Michele Made Me

One birdie's attempt to figure things out. Oh, and crafts.

Tutorial: Handmade Covered Buttons

by

I LUV covered buttons! Have you noticed a spike in their popularity recently? I have. I’m paying attention over here ya know. So I devised this handy tutorial that avoids the trip to the button store altogether and allows you to make these little babies with stuff from around the house.
Let’s do it!
You will need the following:
  1. fabric scrap
  2. needle and thread
  3. polyester batting (not shown)
  4. flat plastic (I keep the plastic packaging that comes my way for craft purposes)
  5. felt scrap
  6. narrow ribbon
  7. circle template or round thing
  8. pencil or marker
  9. scissors
  10. craft glue

To begin, draw out 2 circles on your plastic. Cut them out. If your plastic is too thick it’ll be difficult to cut out. I use thin, cuttable plastic and layer a few pieces to make it sturdy.
Put a dab of glue on one of your plastic circles.
Place your second circle on top. Let dry.
Draw a circle from your chosen fabric that is about twice as wide as your little plastic circles.
Cut it out! No really, cut the fabric circle out. With a needle and thread, sew a running stitch all around the edge of the circle.
Pull up the ends of the thread just enough to make a little fabric cup.
In your little cup, layer a few pieces of batting. On top of that, place your glued plastic circles.
Now pull up the thread ends tightly so that the fabric comes around and over the batting and plastic circles. Tie the ends tightly.
If you flip the thing around, it should now look like a button! But, patience, we’re not done quite yet…
Trim the excess thread. (One handed photography, not too shaky, eh?)
Cut out a little felt circle, slightly smaller than your button. Take a large needle and a short piece of narrow ribbon. Thread your needle with the ribbon.
Create a button shank by sewing your ribbon through the centre of the felt circle as shown in the next photo.
Trim the excess ribbon.
Here’s a shot of the shank.
Next, sew your ribbon down onto the felt so that it stays in place.
Then put a whole whack of glue on this side of the felt. This will hold the felt to the button and will help keep the ribbon shank intact as well.
Place your gluey felt circle on the button bottom.
Here’s a side view.
Using some nice matching thread or embroidery thread, blanket stitch the edge of the felt to the button.
And that’s it! You are DONE! A beautiful inexpensive covered button!

I made a whole bunch of them…
They are kinda addictive…

Let the button-making begin!
I’m joining a few link parties today:
Get Your Craft On at Today’s Creative Blog and also Lucky Linky Tuesday at Lucky Star Lane!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Catherine says

    Gosh this is going to save me money and frustration when I need covered buttons and can't get to the shops. I just bought a covered button kit for 1 1/2" buttons, 2 buttons for $6.00!! Thanks for taking the time to do this tutorial!

  4. Brynwood Needleworks says

    Michele:
    I don't know whether or not you're a Button Floozie. I am, and if you're not, and would like me to, I'd gladly write about this post and link back to you here. Just let me know via email. It's a great tutorial!
    xoxo
    Donna

  6. Country Wings in Phoenix says

    Hi Michele Sweetie…
    While visiting Donna over at Brynwood Needleworks this morning she said you had a tutorial today for the button floozies and I just had to pop over so I could get the steps noted down somewhere. Oh I thank you so much for these instructions. You made it seem so simple. Great instructions.

    I have signed up to follow your blog, as I can't wait to see what you share next. Please stop over and say hi. I would be so thrilled to have you follow my blog as well. I love meeting new friends and sharing creative ideas.

    Country hugs sweetie…Sherry

  7. antmee says

    Thank you for sharing such an awesome tutorial! I love making covered buttons but when the urge strikes it's usually a Sunday and the shops are shut! Now, thanks to your generosity, no more frustrations and happy times!

  8. Mrs A. says

    Dang! Just wished I had read this first as I have just bought some of those metal pesky things to make a covered button. This is great.
    I have found you through Button Floozies and will now be following you too. Stop by and say hello sometime if you have a spare moment.

  12. Jensters says

    What a great tut and i just love buttons so will be defo making some of these when the need comes…..thanks for sharing.

  13. Liszha says

    Super! I just bought a package of the metal thingies too but I am sure they will come in handy one day but today I am gonna try making your buttons. They are just super! Thanks for sharing this with us!

  17. Sheila says

    What a terrific idea , I really have to give these a try as often I have the problem of not having that perfect button for a project ,thanks so much for being so clever .

  23. Kim says

    Very clever! But while recycling is a great idea, I like to make things that I can wash and dry easily. I think I'd use heat resistant template plastic instead of plain plastic, that way they'll survive the laundry. Thanks for the lesson!

  26. BubzRugz says

    Hi Michele, just to let you know I have linked one of my posts to your button tutorial….. wanted to share a great idea. Hope you can come by and have a peek! Hugz

  29. slmpetersen says

    This is fantastic! I will be linking back to your post sometime next week! Thanks for sharing. Oh, and I found you through Totally Tutorials.

  30. Ann says

    I just saw your buttons on totally tutorials. I love these and how perfect that you can just use up things you already have laying around the house. This one is going in my stumble favorites 🙂

  36. Anna M. says

    That is so cool, and it's much easier than those button kits. And quieter, I usually have to use a hammer when making buttons.

  37. Gina says

    LOL! I just bought a button kit too but I have some anyway. Love this idea. Here's another option – before gluing the two plastic circles together, drill a center hole in one (maybe even with just a hot needle?), then stick a loop of heavy gauge wire through the hole with the loop on the "outside" and the end pieces "inside". Then glue the two together. Might have to adapt the back felt a bit, but if you wanted something sturdier than a ribbon, it might work.

  51. miriansabio says

    Hi michele!!!

    Your Blog is wonderful!!! I´m brazilian sewing crafter , and patchwork loved !!! your tutorial of buttons are realy cool, i´m be make this. thanks for all ideas. Congratulations!!

  52. GeorgiaBabydoll says

    I can't believe this! Amazing creativity. I always throw that plastic away! I have both a Sizzix and Cricut machine which would make really fast work of cutting those small circles! And plenty of scrap fabric, felt and paper. I'll never buy decorative buttons again for scrapbooking embellishments or for my clothes that need buttons replaced! This is awesome; the best thing I've seen all month. Thank you!

  53. DM says

    ça y est, Michèle, j' ai enfin essayé ton tuto … Je m'en suis bien inspirée pour faire différents boutons !!! Merci !!!

  59. MeredithJean says

    What a gorgeous series of photos accompany this tutorial. For many of us pictures tell it so much better than words. You have done a wonderful job and your results are beautiful.

  61. Michele says

    olá chara adorei seu blog muitas idéias essa do botão eu vou fazer depois coloco no meu blog para vc ver estou te seguindo e divulgando seu blog na minha lista de favoritos bjs

  64. Divya N says

    great….I wasted a lot of time trying to find metal bases for my buttons…This is something that I'll definetely try…Thanks a lot Michele

  66. Shanda says

    I love this idea! I love the look of covered buttons but hate always buying the stupid not so cheap kit. I am so happy you posted this!

  67. Kerri says

    thanks so much for sharing your wonderful tutorial! I was going to purchase an expensive kit to get me started but now I have everything I need in my stash!!!
    they look great and you are a genius!!!!

  72. Made by Mila says

    Awesome! If using for the center of hair bows or flowers, you would not even have to.add the felt or ribbon. Just glue onto.center after covered. Love it! Thanks!