SewLibra:
I have all these other snap gadgets but I don't think I've ever used them. Back in the old days I used snap pliers, but mine finally wore out so I bought a new one, the Dritz Snap Fastener Pliers.
SewLibra:
Dritz Snap Fastener Pliers. I got mine at Joann Fabrics, but they are available for less at Amazon.
SewLibra:
These are the attachments that come with the pliers. Each color is for a certain type and size of snap parts. There is a tool to help remove the pliers from the snaps after installation. More on that later.
SewLibra:
These are the 4 parts used for the decorative pearl snaps. The pearl prong, socket, stud, and pronged rings. If you were using regular and not decorative snaps, you would use the pronged rings as shown on the right with both the socket and stud.
SewLibra:
Make sure there are no bent prongs that won't fit into the socket. I had one with a bent prong, so I used needle nose pliers to bend it into position.
SewLibra:
Measure and mark the snap placement. Like buttons, I start at the bust and go up and/or down from there. Here I placed my marks 2" apart.
SewLibra:
The plastic colored holders snap in place nicely. The pearl snap, called a decorative prong, sits in the green holder, point side out. The socket sits in the orange holder, raised center out.
SewLibra:
Although the socket snaps firmly into the orange holder, the prong side falls out! This made it very difficult to place the snap directly over my mark. I bent my head way down to make sure I was on my mark, without tilting the tool.
SewLibra:
After sqeezing the pliers, the snap is set. But sometimes the pliers want to hang on tightly! There is a plastic tool, shown above in gray, that releases it.
SewLibra:
After the the pliers are released, there may or not be the plastic holder remaining. It pops right off with your fingers. I only had to use this tool twice out of 10 uses for my 5 snaps.
SewLibra:
After all the pearl prongs and sockets were in, I lined up and marked the stud placement for each snap.
SewLibra:
Replace the green holder with the yellow holder. Position the prong, point side out, in the yellow holder. The stud, ball side down, goes in the orange holder. There is a hole in the bottom of the orange holder that the ball of the stud fits into.
SewLibra:
And here we go again with the prong falling out! Argh! I transferred my markings to the other side of the placket so the prong side would be face up, to making it easier to install. Dritz really should make a holder that actually holds the prong parts!
SewLibra:
If you make a mistake, don't panic! Just use the tip of a small screwdriver to pry up the ring side of the snap. They pry up without too much effort.
SewLibra:
Completed snaps. I only had to take one out that was not quite lined up and replace it, but it was easy!