How To: Covered Buttons

I love the look of covered buttons.  I think they add a very finished look to a garment.  Making your own fabric covered buttons might be easier than you think.

The blanks usually come in a package like this.

Everything you need is right inside the package.  This particular kit is for a 7/8" button.  They come in a variety of sizes.  In fact my Mom recently purchased some fabric and notions for me at an estate auction.  In the box of goodies she sent me there are several sizes of blanks the largest being almost 2 inches.  I can't wait to find just the right project for a button that big.

Inside the package you have the following items; a template, a pusher, the backs (with or without a shank), the button top, and the mold for putting it all together.

Start by placing the template over your fabric.  Use the center as your guide if you desire a particular part of the fabric to be shown on the button. Trace the outside of the template. I like to trace the inside as well so it's easier to find the center when lining everything up later.

Cut out your fabric circles.

Place your fabric with the wrong side up on the mold.  Do your best to center it.  This is where tracing the center circle helps.

Place the top part of the button (shell) over the fabric.  Again, use the center circle to help you line everything up.  The more centered you have it the better for the next step.

Now do your best to tuck all that extra fabric into/over/around the button.  This is a step where an extra 3 or 4 fingers would make it easier (especially if you are trying to take pictures of it too), but alas I only have 10 fingers.

Depending on what you plan to do with the button, choose the appropriate back. Place the back of choice over the top of the gathered fabric.

Place the pusher over the top of your fabric button "sandwich".  Using all the might you have in the one finger that will fit onto the pusher, push down trying to keep the pressure as even as possible on the back of the button.  I have bent the backs before by putting to much pressure on one side or another.  Push until you hear/feel a pop-thunk sort of sound.

Pop the buttons out of the mold and there you have it.  Fabric buttons perfect for any garment (yes, I know this picture is upside-down).

Pattern Prep (How To, My Method)

Over the weekend, when I wasn't busy helping DH with this, the result of the terrible storms that swept through MD, DC and VA on Friday night (this was one of 4 that came down on our property but we were blessed that nothing was damaged)...

...I had the chance to prepare 3 patterns I am hoping to work on this coming week.  DH has a long weekend for the holiday, which usually means I can sneak off downstairs to my work room and get a little extra done.  I prepped 2 skirts and one jumper.  I thought I might show you my method of preparing a pattern for use.  When I first started sewing, I would cut my patterns up.  I can hear the gasps in horror from some of you right now.  But, being a self taught sew-er, I didn't know I shouldn't.  It took me a while to figure out that there had to be another way.  I have tried some other methods, like using a tracing wheel and dress maker tracing paper, but it just didn't work out as well as I wanted. In the end, this is the method that I like.

These are the tools I like to use.  You will need your pattern of choice, some pencils, a straight edge / ruler and freezer paper.  You can buy specific pattern tracing paper sold at places like Joann Fabric but a roll of freezer paper works just as well and is a lot cheaper.

Lay out your pattern on any large, flat surface.  This is where the dining room table comes in handy.

Determine which pattern pieces you will be needing.  I was making the skirt (top left) so I needed to trace pattern pieces 11, 12, 13 and 14.

Next you trace the pattern pieces in the size that you need.  Do your best to be as accurate as possible.  Copy all marks, notches, etc.  When in doubt, trace it, that way you aren't going back trying to add something that you forgot later.  Also, be sure to label each piece with the pattern name, number, how many pieces to cut and size as well as any other notes on the original pattern.  A light table would be really handy for this step but since I don't have one I just took it nice and slow.  This step will also remind you that you should not in fact cancel the eye doctor appointment scheduled for the end of the month.

Trace each and label each piece and Ta-Da, you are now ready to cut apart your pattern pieces.  The key to preparing any pattern, no matter what method you choose, is to go slow and trace EVERY detail.  

I already have the fabric cut for one of the skirts.  Maybe the kiddos will go to bed early tonight so I can get some work done.  Wishful thinking, I am sure. :)

Crafting ADD

I have a confession to make, I have crafting ADD.  Even though I have a dozen other things on my agenda to get finished, if I come up with an idea I have to drop everything and do it now.  I can't let the new project go or get it out of my head until it has been executed.  I know I'm not the only one out there with this problem.  I wonder if there is a 12 step program or some kind of support group.  Probably not, we're all too busy working on projects that must be finished "now" to leave home for a meeting.

My crafting ADD struck this weekend.  A few weeks ago I made this dress for Piper:

Oliver + S Popover Sundress

I had just gotten my serger out of the box and was looking for a quick project to practice with it.  Cute, easy and quick to put together.  My kind of project.

Last week I got my Hanna Andersson summer sale catalog in the mail (always dangerous).  In the catalog, I saw this dress:

Hanna Andersson Summer Sun Dress

Sadly, that current dress is sold out.  However, I figured I could remake something very similar.  Using the O+S Popover Sundress pattern and adding a tiny remix and I ended up with this.

I could spend the time doing a "tutorial" on how I did it, but it wasn't anything terribly difficult or genius.  All I did was measure the length of the original dress, decided how big of a ruffle I wanted, subtracted that number from the length, sewed up said ruffle (there are a dozen or so tutorials online for ruffles) and added it to the bottom of the dress.  I have 2 or 3 more remake ideas for the Popover dress.  It's such a basic dress that lends itself well to changing it up easily.  I just hope I can focus on the projects I should be working on and not letting my crafting ADD get the best of me.  Just in case I can't, stay tuned for more. ;)