Snaps & Velcro... Oh my!

A lot of people are intimidated by both snaps and velcro. Both can seem intimidating but once you get the hang them, they are quite easy. I will take you step by step installing both snaps and velcro on a one size diaper cut.

For this tutorial you will need:

• Snap Pliers (I use and recommened Kamsnaps)
• Snaps (Size 20) Here
• 1.5" White (or your preference) Hook & Loop/Velcro, Touch Tape (It has many names)
• Diaper Cut you want to use (Great, free patterns here)
• Your pattern to mark you snap placement.
• Awl. (You should have received a pair with your pliers)
• Scrap piece of PUL for reinforcing your snaps
• 90/14 Ballpoint Needle (Whichever brand you need for your machine)
• Patience

No shown, Velcro!

Step 1: Mark your snap/velcro placement.

I use a disappearing pen or a washable marker to mark my placements on the fabric side of my diaper cut. In case of a mess up, these are easily removed. Mark your rise snaps how they are shown on your pattern. Then mark the last two snaps (top and bottom) on the right and left sides to mark your velcro placement. 

Use your Pattern to mark you snap placement. I use my awl to punch a hole in the middle of each snap. Then I take my marker and mark the diaper using an water soluble pen. 

Add some type of weight to your pattern so that it doesn't shift as you are marking the pattern. 

In this particular diaper, I am only putting in rise snaps and using velcro. As you can see I marked 4 dots at the edge of the pattern to mark where my velcro will be placed. (More on this later)

Step 2: Mark & Attach your reinforcement pieces.

In this step we will use scrap pieces of PUL to attach our snap caps to the main diaper. We will do this with our scrap pieces and our stud caps. We will also be using our awl.

Cut small strips of scrap fabric (long and wide enough to mark for snap placement).

Placing your pattern rise snaps over the scrap pieces, mark your scraps.

Both pieces are marked using your pattern. 

This pattern calls for 6 studs & 2 sockets. Go ahead and lay out what you need. 

Next, use your awl to poke holes in the markings you made. Push your caps through all 4 holes. Repeat for both scrap pieces. 

Use your awl to punch holes in your markings on your main fabric piece. Only punch holes in the rise snaps placements markings. Do not punch through your velcro marking holes.

After you have punch holes in your main fabric, line up your scrap fabric (with caps attached) with your recently made holes in main fabric and push through.

Caps/prongs pushed through your main fabric.

Step 3: Attached the Studs/Sockets

In this step we will work with the snap pliers, studs, & sockets. 

Place your socket on the first prong from the top of your diaper. 

Using your snap pliers line up all the piece correctly. Cap goes down, prongs/cap goes up. Press down firmly. Sometimes I used two hands to get the maximum amount of pressure. 

What your cap should look like once you have used the snap pliers to put it in place.

Step 4: Clean everything up with your snaps.

In this step, we will be using scissors to cut our scraps down on the diaper. Sometimes you can't always get the diaper to lay flat once the snaps are attached using this method. I always cut in between my scrap pieces.

As you can see in this picture, the fabric around the snaps is not flat and is bunching.

Using your scissors and being EXTRA careful, cut the scrap material between your snaps.

Do this for both sides.

Finished with the snaps!

This is what your front will look like. 

Step 5: Velcro

In this step, I will show your how to measure, cut and attach your velcro. I do not use reinforcement for my velcro.

Using your pattern, measure the distance between either the last snaps across the front, or (in this case) the marking for the velcro. This is 9.5".

Using 1.5" Velcro, cut 9.5".

Take your diaper cut and velcro to your machine. Line up your velcro with the two dots you made.

Lined up.

Using a 1/8" allowance, drop your needle into the fabric close the the top left edge.

Before sewing, make sure you line your velcro up with the right side dots and hold into place as you start sewing. Make sure to backstitch. 

Sew a straight stitch all the way around your velcro using an 1/8" allowance. Make sure to backstitch at the end. 

Back side of your diaper. I do not reinforce my velcro strips.

You are now ready to start assembling your diaper. 

You will find the tutorial to put together a similar diaper like this here.