? They cinch. I am looking for a place with replacement straps.
Hi Heath
As of now I donot know – if I get to know I will email you
Are you talking about epaulets?