How to Install an Eye and Hook
- 1). Pin the appropriate fastener to the appropriate side of the garment. For men's clothing, the hook should be on the wearer's left, and the eye should be on the wearer's right. For women, place the hook on the wearer's right and the eye on the wearer's left. Place the hooks and eyes 1/8 inch away from the edge of the fabric, and pin them in place with straight pins.
- 2). Cut a 24-inch length of thread that matches the color of the garment. Thread one end of the thread through your needle, leaving a 10-inch tail. Knot the other end of the thread securely. You may need to knot the thread more than once if the garment's fabric has a loose weave.
- 3). Stitch the eye into place using a whipstitch, which is an overcast stitch -- you do not have to pull the thread down below the fabric and back up. Just slip the needle into and out of the fabric with one motion. Avoid letting your stitches show through the outer side of the garment. Stitch all the way around the ring of the eye, knot your thread and trim the end of the thread with scissors.
- 4). Re-thread your needle and knot the thread. Stitch the hook into place using a whipstitch. If the hook feels like it is flopping around a little after you have stitched it into place, add three wrapped stitches to the hook's "bill." To make a wrapped stitch, pull the thread over the top of one segment of the hook and stitch it into place on the other side. These wrapped stitches hold the hook securely to the garment. You can also add wrapped stitches to either side of the U-shaped part of the hook for more security. Tie a knot in your thread and trim your thread.
- 5). Test the hook and eye you have just installed to make sure it fastens securely and easily. If some of the thread obscures the eye, trim that portion and re-sew that part so your thread keeps a lower profile.