Any Experience with Hook & Eye Tape?

[Lady De Rue Rue]

Hi,

I am looking for some answers on using hook and eye to close up the front of a bodice on a gown.  I am not very busty in the front (34 D is my bust measurement).  I have never used hook and eye tape (I always hand sew in my hooks and eyes) before and I am not sure if this is the best option to use as a closer for a front of a bodice.  I can use grommets but don't want to have to lace up the front, there is a cover panel that goes over the front of the bodice, so no one will see how it is covered.

Thanks for any advice.

[gem]

I have an 18th century jacket that closes up the front with hooks and eyes. It works fine, and when I make my Helena Snakenborg gown, I'll use this technique again (it will lace in the back as well). The trick is to alternate the hooks and eyes so the gown doesn't gape open or come apart. It's secure and convenient.

When I made the jacket, I *thought* I wanted to use hook and eye tape. It's quite expensive, and I had to travel a bit to get it.  ...And then I could NOT figure out how to use it. I can't even remember exactly what the problems were now (it's been a couple of years), but no matter how I arranged the stuff, I couldn't get the hooks to hook into the eyes and keep the whole ensemble *concealed* by the edges of the bodice. Even Milord, who is very good about stuff involving spatial relations, couldn't get it to work. We finally gave up, and, on Lady Kathleen's advice, went with regular old (totally period!!) hooks and eyes. IMO, it's way more trouble than it's worth.

I don't know if you have the Margo Anderson Elizabethan Lady's Wardrobe pattern, but she addresses the issue of front-hooking bodices gaping apart by adding padded piping over the opening.

[Lady Rebecca]

I used hook and eye tape on my bodice for Dickens faire, and it worked really well. I'm not sure I would recommend it when you're trying to match a plaid (which is what I was doing), but it closes well. I got mine for around $3.00/yd on ebay.

[Butch]

You aren't talking about velcro, are you?

[Kate XXXXXX]

No, this stuff:





I have to say I'm with Gem on this one.  Though I've had no trouble with the tape when I had to use it, for the front of a bodice, alternating the hooks and eyes works much better.

[Lady De Rue Rue]

Thanks, I will do the alternate hooks and eyes seems like the best option.  I just thought the tape would be quicker but, I am more concerned about having the front of the bodice close and stay closed after adding the cover over the bodice.

Off to hand sew 15 hooks and eyes 

[Lady Isabella]

I second the whole alternating the hooks and eyes idea.
Not quite the same thing, but I did just that with the clasps for my doublet bodice.
It made all the difference!

[operafantomet]

I have no personal experience with them (dunno why, they're very smart!), but a LJ friend of mine was at the LACMA earlier this week. She could report that a gorgeous crinoline dress with butterflies actually was front closed with such a tape. Her entry is locked to friends only, so I can't provide a link but her comment was that they had been shown that the dress had a "...center front closure with some of the first manufactured hook and eye tape."

I posted a full view pictures of it some weeks ago. Dress number three, here:
http://operafantomet.livejournal.com/215632.html