Buying Guides

Assorted vintage enamel buttons are a quick way to add color, texture and a touch of old-world charm to coats, cardigans and craft projects. But with so many shapes, sizes and finishes to choose from, how do you pick the right set? This buying guide explains what these buttons are, what to look for before […]

Quick answer: Use sew-through buttons (the flat kind with 2 or 4 holes) for lightweight fabrics like shirts and blouses. Use shank buttons (which have a loop on the back instead of holes) for thick or structured fabrics like coats and jackets, where the raised shank leaves room for the heavy buttonhole layer to sit

Quick answer: Button size is measured in ligne (abbreviated L), the international standard for apparel. 1 ligne = 0.635 mm. To find a button’s ligne, measure its diameter in millimeters and divide by 0.635. Example: a 20 mm button = 32L. If you’ve ever seen a button listed as “24L” or “32L” and had no idea what

Quick answer: A button is defined by three things — its type (how it attaches), its size (measured in ligne, or L), and its material (resin, metal, wood, horn, shell, or corozo). To choose the right button, match the type to your garment’s construction, the size to its placement, and the material to the fabric