How to keep an open abaya closed without restitching

No-sew fixes

Start here if you need the abaya closed today.

• Belt: the surest fix. A fabric tie or narrow belt at the waist holds both edges, and a small overlap before you tie it keeps the skirt from parting. See belted abaya styles.
• Brooch or abaya pin: quick and decorative. One at the chest keeps the top closed but leaves the skirt free; add a second, plainer pin at hip level for wind.
• Clips or magnetic clasps: these grip both edges without piercing the cloth. They suit thicker fabrics; on thin ones they can slide.
• Safety pins from the inside: invisible if you catch only the inner fold of each edge. Fine for a day.

Where to pin so it holds

Placement does more than the fastener. Overlap the edges by two or three centimetres before pinning, so the pin holds a proper lap instead of two edges pulling apart. Three heights are useful.

• The chest, level with the fullest part of the bust, where gaping starts.
• The waist or just below, which controls the whole skirt.
• Mid-thigh, only for windy days, and undone when you sit so the cloth is not strained.

Protecting the fabric

Pin through the front facing, the folded band along the edge, because it is double thickness and hides small holes. On fine or satin-smooth cloth, pins leave marks and can pull threads, so choose a clip, a belt or snaps for those. An open abaya over a matching or toning inner dress is another answer: if the layer beneath is full length, opaque and chosen to be seen, the fronts parting stops being a problem. Abaya with a matching inner dress explains how to plan the pair.

Two small sewing jobs

Both take a needle, thread and a few minutes, and both can be removed later.

• Sew-on snaps: stitch one half to the inside of the edge that laps over and the other to the outside of the edge beneath, at chest, waist and hip. Clear plastic snaps disappear on any colour. Sew through the facing only, so no stitches show outside.
• Inner ties: a ribbon stitched inside one side seam at the waist and another on the opposite front edge. Tied together, they hold one front across the other like a wrap, and the outer front then closes with a single snap or brooch.

Preventing it on the next one

If you would rather not sew, an alterations service near you can add snaps or ties quickly. We do not alter existing garments, but when an open abaya is made for you the cure can be built in. Ask for a front overlap instead of edges that meet, hidden snaps along the facing, inner ties, belt loops with a matching belt, or a little more width at the hip. A wrap abaya takes the overlap idea further, zip, buttons or snaps compares closures, and open-front vs closed abaya sets out the wider choice.

Put the request in your notes when you ask for a custom abaya on the design quote form. We confirm what is possible on your fabric and design in the written quote.