While we are a manufacturer of high-end women’s and men’s clothing, our office works less like a production facility and more like a studio. Because we custom-cut and paint each piece in our collections, it is important that we pay especially close attention to detail.

What seems like a small mistake – like choosing the wrong thread color – can result in an entire order being mismatched.

The garments that we make are often sent to different artisans for completion. So, if we inadvertently give one artisan the wrong thread color, we would end up with a single item that looks completely different from the rest of the order. This is the reason that, many years ago, I wrote this saying from Thoreau on a small blackboard in our cutting room:  “Life is in the details.”

How true this little saying has become over the years.  As our work has moved from making T-shirts to creating much more elaborate garments, it has become necessary that we really live by that philosophy every day.  After a decade, I can assuredly say that I have learned many a lesson because of that short sentence.  It has become the mantra for my life, for our work towards sustainability, and for the garments we produce.

We consider the smallest of details in all aspects of our work – and these crochet snap covers are a perfect example of that.  The snap covers are a simple circle, crocheted with a double strand of embroidery floss on a very small crochet hook.

We cover only the visible (male) side of the snap as we have learned that snaps covered on both sides do not clasp very well.

These instructions are written for those who already know how to crochet; however, you can find excellent general instructions for crochet here.

Alabama Chanin Covered Snaps

Supplies:

2 strands embroidery floss in the color of your choice
US7 (1.5mm) size crochet hook
#4, #7, #10 or 35mm snap

These instructions are written for the size 10 snap. For other sizes, follow measurements in the grid below.

To start, chain 10 and join into a circle with a slip stitch to make a finished loop.  This loop needs to fit snugly around the nub of the snap. Increase or decrease the amount of chain stitches as needed to create a snug fit.

Row 1- Chain 2 and take 26 double crochet stitches inside the loop and slip stitch to join.

Row 2 – Chain 3 and double crochet in the next stitch and chain 1. Repeat around the circle completely and connect the row with a slip stitch.

Row 3 – Chain 3 and double crochet in the next space and chain 1.  Repeat around the circle completely and connect the row with a slip stitch.

To complete, repeat steps of Row 3 until your snap cover is slightly larger than the male snap. Thread the tail of the snap or a separate  into a hand-sewing needle and sew the edges securely, molding the crochet cover around the bottom of the male snap.

Snap Size                         Chain Stitches                 Row 1 – Double Crochet Stitches

#4                                                  7                                                  22

#7                                                  8                                                  24

#10                                               10                                                 26

35mm                                          15                                                 35