Buttons can be such fun to play with. I have several tins full, some have been sorted into little bags to keep sets together, and lots are just loose. Whatever project I have in mind, it seems that there are plenty of buttons to use. I still have this Button Basket sitting in my sewing room. It was made with a wicker basket, with rows of pastel color buttons hot glued to the sides. I filled it with silk flowers, and it still makes me smile.
In 2016, I spent weeks working on and posting about this Quilted Art Project. See the first post on that link if you’d like the free instructions on how to make your own. The swirl of buttons in the center took a bit of time, but really gives movement to the piece.
Separating out some buttons by color, some are put into canning jars as sewing room decor. A tin with a button motif sits behind in a sunny window.
One of my pet peeves is to get a new sweater and have a button fall off before I’ve worn it twice. That happened with this one. I didn’t really like the silver buttons anyway, so when one fell off after just one wearing, I replaced them all with prettier black flower buttons.
Large coat buttons get used in my original design Jelly Roll Market Bag. The bag is super simple to make, and has a bit of flair. Where else could buttons this large get showcased, other than a coat?
Button crafted Christmas ornaments are easy to make with buttons and metal cookie cutters.
For these needle tins (or whatever you’d like to store in them), just spray paint a mint tin with gold spray paint. Arrange buttons on the top and hot glue in place. Add bits of lace if you like. You could use these to store used rotary blades until the tin was full. That would take years, LOL!!
See how I used buttons on a nice canvas tote bag to create seasonal decorative covers for a company logo I didn’t like in A Tote Bag Project.
Using buttons on wall hangings and mini quilts adds interest and details to small projects, like my Table Stand White Mini Quilt. See the multi-part construction with the link for this free pattern.
My friend and group moderator for my facebook Project Sharing Group, Mary at Stitching Grandma posted a marvelous button project of a sewing room wreath, using old threads, buttons, bobbins, sewing implements and tape measures, so cute!! See her wonderful idea on her post – Fun With Buttons And More.
I like to add buttons to wool work projects too, like this Autumn Jubilee Wool Applique.
This week, I wanted to add some buttons to my Spring Tulip Mini Quilt. I got out the tin with all white buttons and started playing.
Pulling a few that were small, I auditioned some little ones on the flower pot.
That didn’t seem like enough, so I dug around and found three larger ones. I tried those out in the center.
Still wasn’t enough, so I moved the buttons to the left upper edge, and put three smaller ones at the center bottom. That was my favorite, so I stitched them down that way.
Soft yellow candles and a spring rabbit create a nice vignette with the mini quilt on its Table Stand.
I have an amazing Pinterest board if you’d like to go down that rabbit hole, LOL!!! Click on Buttonmania. I collected ideas for months a couple of years ago. I don’t use Pinterest much anymore, as it can really destroy a few hours before you look up. I have 483 pins on Buttonmania alone!!
Are you a button crafter?
I’ll be in West Jefferson, North Carolina on Thursday, March 14th at 2 pm for the Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild meeting, giving my Decisions, Decisions program, talking about the Carolina Hurricane Quilt Project, and picking up their donation quilts. If you are in the area, I am sure the guild would love to meet you too.
Fat Quarter Shop has a Button Lover’s Box, plus lots of ideas for using them!
Amazon – Button Crafting Books and super discounted Outlet Deals!
From My Carolina Home 
Thanks for the mention! I can’t bring myself to throw away buttons! Going to have a “button” hunt at the OWQG show in April! We are setting up a bin of buttons and shoppers can hunt through and choose the ones they love and fill a bag for $1. LOVE YOUR little mini.
There’s some fun ideas there! I never throw away a button, either. When a shirt goes the rag bag, I take off all the buttons. I have started doing that with zippers too.
Fun projects using buttons, the quilted art is beautiful. I went to pinterest, you are so right, could have gotten lost looking.
So many fun ideas for using buttons!
I don’t have a very large collection at the moment, but could see myself growing my collection in the future 🙂
Hi Carole…..I took a look see at your Button Board and was very impressed with what I found. I started picking up buttons here and there, after seeing what our friend of 60 yrs. had in her house. Mine is a collection by color of maybe 10 or so mason jars, whereas, hers’ takes up residence in a beautiful antique piece of furniture, plus the mason jars. I also watched all the posts on your oval hoop art project, and love how the piece went together. It’s a beautiful piece, and looks lovely in your home. Enjoy your visit to the Quilt Guild on Thursday, and hope the weather is nice.
Pingback: Do you love buttons? | Stitching Grandma
I’m a button-a-holic myself! Love this post! That wreath is absolutely amazing.
I have my grandmothers’ button boxes as well as my mother’s and my husband’s great aunt’s. I also have a collection of my own buttons. It’s fun to go digging through them to find what I need for a project.
Hello Carole, You are right Buttons are fun to use for so many projects. I really like your new Mini Tulip Quilt. It is so bright and just says Spring so beautifully. I also like your basket decorated with buttons and the silk flowers, such a cute idea. The buttons you chose to replace on your sweater are a gorgeous choice! They really make this sweater look just beautiful. You are so fantastic at any type of project you decide to do, I always enjoy looking at what you create and have a great time when I do make one of your projects also. Thank you for sharing and have a great day! Oh, I almost forgot to mention how much I love Mary’s Wreath! She did an excellent job in creating that masterpiece! Again thank you for sharing!
I haven’t made a good project for buttons. Will have to do that soon. Your projects are SEW inspiring!
Thank you for sharing so many lovely ideas and will definitely be checking your Pinterest board out😀
So many cute projects, your button basket is adorable and the sewing room wreath is fantastic! I will never look at a button the same way again!
Jenna
I really enjoy your button crafting. I’ve done only a sparingly number of button crafts but have loved buttons from the time my grandmother gave me full access to her button box, and I played for hours with them. I thought I was the clever one to gain this precious permission, but alas, it was she as she knew I’d stay busy and within sight as she crocheted in her easy chair!
Oh, if I were to be in NC on the 14th, you’d see me there for sure. :o)
Oh, I love buttons. I have a gallon jar of buttons, and love to just play with them, let alone use them on projects, especially CQ. Your projects are fabulous, and I love the way the buttons add to your quilting … or the other way around.
Everything is absolutely wonderful and fun. So many stories of where they came from, who wore them. I think I might copy your wreath for my summer door decor if I may. I love it.
Hear me go “Kerplunk” down the button rabbit hole. Buttons are an obsession! Luckily they don’t take up much room and I can hide them from the family! LOL – and use them all over the place. We use buttons to teach color, texture, counting, of course the big buttons become “Yoyos”. I have taken to putting in a zipper, then making a fake flange with buttonholes and buttons.
Thanks, j