Nothing says, "I'm a home decor professional" like a covered button. These personalized accents are easy to make, and take your creation to a new level. Make one using the same fabric as the rest of the project for a subtle effect, or choose a complementary color or pattern to make it pop. You can buy covered button making kits in the notions department, but sizes are limited. Making them yourself is more flexible and more fun.

Follow these steps to create your own covered buttons. The instructions are for making one button. Repeat for as many buttons as you'd like. Fair warning: covered buttons can be addicting because they look so dang cool. Once you start adding these pieces of "flair" to your pillows, it may be hard to stop. We're here to help if you need someone to talk you down.

Fabric and Other Supplies

• Small square of fabric (enough to cover your button)
• A button with a shank (this is a button with a loop for attaching on the back, not a button with holes through the center)
• Fabric marking pen
• Hand sewing needle
• Embroidery floss
• Scissors
• Ruler

Make the Buttons

1. Place your fabric right side down on your working surface.
2. Lay the button on top of the fabric, with the shank facing up.
3. Measure the distance from the center of the shank to the edge of the button. Your math teacher would have called this half the diameter.
   
4. Using the measurement from Step #3, measure this distance from the edge of the button onto the surrounding fabric.
   
5. Mark this distance with your fabric marking pen. It's best if you mark the distance at various points around the circle, so you just have to connect the dots in the next step.
   
6. Connect the dots from Step #5 to complete a circle around your button. If you have a compass, that will help you make a smooth circle. 
   
7. Cut out the circle on the drawn line.
   
8. Using the hand sewing needle and embroidery floss, stitch a running stitch just inside the circle. (Keep this stitch loose, but consistent.) Do not tie a knot in the end of the floss at this time, and leave a fairly long tail.
   
9. Place the button in the center of the fabric.
10. Pull on the floss so that the thread pulls the fabric tightly around the shank of the button. (Not so tight that you can't access the hole in the button, but tight enough so that the fabric is secure.)
    
11. Knot the embroidery floss to secure the fabric. Trim thread tails.
    
12. Done. 
    

Comments (9)

Connie P said:

... Thank you so much. I am going to do this now!

August 24, 2011

Thank you, never knew. Sooo helpful. Blessings. Marylynn said:

... Thank you. Just wonderful to share. Never knew. I always sew on the cheap. Glad I didn't buy that kit since I am on a fixed income. Blessings, Marylynn

June 26, 2011

Vicki Bo said:

... Thank you sooooooo very much for sharing!!!!!! Vicki

January 03, 2011

Vicki Bo said:

... Thank you sooooooooo very much for sharing. Vicki

January 03, 2011

Lisa Zincone said:

... Info grande, sto andando a fare questi pulsanti. Grazie

November 20, 2010

Marleen said:

... I'm going to make this one, thank you for this great tutorial. Now I finally know why I cut of the buttons of my old coat. Greetings from the Netherlands

September 04, 2010

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

... Hi Jen -- so glad you found this tutorial helpful .. it's not too old ... and -- oh-so-smart, your math teacher.

November 06, 2009

Jen said:

... I know this is an old article, but I am commenting on it anyways! Thank you very much for this information, I always wondered how to make covered buttons with out the hassle of buying a kit (and learning to use it properly). P.S: My teacher would have called it the radius.

November 05, 2009

GailB said:

... Good Info.....never thought to cover buttons like this!

August 09, 2009

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