Attaching rivets: Jeans rivets & hollow rivets made easy

Attaching rivets: Don’t be afraid of jeans rivets and tubular rivets! It’s very easy to attach rivets; this guide will show you how it works.

The most important things at a glance

• Tubular rivets and jeans rivets: Two types of rivets that are ideal for DIY projects.
• Versatile sizes: Available in various lengths, diameters, and designs – suitable for every project.
• No sewing machine needed: Connect fabrics easily and securely without having to sew them together.
• Simple application: Easy to handle with the right tool and a little practice.
• Durable results: Rivets provide a stable hold and a professional look.
• Perfect for individual creations: Ideal for clothing, bags, accessories, and more.

Simple tips for your DIY projects with these 2 types of rivets from Prym: Do you want to connect fabrics without having to sew them together? Then you've come to the right place! There are tubular rivets and jeans rivets, short, long, small, larger. In this blog post, I'll tell you everything about these little helpers so you don't get lost in the "rivet jungle."

Reading tip: Attaching eyelets made easy

Video - How easy it is to attach tubular rivets with the Vario Creative Tool from Prym!

What is the difference between a jeans rivet and a tubular rivet?

Prym's jeans rivets are 9 mm in diameter, are double-sided, made of stainless brass, and available in silver/iron-look or antique copper/burnished, depending on your taste. Thanks to the tool included in the package, the rivets can be easily attached using a hammer, tripod, Vario pliers, or Vario Creative Tool.

Jeans rivets have a narrower and shorter stem than tubular rivets, and they differ primarily in their heads. One head of a jeans rivet is flat - this is placed on the inside of the pants. The head that lies on the outside and is visible has the typical domed shape.

You should decide which rivet to use based on the fabric thickness. The higher/thicker the fabric, the higher the rivet must be.

Insider tip: You can only attach tubular rivets with a hammer or the Vario Creative Tool. Besides these two tools, jeans rivets can also be attached using a tripod or Vario pliers.

Who invented the jeans rivet?

A pair of jeans without rivets – unthinkable! As early as the mid-19th century, the tailor Jacob Davis had the idea of attaching a copper rivet to the most strained corners of a pair of work pants so they wouldn't tear. So simple, so ingenious, and so useful! It’s hard to understand why a "Niete" (rivet) is actually called "Niete." The name comes from the Dutch noun "niet," which means "nothing." But our metal rivets can do more than nothing. They can hold things together and they can look good.

What do I need to attach jeans rivets?

For this tutorial, I've chosen a very specific project: I want to shorten the neckline of my kitchen apron with a jeans rivet.

For this, I need:

• Tools - Hammer^*, Tripod^*, Vario pliers^* or Vario Creative Tool^*
• Punching tool^* or an awl to pre-punch a hole.
• Jeans rivets from Prym^*
• Jeans rivet attachment^*

The attachments are usually included in the package with the jeans rivets. However, you can also buy the attachments separately. For every rivet you want to attach, you must first prepare a hole.

How do I punch a hole?

Insert the 2.5 mm size punching tool into the Vario pliers or the Vario Creative Tool. I use the Vario pliers for my apron. Punch a hole at the desired location.

Of course, you could also prepare the hole with an awl!

Which attachments do I need for jeans rivets?

Take the attachments for jeans rivets. You either had these in the package you bought with the jeans rivets, or you buy the attachments separately. The advantage of the newly purchased attachments is the color-coding system. The attachments for jeans rivets are blue.

With this system, you always know quickly which attachments you are holding. This is particularly important if you have several attachments for snap fasteners and eyelets. Personally, I also find the storage very helpful.

The attachment that is in the bottom of the box is inserted into the bottom of the Vario Creative Tool, the top attachment into the top. But back to the jeans rivets. Place the domed part of the rivet into the domed attachment.

Place the other part of the rivet with the smooth head into the smooth attachment. Put both into the pliers or the tool.

IMPORTANT! The rivets must sit perfectly in the attachments and must not be crooked, otherwise they will be pressed together at an angle!

Insert the rivet into the pre-punched hole and press both sides firmly together. That is all it takes to attach rivets.

The jeans rivet sits perfectly and holds really tight.

Can I only use a jeans rivet on denim?

But if the rivet is called a "jeans rivet," is it only used on denim? Of course not! You can use it to connect all kinds of materials, whether cotton or, as in the pictures below, faux leather.

Design suggestions for jeans rivets

Do you feel like getting started right away and testing your newly acquired knowledge? Do you know the free sewing pattern for our children's bag? The pupils of the eyes would look especially chic if you highlighted them with jeans rivets.

Or attach the bag strap to our Japanese bag with jeans rivets.

Our wide leg jeans also cry out for you to reinforce the pockets with jeans rivets.

A denim or corduroy overalls "Pepita" will also look like designer pants right away with rivets.

Is there a substitute for a jeans rivet?

Have you sewn yourself a new skirt or pair of pants and want to reinforce the pocket corners but couldn't find a color-matching jeans rivet? Then take a look at the Anorak snap fasteners from Prym. They come in many more colors, and the bottom part of the Anorak snap fastener is very similar to the jeans rivet. The head is a little larger, but sometimes it fits the design better. Just like I did with this skirt. Here I used black Anorak snap fasteners, or rather, just the bottom part of the snap fastener.

TUBULAR RIVETS

Now that you know everything about jeans rivets, we will turn our attention to tubular rivets. You can use them in many ways, and they will beautify your sewing projects in the future with wonderful, professional-looking highlights, want to bet?

What are tubular rivets used for?

Tubular rivets have a longer stem than jeans rivets and can therefore join thicker layers. They are most commonly used for connecting bag straps.
But you can also use them for making key fobs, dog harnesses, and dog collars. While window shopping, I saw a nice solution for reinforcing the corners of a designer handbag.

Which Prym tubular rivets are available on the market?

With tubular rivets, you have the choice between a 7.5 mm and a 9 mm cap diameter. In addition, you must decide on a height – suitable for the fabric you want to join.

Heights of 3-4 mm, 4-6 mm, and 6-9 mm are offered.

Take a look at the image below – you can find such packaging at your haberdashery store. The top package contains a tool for attaching the tubular rivet with a hammer. However, I advise against this. With a hammer, you cannot estimate the height and force very well, and often the tubular rivets end up crooked and do not sit perfectly.

Buy tubular rivets that best match your fabric. They should not be too high, but also not too short. In the picture above, I would choose the tubular rivet on the right or in the middle. The tubular rivet on the left has too long a stem. Although it would hold, there is a risk that it will become crooked because the metal has to be pushed into the fabric too forcefully.

What do I use to attach the tubular rivet, and with what tool?

As mentioned, you can attach tubular rivets with a hammer or with the Vario Creative Tool. It does not work with pliers! However, since one has too little control over the required impact force when using a hammer, I advise against the version with the hammer.

Purchasing the Vario Creative Tool is definitely worth it, and not just for tubular rivets. The press is very versatile and will surely bring you much joy and simplify some tasks:-) My further description for inserting a tubular rivet refers only to the Vario Creative Tool.

Therefore, you need the following:

• Vario Creative Tool^*
• 2.5 mm punch tool^*
• or an awl^*
• Attachment for tubular rivets^*

What is the Vario Creative Tool?

The Vario Creative Tool is a brilliant press with which you can attach most of Prym's non-sew products. When you buy it, a pack of hole-punching tools is included for punching small holes, as well as a spacer.

The table mount^* is not included in the package. You can buy this separately. I love using it because it leaves both my hands free to position my fabric better and press the tool. It is comparable to a knee lever on a sewing machine. You can work without it, but it's much cooler with it:-)

For the Vario Creative Tool, you always need attachments to insert the appropriate buttons/eyelets/rivets. These attachments are not included with the tool because they are often contained in the button packs. These are the same attachments that are used for the Vario pliers.

All Prym attachments can now be bought separately. But that's a topic for a separate blog post.

Now I will show you how you can attach the tubular rivet. As with the jeans rivet, you first need a hole.

What is better – punching a hole or making one with an awl?

I recommend a punch tool for firm fabrics, faux leather, or leather. I work with the 2.5 mm hole-punch attachment.

For a belt strap like the one in the picture on the right, the awl is better. With a hole-punch tool, you would have punched out a hole there, damaging the yarn, and it could later start to fray. The awl only pushes the yarn apart without cutting the fibers.

When you have used the hole-punch tool, don't forget to clean the tube. If it is clogged, you can no longer punch holes.

What is the screw for on the Vario Creative Tool?

Many people don't even notice it, and yet it is very important: The small screw under the lever. With it, you can perfectly adjust the pressure of the lever. When the screw is all the way down, the pressure is at its highest.
This is recommended for punching, for example. However, this pressure would crush our tubular rivet. For rivets, we must turn the screw upwards so that the tubular rivet sits perfectly and doesn't get crooked caps.

Super Tip: For tubular rivets, there is a fixed guideline for how high the screw must be turned. Namely, to the height of the fabric. So, place your fabric piece with the punched-out hole and turn the screw up until the fabric fits underneath. Better a bit too high than too low. You might be able to press again, but you can't get broken rivets out so easily.

What can I use to attach my tubular rivets?

You must buy the attachment for tubular rivets separately. The good thing, however, is that the packaging contains attachments for both cap sizes – 7.5 mm and 9 mm. The height of the tubular rivet does not matter for the tool; this is regulated by the screw.

I work with small rivets, so I took out the attachment for the 7.5 mm rivets. The cap with the short shaft is inserted into the upper part. Be careful that it sits completely in the attachment and is not crooked.

Insert the cap with the long stem into the lower attachment. Now you will notice that the attachment at the bottom is very large and does not fit into your Vario Creative Tool.

How can I insert the attachment into the Vario Creative Tool?

Should the lower part of the attachment be inserted now so that you can attach the rivet? For that, you must first push the lower insert of the Vario Creative Tool out from below. I am always worried about my fingers and like to use the awl for that. It is my all-purpose weapon for everything that needs to be removed or is stuck:-)

Can I press the rivet together now?

Now we are finally ready and can attach the rivet.

Insert the attachment with the short cap into the tool. I always insert the lower part with the long stem through the hole in the fabric first, and only then do I place everything into the tool.

But you can do it however you prefer. When everything is secure, simply press the lever down. You will notice that you don't even need that much force. The screw acts as a brake and stops you if you use too much force. Don't worry, you can't break anything.

VOILÀ - you have inserted the perfect hollow rivet :-)

Isn't it incredible how easy it is to attach rivets?

What is the best way to store Prym tools?

To keep things organized, you should store your tools in labeled boxes. The Prym sorting box^* has proven to be very effective. It has 9 compartments, so you can store quite a lot of tools in it.

Sabine and I have Prym Multi Click Boxes^*, which can be stacked and secured on top of each other using a click system. Because they are slightly transparent, you can easily organize and sort everything perfectly.

Important: Remember to also keep the small slips of paper that come with the individual tools. You will always find a quick guide on them.

For the Prym Vario pliers, there are pre-sorted accessory boxes^* that are clearly labeled.

And for the Prym Vario Creative Tool, there are beautiful storage bags in which you can also keep the table mount and other tools.

Reading tip: Prym tools and how to use them

Design suggestions for hollow rivets

Where else could you attach these rivets? Do you know our corduroy bag ASGER? How about attaching the bag strap to the D-ring with hollow rivets instead of sewing it? It makes the bag look even more professional and classy.

In general, you can embellish almost all bags and backpacks with rivets. Simply browse through our bag sewing patterns and get inspired.

We hope we have helped remove some of the fear of using rivets. They are really easy to insert once you know how. And with our tutorial, you have almost become a pro and can attach both types of rivets.

Important: Always try inserting rivets on a fabric scrap first. It is best to use the same fabric that the finished rivet will be attached to. That way, you have maximum assurance that everything will work out.

We wish you lots of fun with all your creative projects! 🚀✨

Happy simple sewing, Sabine