How to install Kam plastic snaps and Prym snaps

Let’s add one more skill to the ever-growing fabric fun we all experience. Plastic snaps!

If you see projects that involve plastic snaps and you are sad that you can’t do it, because it seems complicated and you don’t have what you need (I was there, I know the feeling!), I will show you how easy it is to install these pretty accents.

I started using Kam plastic snaps a few months ago; I had to pair these extremely easy to sew pouches (patterns here) with an easy closure, and the plastic snaps was the answer.

How to install KAM plastic snaps

I have this KAM starter kit.

Dritz and Prym have similar snaps and the installing process is similar with the one presented here.

Kam snaps come in different prong lengths and cap sizes. I used size 20 (0.5”, 12.4 mm- this is the diameter of the cap). These snaps have a 5.6 mm prong length (regular size- there are caps with shorter and longer prongs).

A complete snap consists of 2 caps, one stud and one socket.
To install the snaps, you need these tools: pliers and awl. If you don’t want a kit, you can buy the snaps and tools separately.

Here is how to install the snaps on the flap and body of this pouch.
Decide on your snap placement and use the awl to pierce a hole in the flap.

Pierce a hole in the body of the pouch, in the desired place.
See below how you will use the snap pieces –  2 for the flap and 2 for the body of the pouch.

Push the cap pin from the front side of the flap to the back through the hole.

Then place the stud piece onto the cap pin from the back side of the flap.

Take your KAM pliers and position it like in the picture below. The cap of the snap will be placed into the black die tray. The stud will be placed under the white rubber head.

Hold the pliers so that the bottom part rests on a table. Slip the snap pieces into the pliers. Make sure the cap stays nicely centered on the die tray, with no part of the cap outside of the die tray. Press firmly  on the top handle. Do not press with the work hanging in the air, make sure the work is resting on the table when you do this!

Remove the fabric from between the pliers; the prong has been flattened, securing the stud in place.

In the same way install the other part of the snap, on the opposite side of your work (the body of the pouch, in this case).

Pretty easy, right?

How to install PRYM plastic snaps

In this case you need a Vario pliers and you have to buy separately the snap tools set shown below. If you have the Vario pliers from a VARIO PLUS kit, you still have to buy the tools for the plastic snaps.

You need a box to store your snaps! Here is what I found in my cabinet:  boxes from Aurifil threads! The small compartment has the perfect size for a snap package.

Insert the tools into the pliers and setting the snaps is similar with the process described above.

On another pouch I installed metal snaps (from the Prym Vario Plus kit I have) so next time I will show you how to do this!

I hope this little tutorial helps! Inserting plastic snaps is simple and easy and a really fast way to finish some of your projects!

Patterns for these pouches here.

Happy sewing!