Free How To Cover Buttons Tutorial Instructions

HOW TO COVER BUTTONS WITH FABRIC/RIBBON

These instructions demonstrate how to cover buttons with fabric/ribbon. The illustrations used in these instructions demonstrate covering buttons with ribbon, but the same technique is used to cover with fabric as well. It is not necessary to have any kind of template for cutting fabric for buttons. However, I am listing some approximate measurements if you need to use one until you become familiar with covering buttons. I usually just cut a square of fabric, push the button into the push tool mold and trim away excess. You will need a protractor (the tool that is used to make circles with the sharp point that is the pivot and a small pencil to make the circle….like we used in school). These are approximate measurements:

For 5/8” buttons: 1.25” diameter
For ľ” buttons: 1.5” diameter
For 7/8” buttons: 1.75” diameter
For 1 1/8” buttons: 2” diameter
For 1 ˝” buttons: 2.25” diameter

Fig. 1 Fig. 2

Fig. 3

NOTE!! When covering buttons using 1.5” width ribbon, you can only use a maximum of 7/8” button. In these illustrations, I am using 1.5” grosgrain ribbon and 7/8” button.

Step 1: Cut a piece of ribbon that is approximately as long as it is wide. It is okay to cut the ribbon slightly longer than the width of the ribbon, but you don’t want it shorter. (Fig 1)
Step 2: When using a printed ribbon, make sure that the print side will be covering the outside of your button. (Fig 2)
Step 3: Center your button on the back side of the ribbon/fabric. (Fig 3)

Fig. 4 Fig. 5

Step 4: Push ribbon and button into the button mold. (Fig. 4)

Step 5: Tuck ribbon edges into button shell. (Fig. 5)

Fig. 6 Fig. 7

Fig. 8

Step 6: Put button back on top of the covered button. (Fig 6)

Step 7: Carefully hold button back in place and then put the blue push tool on top of the button back. (Fig. 7 & 8)

Fig. 9 Fig. 10

Fig. 11

Step 8: Using the blue push tool, press down firmly with the pusher until it snaps in place. (Fig 9)

Step 9: Remove covered button from mold. (Fig. 10 & 11)

TIPS/HINTS:

When using a thin fabric, you may want to use a piece of lining fabric to prevent the shiny button shell from showing through the fabric after button has been assembled.
If it seems to be extremely difficult to “snap” the button back into the button shell, you may want to trim some of the excess fabric from around the shell (while pushed down in the mold). Sometimes, too much fabric inside the button shell can make it almost impossible to snap the back in place.