Quick answer: Vintage buttons are buttons made roughly 20 to 100 years ago, most often from glass, Bakelite, celluloid, casein, metal, shell or early plastics. You identify them by three things: what the button is made of, how the back and shank are built, and the small tooling marks that older machines left behind. Read […]
Vintage Buttons: How to Identify, Date and Value Them Read More »
Quick answer: mother of pearl buttons are cut from the iridescent inner layer of a real shell. The simplest way to tell them from plastic imitations is to touch one. Real shell stays cool against your skin for several seconds; plastic warms up almost immediately. Look at the back too, because a genuine shell button
Mother of Pearl Buttons: How to Tell Real Shell From Plastic Read More »
Quick answer: to find replacement buttons, measure the diameter of a button you still have in millimeters, count the holes or check whether it has a shank on the back, and note the thickness. Match those first and the color second. If no exact match exists, the usual fix is to move a button from
Replacement Buttons: How to Find a Match for a Lost Button Read More »
Quick answer: flower cuff covers are small decorative caps that clip over the button on a shirt cuff, giving the dressed-up look of a cufflink with no sewing and no special shirt. Each one has a beaded or pearl-look flower on a gold-tone or silver-tone metal base, with a hinged clip on the back. Ours
Flower Cuff Covers: The No-Sew Way to Get the French Cuff Look Read More »
Quick answer: metal buttons are made from a metal alloy and finished in gold-tone, silver-tone, gunmetal or an aged brass-tone. Most have either a shank (loop) on the back or four sew-through holes, and sizes run from about 10mm to 30mm. They bring a structured, jewelry-like finish to coats, blazers, cardigans and craft projects. Ask
Metal Buttons: Types, Finishes and How to Choose Read More »
Quick answer: sewing on a button takes about five minutes and just four things: the button, a needle, matching thread and a small pair of scissors. Thread the needle, knot the end, and bring it up through the fabric where the button sits. On a two- or four-hole (sew-through) button, stitch down through the holes
How to Sew On a Button: A Step-by-Step Guide Read More »
Quick answer: decorative buttons are a quick, low-cost way to give a plain garment a fresh, considered look. Swap the everyday buttons on a coat or cardigan for enamel-look, flower or faux-pearl styles, let one bold button act as a feature closure, or clip on no-sew button covers for a look you can change in
Decorative Buttons: Ideas to Upgrade Any Garment Read More »
Quick answer: the back of a button is what really decides how it goes on and where it works best. A shank button hides a small loop underneath, and you sew through that loop — the face stays smooth and the button sits a little proud, which is why it does so well on thick
Shank vs Sew-Through Buttons: Which Button Back Should You Choose? Read More »
Quick answer: Most everyday buttons fall between 10mm and 25mm. As a quick rule, use 10 to 12mm for shirts and baby clothes, 15 to 18mm for blouses and cardigans, 18 to 23mm for dresses and jackets, and 23mm or larger for coats and outerwear. To find your size, measure the button’s diameter in millimeters,
The Complete Button Size Guide: How to Measure and Choose Buttons Read More »
Quick answer: The easiest way to dress up plain buttons is to add a decorative touch, and you do not need a needle to do it. No-sew button covers simply snap over the buttons you already have, so you can transform a coat, shirt or cardigan in seconds, while pretty sew-on buttons let you make
How to Dress Up Plain Buttons: 7 Small Details That Refresh Any Outfit Read More »