Make Your own Fabric Buttons

October 14th, 2007 by Jen Love

I know I may be way behind the times but I still keep finding gadgets and ideas at the craft store that amaze me. This week I tried out the fabric button makers I had bought 6 months ago. They were very simple to make and now I want to look around the house and see what keepsakes I could make buttons out of. I am considering: an old, favorite shirt or baby shirt, vintage towel or handkerchief, old ties, prom dress, etc. to make a button for a bag or pillow that would be better used there than thrown out. What a sweet memory to carry a bag with a peice of baby’s first clothing! I can’t wait!

So, first, using the pattern on back of package cut out pattern. I cut my circle out of the paper so you can perfectly center and choose the picture that you want.

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Cut out fabric circle and center around button half with teeth. Press around the circle, catching the fabric on the teeth all the way around.

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Next, put the flat button half down on top of your fabric button and press into place by pressing down with a spool. Be sure to put the side down that sticks out farther.

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All done! 2 minutes! And now you have a button that perfectly matches what you have sewn!

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This was my favorite example of this- a bag I received in our Summer swap. LOVE it!

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A few tips:
Be careful, you can hurt your fingers on those teeth!
If you fabric is too thin, use iron-on interfacing so that the silver button cannot be seen through the fabric.

13 Responses to “Make Your own Fabric Buttons”

  1. Simone Says:

    BTW, the round bag in the recycled plastic bag posting from July http://craftydaisies.com/2007/07/18/recycling-plastic-bags/ also features a covered button. This was the biggest button size I could find and I used it to cover up the center hole of a crocheted circle.

  2. Zuleika Says:

    I always wondered how those things worked! Now I want to make buttons! ;-)

  3. jessica Says:

    this is a fabulous idea to use the fabrics as sentiments on buttons.

  4. Kat Says:

    you mean you don’t need a special tool? That’s refreshing! Thanks!

  5. Katey Says:

    Here’s another tutorial for fabric covered buttons that doesn’t require any special parts. Check it out. http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=181926.0;topicseen

  6. Aunt Sue Says:

    What a great memory! We used to make covered buttons when we were little with Mom!!

  7. Amby Says:

    Hi, I have been searching everywhere for a tutorial on making fabric covered rings. This is the closest thing I’ve found. Any suggestions on turning it into a ring? Also, where did you get your kit? Thank you!!

  8. Jen Love Says:

    Amby,
    I think this is what you use for fabric rings too. Maybe you clamp the button ring with what you are using for the finger ring; position oppositely and make the button ring tight around it. I have seen a lot of fabric rings and fabric covered rounds on girls hair bands too alot on etsy and wanted to try it out. I got these kits at Jo-ann’s fabric store and at W-M.

  9. Kathy Shaw Says:

    WOW! I was also wondering how that was done as I want to cover the fabric with beads. Now I just have to find the kits. Thanks a lot. Kathy

  10. Robyn Friend Says:

    I have tried to make smallish buttons like this using burnout velvet and cannot get the fabric to hook into the teeth. I know there is a way to make small spherical buttons out of fabric; any suggestions of how to do that? Thanks! Robyn

  11. Audrey Hayden Says:

    Where did you find the supplies to do this without a button machine? I’ve looked at Joanne Fabrics and Michaels and neither store carries anything like it! HELP!

  12. Natalie Says:

    Hi Audrey,

    If you go to etsy.com and type in “self covering buttons” a list of sellers will come up that supply the buttons as well as tools to make them with.

    Good luck!

  13. อรวรรณ Says:

    ขอวิธีทำกระดุมจีนด้วยคะ

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