This weekend I have been working on a blouse for which I have very slippery fabric and need to have 9 buttons. I wanted covered buttons but was not having much success until I came up with the following steps, which I hope will be helpful to those of you in similar situations.
1) After cutting your fabric for the button, cut a small strip of Wonder Tape and affix it to the middle of the fabric, wrongside. (Remove the paper covering so that the sticky part is all that's left.)
2) Center your button on the fabric and stick it to the tape.
3) Now, stick fabric and button into mold (if using a mold) with the applicator (the thing you push it into the mold with). Your fabric will NOT shift since its stuck to the button.
4) Now take a blunted pointed object. I used paper scissors that have a blunted point, so it wouldn't puncture my fabric, but you could use a Palm stylus or anything that isn't your sharp sewing shears.
5) Use the point to start pressing the fabric down and under the teeth on the button. You may need to press firmly to get the teeth to poke through the fabric.
6) When all the fabric is pushed down under the teeth and/or into the button to your satisfaction, apply that button cover cap and use the applicator to snap it into place.
7) The button should now be lovely!
Once I got the hang of this, it was so relaxing to make these, I did a few extra buttons, in case I lose some after the blouse is made. |
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That sounds a really good idea - I have spent so much time in the past with this sort of frustration. Thanks
12/22/08 5:41 PM
Wonder Tape makes everything easy.
12/22/08 7:50 PM
This is a great tip! I often wonder how we ever made things work without Wonder Tape :) . I can't remember my sewing life before I discovered the stuff and don't want to.
12/23/08 6:29 AM
Will give this a go. Many thanks for taking the time
12/23/08 8:21 AM
Great tip...thanks!
12/23/08 11:31 AM
Lucy, I've just discovered Wonder Tape, wonder where it's been all my life....
12/23/08 9:05 PM
Thank your for your tip!!!
12/24/08 1:42 PM
I love your tip! Perfect I guess for any kind of fabric! Thanks fo sharing it!
1/1/09 2:36 PM
What a great idea! Long ago I gave up on making covered buttons, but with this information I may try them again.
1/7/09 7:42 AM
I've never actually used Wonder Tape, sounds like I should check it out. As for making buttons, I usually just use fusible Tricot interfacing, then I can easily make the button and the fusing also solves the issue of fraying along the cut edge. I've used this method for over 20 years, never failed me once.
2/3/09 5:35 PM
I want to cover buttons with satin. Thank you for the tip
2/9/09 11:19 PM
Another option would be to use a running stitch around the circle of fabric and pull up to cradle the button in the center of your fabric circle. This holds the fabric for you long enough to press in the button back to lock it down.
2/24/09 10:30 AM