Notions are all those items essential to making your garments. Some of
these can enhance or detract from your garment, so choose them carefully.
Buttons should harmonize with texture and color of fabric, style of garment,
and your figure build. Small buttons look good on small people; tall,
larger persons can use larger buttons. The fewer buttons you use, the
larger they may be in size than when you use many. Use large, heavy buttons
only on heavy fabrics. Use lightweight buttons on lightweight fabrics.
Plain, flat buttons are good for waistbands of pants or skirts. Look at
buttons on ready-to-wear garments and choose similar buttons to make your
items look professional. A regular shirt button on a shirt will look great,
but a decorative looking button may cheapen its looks. You may cover buttons
with fabric to match an outfit, but these may make the garment look homemade
rather than professional. It's usually best to get the size button recommended
on the pattern, or very close to it. Some buttons, such as wooden and
leather ones, do not look good after laundering.
The zipper should match your fabric as well as possible. Wet it thoroughly
and lay it out to dry, so it will not shrink and look puckered after you
put it in your garment.
Thread should appear to match fabric. Select a shade slightly darker than the fabric.
Seam tape can be used on some hems. Wet it well while on the card, then lay it out to dry to prevent shrinkage later.
Some hook and eye variations work better at the neckline (smaller versions), and some work better for waistline closures.
Snaps are fasteners consisting of the prong half and the socket half.
Other notions may include elastic, bias tape, or trims. Suggested notions will be listed on the back of the pattern envelope.
