<p>For soft, adjustable, with a firm connection, that won't hurt when you fall or kneel on it, you really only have one option: <strong>sew-on hook and loop fasteners.</strong> Any other fastener option is going to be hard, with the exception of using laces with buttonholes (not grommets, which are also hard), but you've also specified issues with using laces in your post, and I do not know if you are comfortable with sewing buttonholes. Additionally, for a piece put under tension like a knee brace, anything other than the laces is going to be prone to separating under stress. In the case of the punch-in snaps you mentioned, they will often tear free from the fabric under tension, damaging your brace; in the case of the self-adhesive and iron-on hook and loop products, they will similarly detach under the tension needed for a brace.</p>

<p>There's a reason commercial knee braces tend to use hook and loop fasteners, and that's because <strong>it's the best tool for the job.</strong></p>

<p>As you didn't offer any information on how you're constructing your brace, it's hard to know why you're having trouble, other than your description of using "small patches." <strong>The smaller a piece gets, the more challenging it is to stitch in place</strong>, and with hook and loop, smaller pieces also have less grip. Your best option to solve all of your issues is to <strong>use larger pieces</strong>, which will both be easier to sew down, and will have a greater grip strength when closed up, thus offering greater support for your knee.</p>

<p>If you are constructing a fairly standard brace with straps that wrap around the leg to hold it in place, you may want to <strong>consider double-sided hook and loop</strong> (branded as Velcro One Wrap), which could be used with very minimal sewing, as it would take the place of the entire strap. This material is designed with the hooks on one side and the loops on the other, so that it will stick when wrapped around itself.</p>

<p>Remember as well that when you are adding whichever form of hook and loop you choose, to <strong>always have the hook portion positioned to face away from the body</strong>, to avoid discomfort from any exposed hooks. Ideally, you would also set the strips within the borders of the fabric, as the edges can also be stiff and uncomfortable against the body.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-16T15:30:32.133Z
2019-01-16T15:30:32.133Z
Allison C
<p>I suggest fine velcro, or else tiny sew-on plastic snaps, sold for sewing onto underwear garments.  You can buy them in a fabric and notions store.</p>

<p>Here is a picture of snaps.  These look like they're probably the metal kind but I couldn't find a picture of the plastic kind.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/LYFAV.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/LYFAV.png" alt="snaps"></a></p>

<p>Plastic will have more give than the old-fashioned metal snaps.</p>

<p>Plastic snaps are small and quite thin.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-25T05:06:24.860Z
2018-01-25T05:06:24.860Z
aparente001
<p>You might consider using grommets, then lace it up. You can get a grommet kit for about $10.59 which includes grommets. They are really easy to install, and they actually look pretty cool in addition to their functionality.</p>

<p><a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B076BGJ7KB" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B076BGJ7KB/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1516452247&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=grommet+kit&amp;psc=1</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-20T12:40:58.933Z
2018-01-20T12:46:08.603Z
2018-01-20T12:46:08.603Z
Jesse Ivy
<p>Do not omit the mighty <strong>Zipper</strong> from consideration. There are probably more types, materials and variations of these than any other closure device, not all of them needing to be sewn.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-25T03:31:51.280Z
2018-02-25T03:31:51.280Z
herb guy
<p>Reusable "sports wrap" or "sports tape" will offer some support, and doesn't require hook and loop, or any hard materials.</p>

<p>The down side is, you can probably only reuse it a few times before you have to replace it with another piece.</p>

<p>One upside, it comes in lots of fun colors and patterns!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-18T13:56:44.060Z
2019-01-18T13:56:44.060Z
Kerri
<p>Have you considered hook and eye fasteners like on a bra? They're small and thin and would have some fabric under them for additional cushioning.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-03-06T14:54:56.967Z
2023-01-17T01:55:12.157Z
2023-01-17T01:55:12.157Z
user3357
<p>I'm not familiar with your application, so I might be off track here, but have you considered creating a hem, and sewing flexible neodymium magnetic strips into it?</p>
<p>These are much stronger than the standard flexible strip magnets.  Just as a clarifying example (not a specific recommendation):</p>
<p><a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/B09717HXYR" rel="nofollow noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09717HXYR</a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/v2QCK.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/v2QCK.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>I suggest this because magnets can hold material in place but if too much force is applied they will come undone without causing any damage, and can simply be re-attached.</p>
<p>They can also be repositioned easily if your needs change, without necessitating puncturing the material.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-27T09:46:26.920Z
I don't read the question as about attaching fabric to a brace with no need for strength, given the mention of lacing tending to open up.  Even the strongest small magnets will creep in shear force unless used to hold something providing a lot of friction
Chris H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-28T15:35:50.133Z
I read the question as being that the OP wants to cover a knee brace with fabric because they A) Want to hide it or B) can't wear clothes over it. I am basing my recommendations n the following line "I am looking for fastener options to attach 2 fabrics and also keep them detachable". A neodymium strip will accomplish this, creep can be avoided by using hemming.
Aaargh Zombies
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-24T11:43:10.687Z
2022-02-16T12:48:12.587Z
2022-02-16T12:48:12.587Z
Aaargh Zombies
<p>I am looking for fastener options to connect two fabrics and also keep them detachable. I am working on an adjustable knee brace. Small hook and loop (&quot;Velcro&quot;) patches are a good option, but they are difficult to sew on. I have also tried snap buttons that can be easily punched instead of sewing, but they are usually metal or plastic. I want to avoid hard material as falling on the knee while wearing the brace could cause extra damage because of the hard inserts.</p>
<p>So, I am looking at different options, like self-adhesive hook and loop patches (which I am exploring in another thread). I just wanted to see if there are any other options, like some soft non-metallic snap buttons, maybe silicone-based, that could be used as fasteners, or any other fastener options that could be used. Laces are another option but they tend to open up.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-25T19:18:48.703Z
Knees braces I've worn have used long pieces of velcro to incorporate the adjustment, rather than little pieces
Chris H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-16T15:23:06.453Z
While this is considerably late, a clarification for those who look at all the comments: "hook and loop" is Velcro, "hook and eye" is the "fasteners like on a bra."
Allison C
<adhesives><sewing><fabric><technique-identification><fasteners>
Fasteners other than Hook and Loop
Katrina
# Fasteners other than Hook and Loop

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-19)

I am looking for fastener options to connect two fabrics and also keep them detachable. I am working on an adjustable knee brace. Small hook and loop ("Velcro") patches are a good option, but they are difficult to sew on. I have also tried snap buttons that can be easily punched instead of sewing, but they are usually metal or plastic. I want to avoid hard material as falling on the knee while wearing the brace could cause extra damage because of the hard inserts.

So, I am looking at different options, like self-adhesive hook and loop patches (which I am exploring in another thread). I just wanted to see if there are any other options, like some soft non-metallic snap buttons, maybe silicone-based, that could be used as fasteners, or any other fastener options that could be used. Laces are another option but they tend to open up.

**Tags:** adhesives, sewing, fabric, technique-identification, fasteners

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Knees braces I've worn have used long pieces of velcro to incorporate the adjustment, rather than little pieces  
> **username_2**: While this is considerably late, a clarification for those who look at all the comments: "hook and loop" is Velcro, "hook and eye" is the "fasteners like on a bra."  

---

## 7 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-01-16. Score: 3

For soft, adjustable, with a firm connection, that won't hurt when you fall or kneel on it, you really only have one option: **sew-on hook and loop fasteners.** Any other fastener option is going to be hard, with the exception of using laces with buttonholes (not grommets, which are also hard), but you've also specified issues with using laces in your post, and I do not know if you are comfortable with sewing buttonholes. Additionally, for a piece put under tension like a knee brace, anything other than the laces is going to be prone to separating under stress. In the case of the punch-in snaps you mentioned, they will often tear free from the fabric under tension, damaging your brace; in the case of the self-adhesive and iron-on hook and loop products, they will similarly detach under the tension needed for a brace.

There's a reason commercial knee braces tend to use hook and loop fasteners, and that's because **it's the best tool for the job.**

As you didn't offer any information on how you're constructing your brace, it's hard to know why you're having trouble, other than your description of using "small patches." **The smaller a piece gets, the more challenging it is to stitch in place**, and with hook and loop, smaller pieces also have less grip. Your best option to solve all of your issues is to **use larger pieces**, which will both be easier to sew down, and will have a greater grip strength when closed up, thus offering greater support for your knee.

If you are constructing a fairly standard brace with straps that wrap around the leg to hold it in place, you may want to **consider double-sided hook and loop** (branded as Velcro One Wrap), which could be used with very minimal sewing, as it would take the place of the entire strap. This material is designed with the hooks on one side and the loops on the other, so that it will stick when wrapped around itself.

Remember as well that when you are adding whichever form of hook and loop you choose, to **always have the hook portion positioned to face away from the body**, to avoid discomfort from any exposed hooks. Ideally, you would also set the strips within the borders of the fabric, as the edges can also be stiff and uncomfortable against the body.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-01-25. Score: 2

I suggest fine velcro, or else tiny sew-on plastic snaps, sold for sewing onto underwear garments. You can buy them in a fabric and notions store.

Here is a picture of snaps. These look like they're probably the metal kind but I couldn't find a picture of the plastic kind.

[![snaps](https://i.sstatic.net/LYFAV.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/LYFAV.png)

Plastic will have more give than the old-fashioned metal snaps.

Plastic snaps are small and quite thin.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-01-20. Score: 1

You might consider using grommets, then lace it up. You can get a grommet kit for about $10.59 which includes grommets. They are really easy to install, and they actually look pretty cool in addition to their functionality.

[https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B076BGJ7KB/ref=mp\_s\_a\_1\_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516452247&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC\_SX236\_SY340\_QL65&keywords=grommet+kit&psc=1](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B076BGJ7KB)


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2018-02-25. Score: 1

Do not omit the mighty **Zipper** from consideration. There are probably more types, materials and variations of these than any other closure device, not all of them needing to be sewn.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2019-01-18. Score: 0

Reusable "sports wrap" or "sports tape" will offer some support, and doesn't require hook and loop, or any hard materials.

The down side is, you can probably only reuse it a few times before you have to replace it with another piece.

One upside, it comes in lots of fun colors and patterns!


---

### Answer by username_7 on 2018-03-06. Score: 0

Have you considered hook and eye fasteners like on a bra? They're small and thin and would have some fabric under them for additional cushioning.


---

### Answer by username_8 on 2021-10-24. Score: 0

I'm not familiar with your application, so I might be off track here, but have you considered creating a hem, and sewing flexible neodymium magnetic strips into it?

These are much stronger than the standard flexible strip magnets. Just as a clarifying example (not a specific recommendation):

[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09717HXYR](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/B09717HXYR)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/v2QCK.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/v2QCK.png)

I suggest this because magnets can hold material in place but if too much force is applied they will come undone without causing any damage, and can simply be re-attached.

They can also be repositioned easily if your needs change, without necessitating puncturing the material.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I don't read the question as about attaching fabric to a brace with no need for strength, given the mention of lacing tending to open up.  Even the strongest small magnets will creep in shear force unless used to hold something providing a lot of friction  
> **username_8**: I read the question as being that the OP wants to cover a knee brace with fabric because they A) Want to hide it or B) can't wear clothes over it. I am basing my recommendations n the following line "I am looking for fastener options to attach 2 fabrics and also keep them detachable". A neodymium strip will accomplish this, creep can be avoided by using hemming.  

---

