In the old days there was a tiny hardware set, called a hook and eye, that was used to hold some areas of a garment closed. Often, they were found above a zipper on the back of a dress, since the zipper didnt go all the way to the top. Zippers used to leave a small area of the garment open because of their design. A hook and eye were usually needed to close the area. The tiny metal pieces were sewn to the garment and used as a closure.
If you have a favorite vintage dress that is missing its hook and eye, or you have a garment that needs a little more closure, a hook and eye can be purchased at places that sell sewing supplies. The piece is usually sold in a pack of several for a buck or two. Sometimes they are attached to a card by thread or even wire. Snip the thread or wire to remove the set, which consists of two pieces.
The hook piece is just that - a hook. The tiny bent wire hook branches off into two pieces that are curled into loops. The two loops are the means by which the hook is attached to the garment. Position the hook on the edge of the garment and make sure the entire hook clears the fabric and that the hook is facing away from the fabric. The two loops should be just near the edge of the garment, on the backside. Thread a needle and knot it. The thread does not need to be doubled. Start by pushing the needle through the bottom of the fabric and up through the top. Now position the hook and hold it there while you stitch it onto the fabric. Go down through the fabric, passing the needle through one of the loops, then over to the other loop, and up through it. Continue going down through one loop, over, and up through the other, until youve got the hook stitched on good and tight. To finish the process pass the needle down to the underside of the garment. Push the needle through a few strands of the cloth, then begin pulling the thread through. Stop and push the needle through the loop formed by the thread. Pull the thread on through now. Repeat this step, but this time, pass the needle through the loop twice before pulling the thread on through. Pull tight and snip. The eye of the hardware is shaped something like an upside-down "U". The ends of the "U" are curled, though, and twisted into loops. These loops, just as with the hook apparatus, are the means by which the eye is attached to the garment. The eye, however, unlike the hook, is positioned on top of the garment, on the opposite side. The large curled part of the apparatus sticks out from the garment whereas the two loops of the hardware are positioned near the edge of the area. This time, start by pushing the needle through the bottom of the garment, up through one of the loops, then over to the other loop, and back down through it. Continue going up through the loop, across to the other one, down through it, and back again, until the hook is secure. Now finish by following the knotting instructions for the hook. If you happen to lose the tiny eye dont worry. You cant replace the hook but you can create something that will work as the eye by using just thread. Decide where the eye would have been positioned. You can mark the area with a pen if you want. Start by pushing the knotted needle up through the bottom of the fabric, across the fabric, then back down through the material to the underside. Do this several times and youll have a tiny stack of threads that will serve as a place for the hook to grab. Many garments were made with just a hook and a handmade eye of thread. Sometimes the old-fashioned ways worked great. One example is the hook and eye. If you have a tiny area that your zipper just wont close the hook and eye is perfect. Its easy to sew them on by hand and they work just as they should. Theyre barely noticeable and will keep that small area at the top of your zipper closed and secured.
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