 Cover your own buttons |
I used to think covered buttons were too complicated. Silly me! It’s really quite easy, and sometimes they are just the thing to finish your project.
This post refers to the green jacket I posted about last week. You can also find a post on jacket interlining and linings related to this project.
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Supplies
 Amsterdam Olive (AMMOLE) |
 DIY button kit |
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How to do it – method 1
 Button covering kit |
There are different kinds of DIY covered button kits. These have little spikes that grab hold of the fabric. The basic idea is that you press your fabric around the button form and catch it on the little spikes, then snap on the button back.
Below, I’ll show a second type of kit. |
 Template |
There is a fabric cutting template on the back of the package. Cut it out and place the straight edge on the fold of your fabric. |
 Cut out your circles |
Cut as many as you need. |
 Fabric for buttons |
Here are my five pieces of button fabric. |
 Start tucking the fabric |
Start pressing the fabric so it catches on the little spikes around the edge of the button form. Work opposite sides, pulling and smoothing the fabric as you go. |
 Go all the way around |
Do four sides and then start working on the corners, if a circle can have such a thing. |
 Note the little spikes |
Here’s a close-up of the little spikes that hold the fabric. |
 Prepare to put the back on |
Once the fabric is wrapped around the button, prepare to snap the back on to hold everything in place. |
 A pencil eraser helps |
By the way, if pressing the fabric onto the spikes hurts your fingers, you are not a crybaby. Puncture wounds do hurt.
A pencil eraser helps! |
 A spool may help |
If you are using heavy fabric like I did, you may not be able to easily snap the button back on with your fingers. You can use a spool to help you. |
 Licky cat |
You know what won’t help you? A cat that’s intent on licking your hands as you work. Get the cat outta here. |
 Pretty buttons |
Ta-da! Here are your finished buttons! |
Method 2
 Button kit |
Here’s another type of kit. Instead of pressing the fabric onto little spikes, you use a special form. I find these ones much easier to use, but not always available. |
 What it comes with |
This is what comes inside. Since these are the big, 1-1/2″ buttons, I only got two with my kit, plus a rubber mold (white) and a pressing cap (blue). |
 Grab your circle |
As with the kit above, this kit comes with a pattern on the back for cutting out the circles of fabric. |
 Button sandwich |
Layer this way: Rubber mold, open side up, topped by fabric circle, right-side down, topped by the button front. |
 Press in |
Push it all into the mold. |
 Add the back |
Grab your button back and press it on top, with all of the fabric sandwiched underneath, between the front and back of metal button pieces. |
 Press in |
I find it pretty easy to snap it all into place with just my fingers, but if you’re having trouble, you can use this hard plastic cap to really press it all together. |
 Pop out button |
Pop your button out. It’s really easy! |
 Finished! |
Beautiful buttons in a snap — literally. |
Tags: covered buttons, jacket, sewing, tutorial
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