I have made feminine hygiene kits using the specifications found on daysforgirls.com. These are washable menstrual pads, and the shield snaps under the crotch of panties. The national organization has been doing these kits for years and has modified their specifications based on feedback over time. They are convinced these snaps are the best thing for this purpose. The shields that have the snaps are expected to last for 3 years, and have been found to do just that.

The snap system that they recommend is called Kamsnaps.com. Snaps are plastic and come in more than one size. The kit that I bought had lots of snaps in multiple colors plus the pliers type tool.

I am not sure that this would work for your purpose, but since my work on that project, I have used the leftover snaps on other things. It is possible that plastic snaps would eventually warp or crack, but if, as you say, the bag would not be taken on and off very often, I think they might be fine. One advantage to the box of multiple snaps is that they come in a variety of colors.

I purchased mine from the website, but I have seen them on Ebay also.

Best wishes with your project. Those bags are not only useful, but they make the recipient feel special and often become the starting point for conversation.

You could also skip the whole tool/pliers scene and just buy snap tape.

I use these: http://www.kamsnaps.com/. I use them for stuff I make for GKs etc.
The only ones I have had trouble with was due to my own error in not having the right size die on the pliers.

KenmoreGal,

I highly recommend KAMSNAPS.com

Their tool is easy to use, the quality of snaps is fantastic, the customer service is excellent. It is a family run business.

Find them on FB as they have incredible deals and sales.

Kirsten

Wow, 3 recommendations for Kamsnaps plus a 4th from an email buddy. I must look into them. Thank you!!

I had never heard of that but googled it. It's very interesting. I'll look into it too. Thanks.

I absolutely agree with Sheltie's Mama that a sizeable percentage of the population that uses wheelchairs would be better served by Velcro if this is something that is designed to come off from time to time.

As for the snaps, I'm not sure you'll get through 4 layers with the pliers. I tried them on 3 layers of a crepe fabric & had to do a lot of "helping" with other tools to get them to work. The press dye would better serve you with thicker fabrics or multiple layers. I'm not sure how much you'll prefer that over sewing. It is a bit time consuming & you need a wood block to put under the fabric if using a hammer. I got so frustrated that I swore the next time I'm saving up to purchase a table press ... which might be something you consider if you plan to do a lot of these.
Here's more info on all this from KamSnaps: http://www.kamsnaps.com/Product-FAQs-13.html

Thanks Bree123. I would definitely make just one and take it to the facility for approval.

Are you saying the snaps that you had difficulty with were the kamsnaps or were they the traditional metal ones? The kamsnaps are sure looking good.

Correction to my link in the earlier post: Daysforgirls is a non-profit, and the link is daysforgirls.org -- Actually, I think either link will get you there.

Concerning Velcro -- it also has a life span. I am wearing a boot type brace for my foot stress fracture right now. The outer Velcro on the boot is tough stuff. However, the Velcro on the inner lining is more like "regular" Velcro that I use for sewing. I have been using this boot for 1 month, and the inner lining Velcro is not as effective as it was at the beginning. I think it is probably because my sock keep catching on it when taking the boot on and off. Once the hooks and loops have collected enough "fuzz", they don't grasp like they should.

Why not use a button? It would be functional and could be pretty with the right buttons. If you go with a snap, you should use the heavy duty ones because of the layers you described. But, if there are that many layers, it could fail and have the snap fall off or fabric ooze out from the fabric being so thick.