riveted or sew-in press studs?

[Leafbuds]

I'm thinking of trying to get the velcro strips on the storm flaps of my rainjacket replaced with press studs (or even some sort of magnetic fastener?!) because the velcro annoys me, is scratchy, catches on nice scarves and clothing, attracts lint, etc etc.

I was going to take it to the nearby alterations place and ask if they can remove the velcro and add press studs, but I know that not everywhere does the riveted sort as it takes tools and skill - if they don't, I imagine that they might offer to use the sew-in ones instead, as they are quite hard-sell to get business. I want to be utterly sure about what I want before I agree as I don't want to ruin it. Is this something that should have riveted studs, like I have seen on other rain jackets? Would the sew-in ones be strong enough and look right? This is for outdoor (e.g. walking in rain) use. The storm flaps are double layered, and the fastener would just go on the inside layer of the flap that comes over, so it wouldn't need to match in colour or anything, just metal ones would be fine.

I hope that the current velcro could be unpicked in a relatively invisible way, though i guess it could be covered somehow instead.

any drawbacks to this plan? Is it difficult to do? (I don't want to do it myself, but if it is difficult, I want to know to make sure I can check whether the alterations place can actually do it well - they don't speak very good English, so sometimes discussions are a bit hit and miss).

There is already a zip to actually keep the jacket closed, so it's mostly just convenience/aesthetics that I'd prefer press studs.

[catsnore]

Possible problems:

It may not be possible to remove the Velcro as it is likely stuck on with some sort of adhesive. If you try to remove it and fail it might make a big mess of the area! Certainly you might damage the fabric even just unpicking it.

With the press studs: riveted would be much better and stronger - the sewn on ones are never very good imo. Certainly for a coat you want something strong. Sewing into waterproof fabric would make holes which would obviously make it less waterproof. Rivets make a small hole but the hole is contained within the fastening.

[Leafbuds]

thank you - yes I wondered about the waterproofing aspect of it, but I was hoping that the studs could be attached to the underneath side of the double layer flap that comes over, and on the top layer of the fabric on the bit it attaches to, so there wouldn't be any holes into the jacket itself. And I'm not using it in drenching downpours anyway, so I think that part is OK. I had a feeling the riveted ones would be better, so I need to make sure to find an alternations shop that can do them well.

Removing the velcro sounds like a bigger issue though. Maybe I can cover it instead, or at least the hook side, though I suspect that will look bulky and messy. It's hardly fancy high-end wear, but I still want it to look nice for everyday city use too, so don't want to ruin it if it won't come off. I can see some stitching, but that doesn't mean it's not also glued underneath - I wonder how I can tell, other than trying to unpick and see what happens, and then sew it back up?!


(This kind of thing seemed a nice solution, though a bit too bulky for my needs, but sadly don't seem to have made it into real-life production anywhere! I bet there is a market if someone would invent them - and I'm not using compasses or anything to worry too much about the magnet!).
https://soldiersystems.net/2012/08/07/magnetic-velcro-fasteners/

[kittykarate]

Couldn't you fudge something like that using self adhesive velcro tape and some craft magnet tape? Though maybe it would be a challenge on getting the polarity right, I've never checked if those craft magnet tapes stick to themselves. Also, it would make the jacket heavier.

Riveted press studs are relatively easy, they don't take much special equipment, and what is needed is usually included when you buy them. Basically you have to provide your own hammer.... oh and be bloody accurate on your placement, it's a bugger when you've riveted them in place and realise that you have got it mis-aligned.

[Leafbuds]

That's actually what I did yesterday! I did get the sense it would work, but not practically with the velcro tape and magnets etc. Too bullky and the velcro didn't stick well enough and the magnets didn't close it enough to look smooth. But it was an interesting experiment!

I think the only way would be to remove the velcro if it's not glued in, and then see if the alterations place would add riveted press studs - i don't really want the faff of doing it myself, but I want to make sure they know what they're doing, as if they get it misaligned then it would spoil the jacket as I doubt it can be re-done.

[Scampuss]

Fitting riveted press studs is incredibly easy, I would think any competent amateur or professional sewist or cobbler could do this. A cobbler might actually be well suited.

[Leafbuds]

Thanks, I will ask them if it looks like I can get the velcro off. I ihaven't tried yet, as I thought I'd email the company first and ask about whether there is adhesive underneath, as that seemed like quite an important point! I have heard back that it's 'seam taped' underneath the stitching, but I'm not sure what that means - I assume adhesive, which means that it might be too difficult to get off, and I'm not sure it's worth trying. I do have an old jacket from the same brand, that is worn out, so I might try that as my experiment and see how that velcro is on, and how hard it is to remove.

otherwise, I'll just avoid thin scarves and tops and nice woollen things that catch on the velcro, and keep it the way it is. I just don't like velcro much! But it's not that big of a deal.