Sew-in magnets neodymium

Here you can find flat disc magnets, shrink-wrapped in sturdy plastic film, suitable for sewing onto fabrics, canvas, clothing and other textiles. Thanks to the plastic covering, the strong magnets are waterproof and rustproof, can be washed in the washing machine and used outdoors and in wet environments. Our customers love to use these magnets as sewn-in magnetic closures, for example, in make-up bags or purses. Sewn into vehicle curtains, these magnets are also a hit with campers.

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Sewing shrink-wrapped magnets with a sewing machine

For many applications (such as magnetic closures, for example), you will need a pair of magnets; hence, the magnets are available in pairs on a plastic strip. The plastic strip separates the magnet pairs and makes handling easier. Below are a few tips to help you sew these magnets with your sewing machine:

Peel off two opposite magnets from the strip and leave them joined together.
Sew the lower magnet to the fabric. The top magnet broadly shields the magnetic field, so the magnets won't stick to the foot of the sewing machine.
Now sew on the top magnet as counterpart. This ensures the magnets won't inadvertently repel each other.

Even with this trick, sewing on magnets with a sewing machine is not that easy, as many parts of the machine are ferromagnetic (i.e. they attract magnets). A piece of cardboard or folded paper placed on the needle plate can help. It makes it easier to sew the magnet to the fabric as it will be less attracted to the needle plate. When in doubt, we recommend sewing the magnets into the fabric by hand.

Tips for washing clothes that have sewn-in magnets

Many washing machines are ferromagnetic (i.e. they attract magnets). To avoid damage to the machine or fabrics, you should wash clothing with magnets in a laundry bag on the delicate cycle (without spin-drying). Do not wash magnets hotter than 80° C, as this will cause the magnets to demagnetise.

How do I choose the correct strength/adhesive force for sew-in magnets?

When making your selection, bear in mind that, once sewn in, there will always be fabric between the magnet and the holding surface (i.e. metal surface). The thicker the fabric, the greater the distance between the magnet and the holding surface. And, the greater the distance between the magnet and the holding surface, the lower the strength of the magnet. For thick fabrics (such as night curtains), it may be better to sew the magnets directly onto the fabric instead of incorporating them within the fabric.

Can I iron fabrics with sewn-in magnets?

Irons can reach temperatures of more than 200 °C, which is way too hot for sew-in magnets. Neodymium magnets already lose their adhesive force at temperatures of around 80 °C. We, therefore, recommend you do not iron directly over the sewn-in magnets.