How to Make a Stacked Button Closure

Posted on 12. Oct, 2009 by Gail Yellen in Blog

When you have several button choices for your garment, but they’re not very exciting by themselves, combine a couple, add a few beads and voila! you’ve created an eye-catching closure. We all have lots of basic buttons in our stash and “basic” is fine when you don’t want the closure to steal the show. But when you’re looking for a focal point to make your garment pop, turn up the volume by stacking buttons together.

The top row shows all of the elements of a stacked button. Below are 2 possibilities using these elements. The best way to start is to pull out your stash of buttons and start to play. Choose different colors, sizes and shapes. They can either contrast or blend with the colors in your fabric. Stack lots of options right on the fabric. You’ll be amazed at the different looks you can achieve. There are lots of ways to sew these stacked buttons onto your garment. I like to tack the bottom button to the fabric as an anchor, then add the rest of the buttons. Thicker decorative threads such as YLI Jeans Stitch™ can make a bold statement while securely fastening the buttons to the garment. To add another level of wow, attach a few beads after the button stack is sewn on. Below are some examples.

The black base button is blah and the maroon button has a flower shape that echoes the floral motif of the fabric. Neither looked great by itself. And it didn’t look finished until I added a few small black beads.

I wanted a smaller scale  button to finish the end of the decorative detail on the lower front of the jacket. Not having a smaller scalloped maroon button, I selected 2 “plain janes” and added the same beads.

This is a fun one! I stacked a “chopstick” on top of a large round button to echo the triangles and circles in my Collage It! jacket.

Stay tuned for more fun embellishment ideas