A button bracelet is a fun way to use family heirloom buttons or make bracelets to celebrate the seasons. If you can use a needle and thread, you can make a button bracelet!
Supplies
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To make this button bracelet you will need
1.5 inch wide stretch knit elastic
flat buttons, approximately 50 5/8-inch
assorted novelty or vintage buttons, approximately 30 ¾-inch
Tape measure
Scissors
Instructions
Tuck your thumb in and measure around the widest part of your hand. The bracelet will be stretchy, but not too much! My bracelets are 7 ¼ inch finished.
Cut a piece of waistband elastic 7 ½ inches long (or ¼ inch longer than the measurement you made).
Overlap the ends ¼ inch and sew together firmly. I used my sewing machine and a very tight zig zag stitch.
Cut about 1 yard of thread and thread a quilting needle. Double the thread and make a knot at the end.
Choose a base color of buttons for your bracelet. For my summer bracelet, I used white and clear flat buttons. For my Christmas bracelet, I used red and green flat buttons. Starting at one edge, sew a button onto the elastic with three to four loops. Don’t cut the thread. Lay another button along the edge and sew it on. After you’ve covered one edge of the bracelet, work on the other edge. End with filling in buttons down the middle.
The base buttons should be flat on the elastic, not overlapped. Knot thread and start a new thread as needed.
Because the buttons are round, you will see that you have small spaces between the buttons. You will use those spaces to sew on the top layer of buttons. They can be flat or have shanks on the back. This is a great way to use heirloom, vintage, or sentimental buttons you have around. It’s also a fun excuse to go shopping for seasonal novelty buttons.
Using the needle and thread as before, cover the bracelet with your decorative buttons. I saved my fanciest decorative buttons to add at the end, evenly spaced around the center of the bracelet.
Wear and enjoy! I hope to make a Halloween bracelet this year.
Resource links for button bracelet
- https://shop.buttons.com/
- Buttons.com
- http://www.slate.com/articles/life/design/2012/06/button_history_a_visual_tour_of_button_design_through_the_ages_.html
- A visual history of the button from Slate
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Hey Clearissa, Thanks for sharing!
What a fun way to make a bracelet. I have a bucket of buttons I saved from old clothing before I tossed them. This will be a great way to upcycle them. Many of my followers make items to donate, and I think they would love this craft – definitely sharing and pinning!
Hey Mary, Thank you so much for reading. I’m glad you found my bracelet inspiring. I’ve made the white button base bracelet for people and let them sew on their grandmother’s buttons that they didn’t know what to do with! Thank you so much for sharing.