Does anyone else hate certain BJD clothing closures?

I do appreciate lace-up stuff as it can fit multiple body sizes and oddly enough I have the most trouble with tiny zippers. I had a boot break on the zipper area and I wanted to zip up Korone's jumpsuit further but the zipper decided not to let me.

 

Yeah it bothered me but at least the jumpsuit I could salvage and I got Korone some cute boots that have a laceup aspect to them so not all is lost. I don't find the lacing too bad personally, and most of doll dressing honestly because I've been playing with dolls since I was kid. If anything, I really appreciate how flexible ball jointed dolls are so fitting sleeves and stuff on them is a million times easier than like a Barbie.

 

I dislike snap buttons. Undoing them puts a lot of stress on the thread they're fastened with and I don't like having to constantly sew them back on.

The most innovative replacement for a button I've seen is a subtly sewn-in magnet put in the hem or cuff.

 

I second this one. Sometimes it really hard to open and close them as well.

I am a fan of Velcro, I put it on most of the clothes that I make for my dolls. I just find it easier to dress them that way. Even though it does make the things that they wear look more like doll clothing and less like people garments,

 

I also dislike velcro, but it's because for some reason, clothing makers will use it even if the rest of the garment is made of very delicate material, so I'm always treating the hook side of the velcro like it's made of knives so it doesn't catch on the material while changing the clothes. I actually did get a snag in one of my doll's outfits from the velcro catching on it. It's at least a small snag in a non-obvious spot, but I'm still sad about it.

I also dislike hook-and-loop closures where the loop is just string sewn onto the clothing. Volks seems to really love to do this with SDM clothing. I wish they didn't because I'm always afraid of tearing that tiny loop!

 

I hate velcro with a passion, if it doesn't snag on the doll, it snags on other fabrics. Must be stored separately. I dislike zippers on most clothing items, although I love them on shoes. Zippers are especially annoying when they cross over seams IME- I've got some old Volks sets and you have to put in a lot of extra pull just to get it over a seam in the middle of the zipper.
I like snaps and hook/eye closures most, but it's because of how adjustable they are/the outfits fit several dolls.
I will say I hate how visible snaps, velcro, and hook/eye closures are from behind, though fortunately I never photograph them from the back anyway...

 

I'm not a fan of Velcro, but a tip I've picked up from collecting playline dolls is to keep an extra piece of the loop/soft side of Velcro and stick it to the hook/sharp side of the Velcro on a clothing piece while you're dressing or undressing a doll. Helpful if the fabric snags easily, and it was also helpful because the hair/heads of playline dolls aren't usually easily removed like BJDs so the hair is less likely to get snagged.

I'm not a fan of snaps either, as the sew-on kind puts stress on the thread, and both sew-on and set-in snaps can put stress on the fabric when pulled if it isn't interfaced. And interfacing may make the fabric too stiff for a doll. I also don't like sewing on snaps or Velcro. I can never make it look nice no matter how careful I am with my stitching. That said, for my tiny dolls I'll use Velcro or snaps on their clothing because it makes it easier when dressing the ones whose heads aren't easy to take off completely (like Littlefee).

For my mini and large dolls, I'll avoid closures if I can unless it's a feature (buttons, separating zip, etc). I've become fond of invisible zips in the backs of skirts lately, but it may be that I'm happy to have learned how to sew them in, lol.

 

Hi - I'm totally with you. I don't like Velcro and pearl closures either. Especially since Velcro fasteners ruin wigs.
I love zippers. Snap fasteners are also great, of course ;-)
And even if it is tiring to tie ribbons and bows.
And yes, manufacturers should specify or at least make the closure type visible in photos.
Thanks for sharing the topic

 

Definitely not a fan of Velcro and relieved to see I'm not alone in that! It leaves behind that fuzzy texture and seems to wear away with time more than other things, making it just feel cheap compared to a fastener or zipper. I think I wouldn't mind it on shoes though, since some lifesize shoes use it and tying tiny shoes isn't my favorite thing to do. Time and place perhaps for Velcro?

I feel the same way about it on Build-a-Bear clothing too. You see it more on newer clothes compared to the old ones which were made nicer.

 

I'm so glad someone else hates velcro as much as me I feel like it's a relatively popular closure but I hated it even when I was still collecting playline dolls and it was basically the only option, and I have not learned to like it at all since then.

Also big agree on this! If I knew a clothing item had velcro closures I would most likely not buy it either, fullset or not. At this point I think it's more economical for me to just sew my own doll clothes so I can control closures instead of risking getting an item with undisclosed velcro.

 

I'm also not a fan of velcro. It reminds me of the cheap dolls I had as a kid, and thus cheapens any outfit to me. Not to mention the snagging. But my biggest issue with velcro is how impossible it is to hide, especially with small doll clothing. Even if you somehow get it perfectly lined up, you can usually still see a line of velcro from the side. I find it unsightly.

I hadn't thought of the stress that snaps tend to put on fabric before reading this thread, but they're still my favorite closure. I make most of my doll's clothes myself, and have a hard time getting hook and eye closures to sit right. Also, my mom passed her vintage dolls down to me when I was a child, and they all had snap closures... That's when my love for snaps started.

 

I have no issue with Velcro—I know it can damage the clothes a little bit if you’re less careful with it, but I don’t think it’s nearly strong enough to scratch resin—might chip a faceup or body blushing though.

my confession is, I hate lace up clothes. Yes, it’s most accurate, yes, it makes garments more easily resized, but for that I’d rather have lacing that can be loosened/tightened, and either a zipper or a hook and eye closure off to the side. My issue is, if the ribbon frays, or is cut flat rather than pointed, it is hell to get through all the little holes, and even if the ribbon isn’t frayed, it takes forever to thread it through, and I’m impatient, and just want it done. I wouldn’t mind if they did what human corsets do, with laces long enough you can loosen it off without unlacing, or with lacing on the back, and hooks on the front like some human corsets have. Aura has a full set dress that she never wears, because its lace up, and Zariel has a corset that she never takes off, because its lace up.

 

I urge caution to anyone attempting this, but if you have a small lighter (or just a candle flame) and the ribbon is made of a synthetic plastic material that melts rather than burns, you can carefully bring it close to the flame and heat the ribbon end so it melts and won't fray. Just be sure you're working with the right material so you don't cause a fire! (And if a kid happens to read this, don't do it without a guardian supervising!)

 

I don't think I would buy doll clothes that use velcro - unless it's in places human clothing would use velcro like pocket flaps etc. It's not even the material but how they split the clothing in the wrong place and I'd rather remove heads.

I quite like metal snaps, but the cheap plastic ones can be annoying (somehow doesn't stop me from sewing them on the clothes I make, the hypocrisy lol). I feel like they're a bit of a struggle to close and open but sometimes I don't want to waste a "nice" snap on something that didn't turn out too good. I'd love to see more magnetic snaps in doll clothes, they're really easy to open and close.

 

I hate hook and loop tape with a passion. On dresses I buy, it snags on wigs and delicate fabrics. On dresses I make, (I have two YoSDs and two MSDs) I find it very stressful to sew. Even the soft, thin kind recoils on my sewing machine needle XD. I have two options - either metal 7mm snap-on buttons or non-invisible nylon zipper. 99,9% of the times I hand-sew my snaps, making a knot at each loop to secure them better, I did not know about interfacing, I will have to try that! I rarely tried putting zippers in - I still have to figure them out, and on tiny clothes they are a pain. Most of the tutorials I found use two big squares of fabric, which makes them kinda useless to me... XD

 

I'm with you on disliking loop closures, but I actually like velcro for my 1/12 clothes (and only for them, the scale is just too teeny for anything else imo). I have a 1/12 doll who came with clothes that did not have any way to open them to remove them nor a way to remove the entire head (just the faceplate), and trying to take them off was impossible. Then the loop closures I made teeny frog closures for an MSD's robes just a little while ago, and I ran into the same problem - either way too loose or too tight to actually get the knot through.

I have been favoring hook and eyes for just above everything that can't just be pulled on/off by removing the head. I love the look of little functional buttons but actually making button holes at that scale is very difficult, so I will often fake it and have the hook and eye underneath even if it means the garment can't be worn open without exposing them. I have some clothes I've purchased from ACBJD that have snap closures, and they have all been good so far (fingers crossed they stay that way lol).

 

I don't think I hate any closure enough that it would stop me from buying clothes that I liked, but I definitely have a strong preference for hook-and-eyes wherever they're possible to use. The best closure in my opinion!

I understand various reasons people dislike velcro but I do prefer it to snaps, which are bulky and annoying to remove for me. I feel like I need to use tools just to open them without pulling them right off the fabric. Velcro is annoying if it wears out and doesn't stay closed, but the nice stuff is subtle and low-profile.

And teeny tiny buttons/buttonholes are awesome for realism but when I put on a 1/4 scare button up shirt by the end I feel like I need to give my hands a rest, haha. Oh, but one exception to what I said at first, I will absolutely not buy clothes if they have buttons/buttonholes that are way too big and out of scale. Aesthetic concerns win on that one!

I'm also team "no closure is best closure" though. I'm happy to remove heads and hands to put on garments that are constructed realistically.

 

A much safer alternative (and not synthetic-specific) is to put a little fray check on the ends - I do it to all my ribbons.

 

I wouldn't say I hate any particular closure type, but I definitely have preferences that are based on the scale of the doll. I've never had anything bigger than 1/6, barring a few porcelain dolls I don't play dress-up with, but the smaller the doll, the more important it is that the closure be 'seamless' or at the very least, make sense for the type of garment it is. Nothing ruins the elegance of a ballgown or a prom dress than a bulky velcro closure in the back, even the thinner kind meant for delicate fabrics. But at the same time, velcro is extremely bulky and noticeable on something smaller than 1/6, so my tinies won't be wearing any velcro unless it's something it makes sense in, like an animal costume.

So I'm not against velcro in doll clothes, but I typically would prefer any other type of closure if the option exists. I don't mind my playlines having velcro, I do mind my expensive art dolls having it.

 

Velcro....ugh....I despise that crap. Not only does it damage more delicate fabrics, trims and wigs, but it feels so cheap and more suitable for little kid toys, not realistic, high quality, beautiful, BJD clothes. It kind of ruins any doll clothes I buy, and makes me less likely to buy from the seller again. That and it rarely lays right and tends to make things look bulky, warped or awkward. Have I mentioned I despise that crap??

Another is lace up stuff. This one really depends on how it's done and how easy it is to use. It's great for realism, making things adjustable and looking pretty, but it's a pain in the ass when you need to undo 16 loops in a corset to get it on the doll, or fully unlace a boot to get the foot in.

Buttons, snaps, hook and eye, tiny zippers, head removal required...that's all fine by me!

 

I think types of closures don't annoy me as much as the lack of closures on certain garments. I'm not the kind of person who's chill with popping off hands or heads; most of my dolls don't have an easy way to get those back on, I don't have dressing hands, and I don't think a lot of my dolls have those notches for hooks to rest on if I took things off.

But as for actual closures, the way velcro snags does bother me, always grabbing onto hair and such. I don't have a lot in my BJDs' clothes, thank goodness. I get that it's probably handy for a kid's doll clothes if the kid is young enough to make snaps a struggle, but I'm good without it.

In my own doll sewing, I tend to use snaps. I'm hoping to get better at buttons and I need to learn how to install zippers, but in the meantime, all snaps all the time over here!

 

The most frustrating closure I have encountered are super tiny loop +pearls closures.
You must imagine the tiniest pearls possible, and a loop just exactly big enough to stay around it on the other clothing part.
Of course the clothes are also sitting very tight in the areas this closure is used (like on arms for example)

And then you are expected to fumble them together. Of course it's practically impossible to get the loop over them. In the end you need an hour and tiny tweezers

 

I always use metal snaps for my closure, as long as it makes sense for the garment. I rarely use velcro. The back of an outfit having a giant strip of velcro sticking out of it just looks wrong to me haha. I like functional buttons, but tend not to put them on clothing I make. Getting the button holes perfect on a tiny scale is a pain when you can just stitch on some snaps real quick. I also wont use hook/eye or similar type closures. They don't stay closed well in my experience, unless you get the large ones that slide under a metal bar, and those are difficult to close and unsightly. I do like to use zippers as well, especially in things like jackets or dresses. It looks more realistic to me.

 

Velcro - all of my guys have long hair and I always found it gets stuck in velcro back closures which is just so unpleasant. I had a few Soom outfits where the fabric was too delicate for the velcro closures so was always scared I might accidently rip something. I do not like sticky back velcro in general as the glue on the back of it is an absolute pain to get unstuck and the residue it leaves is horrible.

 

Little buckles on doll shoes drive me crazy though I like the look of buckles and straps. Any kind of ribbon shoes, and lace up boots, ditto. My hands are so bad that it's really hard for me to do up that stuff now. I want my dolls to look good but dressing them can be very hard for me sometimes. Ditto stringing. I used to be very good at it and now it's hard!

 

I know snaps are fiddly but I use them often, and stitch them on to within an inch of their tiny lives. If they come off? They can be replaced.
Once at a Con I even moved a snap over so the outfit I sold would fit the buyer's doll more precisely. They're easy to do that with, for a more custom fit.

I DO use velcro
but before you roast me! XD
I use dolly velcro that usually won't snag nearly as much. It's very fine stuff. I always think strategically about which side of a closure I put which bit on to minimize chance of snagging. Snaps can be just too bulky for an area that needs to lie flat, or for 1/6 size dolls or smaller.
Also, Velcro is just more Accessible. A lot of us in this hobby have vision or coordination issues when dealing with stuff this TINY and well, velcro is easy to stick and unstick.

That said, Having seen this thread, I shall probably use it less and keep improving upon my stock to get less snaggy stuff.

I usually fake string ties if they are not long ribbons- I fold little knots, sew them on, and have snaps firmly under each one. That way it looks like you tied teeny strings but you won't have to and I don't either! I do like being able to tie cutesy clothes with ribbon. It just works with the whole ruffly pastiche.

 

I’m in the Not A Fan of Velcro camp. I hate the sound. It never looks right. It snags fibers. Urgh. It irritates me to detangle wigs from it. And let’s not forget that bits of fluff are drawn to it like a month to a flame.

I don’t like doll scale buttons either because my hand strength is poor. Minimal lacing is fine.

I use snaps, not the giant ones. Not the tiny ones. The Goldilocks size.

All that said, what’s great about this hobby is there are a multitude of ways to fasten doll clothes. You do you.

It would be nice if sellers note the closures used.

 

Buttons! I have a doll heart skirt that I almost want to throw away despite liking it because it's a series of tiny buttons to fasten the skirt. I split my brittle nails trying to fasten the poor thing. I much prefer velcro, metal snaps, eyelets, anything but the real buttons! I like the look of the buttons but they don't need to be functional. Lol

 

Yes! The little tiny buttons are the worse. Especially when they are up against the neck or body of the doll. It's so difficult to my hands to fasten and on fasten them when the material has no give, and the button hole is too small.

 

The most personally frustrating are ones that lack closures, and expect you to disassemble your doll instead. I mostly collect DDs and other vinyl dolls, and while I don't mind removing hands for changing clothes, removing heads is a pain, even if it's not that hard to do. One of my dolls has a delicately styled, tight-fitting wig that I don't want to risk messing up, and it also means the outfit can't be worn by resin dolls whose heads don't come off. Plus, sometimes it's still difficult to fit the clothes over their shoulders. I've seen a Smartdoll dress pattern that expected you to take off the doll's bust to get it on and off, and at that point, I'm just not going to bother.

As far as actual closures go, I think tiny, in-scale buttons are the most difficult to work with. They're hard on my fingers, and there's usually a ton of them, too.

 

I now fear lace-up clothes. I'd like to say I did this with no needle as not even a sewing needle would fit through the loops. I had my hands, the provided crochet thread, and the caffiene through my veins.
imgur.com

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I will not be doing this again.