Category — Tutorial

You Cover Buttons have become one of my most inspiring finds.  While surfing etsy.com I came across these wonderful things all covered in the cutest of fabrics.  The first thing I thought was, how can I make those?  After doing a little digging I came across several sellers on Etsy that sold the makings for the perfect covered button and they come in all different sizes.  The best part is you can do a ll kinds of crafty things with them other than sewing them on a garment.  You can make earrings, rings, magnets, bookmarks, push pins, lanyards, ID holders, and you can use the in groupings to make a collage.  My favorite uses so far have been making bookmarks and push pins .  They have co me in real handy for my children’s clothing line and my signature Half Stitched Magnets. 

Before  you buy you need to decide what you will use the button for.  If you want to embellish a garment or a pillow than you need to be able to sew them on and that will require a shank.  Dritz sells two types of cover buttons.  One is made out of brass and has these great little teeth on the back that hold the fabric in place so that you can put the back on.  Super helpful in getting you fabric wrapped just right around that button.  The other is made of aluminum and requires a tool to help hold the fabric in place while you secure the back.  Fabric placement requires some finesse to get the placement just right before you slap that backing in.  If your fabric ends up a little off there is not a whole lot you can do after that back goes on so becareful.  Dritz also has a cut out template on the back of the package to use for when you cut out your fabric to help get the size just right.

Now if you want to use your cover buttons for projects like push pins and magnets you will want to purchase the buttons with a flat back.  I have not been able to find these in stores.  However, there are plenty of sellers on esty.com that do.  Depending on what size of button you are looking for, you can get them for about $.15 to $.35 a piece and you can get just about any quantity you want.  For these you will need to also purchase a tool to go with them (usually sold separately).

Making the buttons are so easy, but if you are still a little unsure just follow these easy steps to the perfect cover button.

Step 4: Press the blue part of the tool down over the button back untill you feel or hear a snap

Done: Just push your button out of the tool and you are all done

Perfect Button

The possibilities are endless.  I hope that you have found this post helpful and maybe even a little inspiring.  I truly enjoy making things with my hands and am always looking for one more way I can make something unique and from the heart.  Even if you aren’t crafty I hope that you will visit the shops of those who are and support the Handmade Movement.