Buttons. A necessary sewing and clothing accessory but probably not something most people think about. As a quilter, I rarely made anything with buttons prior to making pincushions. Once Lucy and I started making pincushions, we became very interested in buttons. We have built our button stash buying at big box craft and sewing stores, antiquing, thrifting, garage sales, and eBay.
These beautiful antique glass and metal buttons were given to me by my aunt a few years ago. She collected them for many years and passed them on to me. A special button can add just the right detail.
We use a lot of small white buttons. They are just right for many of the pincushions we make.
Salt cellar pincushion batch made with Suzy Ultman fabric.
Our white button stash was starting to run low so I decided to look on eBay to see what I could find. Jackpot – I found so many! I was willing to take a chance on some of the bigger lots and got a large amount of buttons for the money spent. If you decide to search on eBay, you can use search words for a specific item such as “white buttons” or other search terms such as “button lots”, “antique buttons”, and “glass buttons”. The majority of the lots I bought came with buttons still attached to cards.
Buttons are sorted into mason jars which we leave out for quick access.
Since the beginning of making pincushions, we have added a button to the top of our pincushions. We decided it is one element of our pincushion design that we really like. Sometimes the button is neutral or a blender with the pincushion. Other times, it’s like a little jewel on top. The following pictures are various examples of all kinds of buttons topping our pincushions.
Antique glass button on Rifle Paper Co. fabric.
Mother of pearl button which reflects multiple colors in Rifle Paper Co. fabric.
Wooden robin button on Robin Pickens fabric.
Elegant square mother of pearl button on floral Tilda fabric.
Red butterfly button coordinated with small red dot throughout on Alison Glass fabric.
Wooden button which matches small dot throughout on Denyse Schmidt fabric.
Wooden buttons which coordinate with Giucy Giuce fabric.
Oval button with swirls that matches Anna Maria Horner fabric.
Green flower button on Tula Pink fabric.
Yellow flower button that matches glass and Brandon Mably fabric.
Wooden bunny button secured with threaded beads on orange floral fabric.
Classic blue and white combo on Amy Smart fabric.
Floral yellow button added to Alison Glass navy stripe fabric.
A clear button was used so the printed saying was still visible on Tula Pink fabric.
Wooden girl button on tree fabric.
Soft pink button which coordinates with pink in Sharon Holland’s fabric.
Melon colored button to contrast with glass and coordinate with color in Sharon Holland fabric.
Flower button that matches red and appears to be a part of the bee’s body in Tula Pink fabric.
Star button added to emphasize celestial theme of the fussy cut moon in Tula Pink fabric.
I’ve always been a doodler and loved art from an early age. I picked up my first fabric, a pink and white checked gingham, at 9 years old and cross-stitched my name. In 1996, my mom started quilting and her inspiration motivated me to make my first quilt in 1998. I found a pattern in a book from the library, changed the colors to make a Christmas quilt and pieced it together. I even quilted and bound it! I enjoy working with all kinds of fabric mediums and threads. I enjoy sewing with my machine and doing handwork. I get inspiration from my life including people, scenery, patterns and objects around me. Follow me here and on Instagram @lesleystorts.
So enjoyed looking at your projects…! Inspired me…! I’ve worked with buttons and done several projects with them… my mother had a “button tin” that started me on making things with them… bracelets, brooches, etc. My most favorite is buttons flowers in small vases using those that I found at garage sales, estate sales, and thrift shoppes. So many possibilities with buttons…!
Thank you Mary! Buttons are so fun. And I agree – so many possibilities. Their utility cannot be understated so it’s even better that they are useful AND attractive!
Storts Market 
October 13, 2020 at 10:00 am
So enjoyed looking at your projects…! Inspired me…! I’ve worked with buttons and done several projects with them… my mother had a “button tin” that started me on making things with them… bracelets, brooches, etc. My most favorite is buttons flowers in small vases using those that I found at garage sales, estate sales, and thrift shoppes. So many possibilities with buttons…!
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October 13, 2020 at 10:03 am
Thank you Mary! Buttons are so fun. And I agree – so many possibilities. Their utility cannot be understated so it’s even better that they are useful AND attractive!
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