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A Beginners Guide to KAM Snaps

A Beginners Guide to KAM Snaps

Looking for a quick and easy fastening? We have put together this super handy beginners guide to all things KAM snaps!

What are KAM Snaps?

 

KAM snaps are high quality plastic fasteners, the perfect alternative to sew on buttons and metal snaps. They are made from polyacetal resin which is extremely strong and Oekotex certified, which means they’re safe for children’s clothing. They come in different sizes. In addition, there are lots of different colours to match all kinds of fabrics and projects.

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Boring Legal Bit: If you follow any tutorial or guidance found in this post, or on this blog, you agree to be bound by our disclaimer which can be viewed here

What do we need to apply KAM snaps?

 

KAM Snaps do not require any sewing and are applied with a snap setting tool. The most popular are the KAM pliers, which come with different die sets to suit all KAM snap sizes, an adjusting screwdriver, a rod for different fitting scenarios and a plastic-handled awl.

The pliers are great for light use. However if you think you’ll get hooked and will be fitting lots of plastic snaps, we’d recommend the KAM press.

What is a KAM press?

 

A KAM press is a professional snap press, which is compatible with all KAM snap shapes and sizes. It is a small but mighty desktop press and the die sets for the different size KAM snaps can be swapped and changed without any tools. Moreover, if you’re looking to attach lots of KAM snaps with a snug professional finish, this is the one to go for.

How to use KAM snap pliers

 

Installing KAM snaps is easy and super quick. You will need 2 KAM snap caps, 1 stud (male) and 2 sockets (female).

Step 1: Pierce your fabric with an awl (Don’t worry, you get one of these included with your plier kit!)

Step 2: Place the point of one of the caps through the hole and place the male stud on top.

Step 3: Place in the KAM pliers making sure the cap is flush in the black sunken dish and squeeze the pliers well.

Step 4: Pierce through the other side of the fabric with the awl.

Step 5: Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the female part.

Woohoo! You have an attached KAM snap!

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Can you remove KAM snaps?

 

Yes you can! Over on the website we sell KAM snap removal pliers which are designed to cleanly remove KAM snaps from your projects. This is great if you want to reuse the KAM snaps on a project a little one has grown out of or maybe you’re upcycling!

How to remove KAM snaps

 

Removing KAM snaps is really quick and easy. Furthermore, with the removal pliers you get the die sets to remove both the female and male sides of the snap.

Step 1: Drop into the pliers the female or male die set, depending on which part of the KAM snap you’re removing.

Step 2: Tighten it up with the screwdriver provided in the pliers kit.

Step 3: Slot the installed KAM snap into the pliers so it is sitting flush in the die set.

Step 4: Squeeze the pliers until you hear a click, then the KAM snap should fall away from the project.

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What kinds of projects can I use KAM snaps on?

 

We have tons of inspiration, tutorials and guides using KAM snaps! Here are some of them:

We hope you found this guide helpful! Let me know in the comments if you have any questions

Make A Reversible Baby Bib –  Free Pattern And Video Tutorial

Make A Reversible Baby Bib – Free Pattern And Video Tutorial

You have been loving our Dribble Bib blog post, so I thought it was time to show you how to make a reversible baby bib with these gorgeous Farm Days fabrics from Dashwood Studio!

You Will Need…

(Measurements are for 1 bib)

2 Cotton Fabrics min. 25x40cm each (We used Farm Days from Dashwood Studio!)

Thread

Kam snaps

Handy Tools We Used…

Needle Grippers

Pinking Shears

Important Things To Remember…

Use a 1cm seam allowance throughout, unless otherwise stated

When machine sewing, always backstitch at the start and at the end

Pre-wash your fabrics

Drop the stitch length around the curves for a smoother curve

Disclaimer: Suffocation hazard. Never leave a child unattended when wearing a reversible bib. Always remove a bib when a child is sleeping.

Want a ready-to-use pattern? We’ve got you covered!

Click the button below to download the reversible baby bib pattern.

Prefer written instructions? Check out our Dribble bib blog!

Ready? Click below to go to our YouTube channel for a step by step tutorial!

Don’t forget to subscribe for more tutorials and handy fabric guides.

Loved making this? We would love to see your makes over on the Plush Club Facebook group! Feel free to ask any questions there, or in the comments below.

How To: Make A Dribble Bib –  Free Pattern And Tutorial

How To: Make A Dribble Bib – Free Pattern And Tutorial

One of the most popular posts on my blog has consistently been The Best Fabrics for Dribble Bibs  & I’ve been planning on publishing a bib pattern & tutorial for a while now to compliment that post…

In these bibs I chose to use a cotton outer and a bamboo towelling & bamboo velour as backing fabric.

There are loads of other fabric choices you could use – check out the original post to run you through the options and the properties of each fabric

What You Will Need:

(measurements are for 1 bib)

Cotton fabric min. 25x40cm

Absorbent backing fabric min. 25x40cm (Read through your choices here. We prefer bamboo towelling or bamboo velour)

Thread

Kam snaps

*Important Notes*

1 cm seam allowance throughout, unless otherwise directed.

For steps using machine sewing, always backstitch at the start & end unless otherwise stated.

Pre-wash your fabrics

Disclaimer: Suffocation hazard. Never leave a child unattended when wearing a dribble bib. Always remove a bib when a child is sleeping.

Want a ready-to-use pattern? We’ve got you covered!

Click the button below to download the dribble bib pattern.

Step 1: Print and cut the pattern

Print the pattern above.

Use the 1” test square to check the sizing. If the sizing is incorrect check print settings.

Depending on the device used, select ‘actual size’ or deselect the ‘fit to page’ option.

Step 2: Cut your fabrics

Cut out the following:

1 outer piece

1 backing piece

Step 3: Sew the pieces together

Sew the 2 pieces of fabric right sides together with a 1cm seam allowance. On one side leave a 5cm opening for turning.

Step 4: Clip the curves

Clip notches or use pinking sheers around the curves.

Step 5: Turning to right side

Turn the bib out the right way and press.

Step 6: Top stitch

Top stitch all the way round the outside 3mm from the edge.

Step 7: Attach the Kam snaps

Attach the Kam snap at the desired positions:

Add the female snap section to your right of the bib, smooth side to the front.

And the male snap section to your left with the smooth side to the back of the bib.

And you’re finished – well done!

If you’re making this as a gift, why not create a few in coordinating fabrics to complement a range of outfits?

Want a ready-to-use pattern? We’ve got you covered!

Click the button below to download the dribble bib pattern.

Cloth Nappy Fabrics 101 Part 4: Notions and Fastenings

Cloth Nappy Fabrics 101 Part 4: Notions and Fastenings

Hello! Today I’m taking a break from the fabrics today to talk about some of the notions and fastenings you can use when making cloth nappies. And welcome to part 4 of my nappy making fabrics guide, you can read the other parts in this series here.  Today you can enjoy up to 20% off KAM snaps, lastin and Aplix/ Touch tape hook & loop. Wondering what an earth these are? Fret not! All is to be revealed….  If you’d like to get involved in more than one offer this week but are worrying about the accrued postage costs – don’t! Just leave us a note at check out and ask us to hold your order until the end of the week then we’ll dispatch it all together and refund you any postage charges. We also have 20% off nappy making kits all week long.

 

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