KAM snaps are a quick and easy closure that you can use to give any sewing project a “pop” of fun with. But why might you want to swap metal poppers for plastic KAM snaps?
- They are lightweight
- They won’t need removing for xrays or airport metal detecting checks
- They don’t get as hot in a tumble drier and cool down much quicker.
- Hypoallergenic
- Lots of colours and shapes are available
- Washable to 40°c
- You can even microwave them!!! The KAM have previously said that only under extreme heat will they expand slightly which may affect closure, so do a trial check for purpose first, but with no metal, there’s no risk of microwave damage.
So now we know why you might want to try them, let’s have a look at how to install them and some of the most common problems along the way. Feel free to watch the video, or scroll on past for our step by step sewing tutorial.
How To Install KAM Snaps
To make 1 complete snap, you need 2 backs which look like caps with prongs – like a thumb tack pin. Plus a female side – the socket, which has a wider opening in the centre, and a male side – the stud, which has a taller and thinner circle in the middle.
Picking The Right Size KAM Snaps
KAM snaps come in different sizes. Size 20 (also called T5) being the most commonly used. This is perfect for most sewing projects. KAM snaps usually are proportional in size, so the prong size generally gets larger as the snap size goes up. This means that if you are using delicate fabrics or a single thin fabric layer, you are better to pick a size down (Size 16 or T3), or if you are trying to snap together many layers or using thick fabrics, you are better to pick the size up (Size 22 or T8).
There are however exceptions to this, and this is why you can sometimes find small snaps with extra long prongs or large snaps with small prongs. You see the size of the snap will also determine how strong the hold is. Smaller snaps have a gentler hold which is better for sewing projects that need a more gentle closure. Larger snaps have a stronger hold, so they can take more pulling and strain before popping open.
How To Put The KAM Snaps In The Fabric
Before making any holes, decide where you want to put your snaps. They don’t come off easily without removal parts for your pliers or press, so it’s better to be sure you’re putting them in the right place the first time.
I generally like to decide or mark where 1 side of the snap(s) will go. If I’m adding a few, I’ll measure the gap between them to make sure they are all marked out with equal spaces between them. Then when they are fixed in place, I like to close the fabric into the position I want it to end up in. I feel through the fabric where the centre of the snap is to help me decide where to put the hole for the prong on the other side. This way I know I can’t mis-measure and it’ll always line up perfectly.
The prong needs to go through the fabric. Don’t be tempted to cut a hole here or it’ll fray or stretch out and pop out your popper. I find that the easiest way is with an awl (pointy ended tool). This pushes a hole between the fabric fibres instead.
If you are using thin fabrics or stretchy fabrics, I like to give them extra support against the stress of pulling snaps open. A small square of iron-on interfacing attached to each layer of fabric you’re passing the snap through works well for this. Without it, thin and delicate fabrics are prone to tearing, and stretch fabrics will stretch open around the hole. This can start out as puckering of fabric around the snap and end up with the snap pulling out of the fabric all together.
Push the prong of the snap through the hole, then on the other side of the fabric, pop the stud or socket over the prong.
Then you need to apply enough pressure to the snap to crush the prong. This holds the snap in place and can be done easily with a KAM snap press or pliers.
Pliers Vs Press – Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons | |
| Pliers | • Small & light for easy storage • Quick to use (no changing pieces between studs and sockets) • Cheap | • Less accurate snap placement may mean difficulty popping snaps together, with alignment problems more obvious after washing (the warmth from the wash causes very slight expansion which magnifies any problems). • Hard on the hands especially trying to snap several at once |
| Press | • Accurate snaps every time • Less effort needed to fix snaps makes it easier to fix several at once | • More expensive • Takes up more space to store • Heavy to move • Die parts need changing between studs and sockets |
How To Install KAM Snaps With Pliers
Pliers are the most commonly used way for attaching KAM snaps. Being cheap and easy to store, they are a good starting point for getting snap-happy.
All you need to do is rest the cap side in the dish looking bit with the snap already arranged around the fabric. The dish bit needs to match the size of the snaps, so you’ll need a T5 part to snap T5s, or a T3 part to attach them etc.
The stud or socket part faces upwards. It lines up with the top part of the pliers in the centre of the squishy part of the pliers. Squeeze the pliers firmly. Trying to keep the pliers with a steady downward pressure, with the pliers in an upright position helps to keep the snap centrally for a more accurate fixture. You’ll know if you’ve used enough pressure when the plastic prong has been flattened out in the middle and it holds firmly in place when you try to pop it together and apart again.
The main downside of using KAM snap pliers is inconsistent accuracy. If you aren’t quite centred as you squeeze, the squashy parts can allow small movements which can mean one side of the prong gets squashed more than the other. Although it only looks slightly different, wonky parts mean that snaps that don’t quite line up quite as perfectly, and washing will only magnify the problem as the warmth in the machine will cause very slight expansion of the plastic and movement which can make them harder to snap together and pop apart more easily. Too much pressure without it being centred can also damage snap parts, especially novelty-shaped ones like stars that are a bit more delicate and prone to stress damage.
How To Install KAM Snaps With A Press
If you see yourself fixing lots of snaps, or you just want accurate snaps every time without the hand strain, a KAM press is your best bet. Yes, it’s more expensive, takes up space, and is heavy to move around, but after fixing a few in a row, you’ll see why I love using mine so much more than pliers.
These parts fit over the different KAM snap pieces perfectly so there is no possibility of wonky snaps. You’ll know you have the right die piece fixed in place because the parts won’t fit the snaps if they’ve been muddled up.
The KAM press has a bottom dish-looking part for the cap to sit in and different die parts for the stud and the socket. They’ll all need to match the KAM snap size you want to fix in place.
The back cap goes at the bottom with the fabric in the middle, and the socket or stud part faces the top.
To squash the prong, the handle needs to be pushed down. If you don’t squash enough it’ll just come straight off when you try to pull it out of the press. Just pop it back in and squash it again to fix it. I’ve never been able to over-crush them, but if you’re strong like hubby, you can accidentally break pieces if you push down too hard.
Once 1 side is installed, you just need to swap dies over with an Allen key to be able to install the other side of the KAM snap. So if you’ve got a few to do, it’s easiest to press all of one side in place before doing the other snap half.
Then they’re done!
Just read your poppers tutorial. I have them, used on cotton no problem but wondering about using in a fleece dressing gown I am making. 2 layers of fabric. What do you advise?
Fleece has a little stretch to it, so I would add some stabiliser or a little bit of thin non-stretch fabric like cotton between the layers to help anchor the KAM snap in place or it’ll be easily pulled out. If 2 layers of fleece and something non-stretch is too thick to easily put the snap through, then you can always have the snap backing in the centre between the fleece layers. That way you pass the KAM snap only through 1 layer of fleece and non-stretch fabric and just leave the popper part facing out before you fix your 2 layers of fleece fabric together. Hope that helps!
Hi, I am having trouble with my snaps coming off. I nake clothes for my grandchildren, I use snap crutch openings and find my snaps come off, both woven and stretch. I use the handheld Kam snap, I squeeze as far as possible, am I not exerting enough pressure?
How are they coming off? If they are coming off as one with the pieces still joined together then the fabric you are attaching it to needs reinforcing to take the force of being pulled apart (interfacing or similar can help). If the 2 parts of the snap are coming apart from each other then yes, it is likely that you need to join them with more pressure. When joined, the prong part should have flattened out enough that it has mushroomed over the top of the hole so it can’t be pulled back through. Hope that helps!
I have no instructions with my own snap pliers, so thank you very much for this. I think I know what to do now!
Can Kam snaps be fixed with any presser/popper pliers?
Unlikely. KAM pliers have special ends that hold the snaps in place as you squeeze the parts together.
Hi! I’ve been using snaps for a little while now, but I’m worried that they are going to pull out when used on jersey/ stretch fabrics. Because the snaps are strong when I pull them apart it’s stretching the fabric and I’m worried they are going to pull out completely on an item I have sold! I use a medium/ heavy interfacing but I still don’t feel that is enough on thinner jerseys. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thankyou in advance 🙂
Is your interfacing iron on? Sew on interfacing will be less stable. If you are still worried there is nothing stopping you adding a little fabric glue around the hole as you poke the spike of the snap through to help it bond together and stop the fabric stretching as much around that hole. Hope that idea helps! Linda x
Hi Linda, I use the kamsnap, the snaps I use now are 12mm, I’m looking for the mini snaps for doll clothes, do they also exist?
Greetings Mieke.
We don’t stock any small ones but I know they definitely go down to at least a size 14 which has a 9.7mm diameter with a 3.5mm prong but I believe they also make extra long prongs in that size too (5mm). Good luck hunting them down!
Great tutorial!
One benefit you missed, though: these snappers don’t corrode. I’m used to heavy duty metal snappers (applied by table press) for “tentage” gear but am trying to find similar snaps in plastic, especially a plastic version of a stud (male) that rivets to a socket (female) instead of to a cap (back). I’m amazed at the affordability of the tools. Incidentally, looking at the KAMS website (after viewing this page), they actually make a tool for removing snaps – and it costs almost TWICE as much as the pliers!
Happy snapping…
Great point about them not corroding. I hadn’t thought of that. Thanks for sharing!
But they pull away from fleece
Yes. That is because fleece is a stretch fabric. It just needs a little square of non-stretch fabric like cotton fixed behind where you want to put the snap in. Otherwise the hole stretches and that’s why the snap pops out.
In most internet browsers, you can go to print the page. Then instead of selecting a printer, you can usually select save to PDF file. That way you can save any helpful page as a PDF. Linda
I love using kam snaps-wish I had seen your tutorial before I used trial and eror to work out the best practices! I have lost my size 16 silicone pressing head and can’t find a supplier to purchase spares, can you advise? thanking you in advance, Stephanie
Thank you so much. I have a few spare parts around including that one. I will email you about it. Linda
Love the tutorial. I just bought kam snaps from Australia, didn’t know they were sold in UK! I also didn’t know how to fix them, thought I could sew them in. I am asking you to send me the kam snap pliers please. The ones I have are 12.48mm. Are the pliers a “one size fits all “? From the tutorial it looks like it.
Thank you so much Carole. I’m so glad you found the KAM snap tutorial so helpful. The pliers tend to come with a few interchangeable heads so that you could swap them around if you were to purchase different size snaps. Typically though it is size T5 (also called size 20) snaps that are sold and used – which are the same as your 12.48mm snaps, so the head for these usually come already in place so the pliers are ready to use. They will work with the round ones or shaped ones (e.g. hearts and stars) but as they aren’t a moulded fit you have to be a little more careful that the pieces don’t slide just before putting pressure on. We have just got some more pliers arrived in stock, but the packaging has changed a little so I will try to get them photographed and listed back on the website for purchase for you tomorrow. Linda
I’ve just popped them up for you here – https://shop.sewingbeefabrics.co.uk/shop/kam-snap-pliers-individual-set-options
I’ve just tried the snaps I bought this week. THey look great and easy to fit. Thanks for all your help
My Pleasure. I’m so glad the advice helped and your having fun with them 😀
Do you sell the kam snap pliers please.
We’ve just got some new in stock but I haven’t had a chance to photograph them and pop them in the shop yet. I will email you more details.
Yes please I would like to place an order for this item, would be very greatful if you could send me the appropriate forms. Thanks for all your help and support. Sylvia.
Very helpful, I now understand what I’m doing. Thanks.
My pleasure. Thank you for leaving such a lovely comment. I hope you have lots of fun with your KAM snaps!
Hi there Sewing Bee love the website I was wondering if on the subject of How To Use KAM Snaps.
I would either like a tutorial on how to Remove the KAM Snaps or just some information via my e/mail many thanks for reading this
All you need to do is to hold your snap side on in the pliers(so the top and bottom edge of the circle only, are in contact)then squeeze. The 2 parts will pop apart under the pressure. I’ve found that it’s fine to use the KAM snap pliers like this occasionally but if you are going to do it frequently then I would use some normal DIY pliers as the rubber/plastic that holds the KAM snap in place can be damaged under repetitive use in this way.
Hello,
Love the tutorial, do you stock the pliers/
Ann
Thank you. We haven’t got any of the pliers in stock at the minute, but plenty of snaps including stars and hearts here – https://shop.sewingbeefabrics.co.uk/product-category/sewing-accessories/kam-snaps/