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Permalink Reply by sewred on November 4, 2009 at 8:13am

Hi Terri, My husband is an upholsterer so we have a button machine for that and he lets me play with it! Hee Hee! Anyway, on Ebay you can look up on it's called "The Handy Junior Button Machine " and it should come with different sizes of cutters and dies. It's alittle bit expensive but saves you money in the long run. Hope this helps! Hugs, Julie

Permalink Reply by Terri Allred on November 4, 2009 at 10:01am

Julie,
Thank you so much for the response. I will definetly check it out. Maybe I could send the fabric to your husband and have him do it. Do you think he might be interested ?

Permalink Reply by Lauri Smith on January 12, 2010 at 12:41pm

OK-I just realized, after I typed up my whole response, that this question was asked in November! lol! But, I've decided to go ahead and post it just in case someone needs help in the future!

What kind of a problem are you having? Are you using the metal buttons? I use these all the time and don't usually have a problem. The MOST IMPORTANT thing is to make sure you cut your circle big enough to fit securly "in" the button and underneath the "back" that you push in.

I like to fold the fabric around the button toward the inside to make a sort of crease, first. Sometimes I'll use a little bit of glue just to hold it so it doesn't slip out. If there is a lot of fabric in there that is making it bulky I'll trim it a little. (Cutting the fabric bigger is no problem because you can reduce the bulk once it is wrapped around but, if the fabric is too small there really is nothing else you can do.

Then, when putting the back on, I always use my fingers...I don't like the little "thingy" they put in the packages to use, because that does tend to cause a problem for me by letting the fabric slip and stuff. If I need something to help me push it down in there, I'll use a pen (a writting pen, not a pin) or anything else I can get my hands on that will fit and help. BUT...I have found that the trick is to start on one side and go around making sure all of the fabric is tucked in, and if not use something to hold it down in there until the backing gets over there then pull it out. (That's why just a teeny bit of glue works really well! Like the Aleene's Tacky Glue or Elmer's. Nothing major.) And if it is a button that I think is going to get a lot of use or 'pull', like on a duvet, I will squirt a little glue on the bottom of the backing that is going into the button as well just to give it a little extra hold.

OH! If you think the fabric is looking too thin over the button, just cut a little circle (just big enough to fit over the top and/or maybe on the side) of batting or felt or flannel depending on the thickness and height you want, and place it in between the button and the fabric.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions. If that still isn't working, just email me the fabric and I can cover the buttons for you, no problem!

Lauri

Permalink Reply by Shirley Clark on April 9, 2010 at 3:48pm

Lauri - those are all good suggestions. I've covered quite a few buttons myself for various projects. I've found that when you really need to get a pattern or design centered on the button it makes it easy to use a little Rescue Tape on the top of the button. Then the fabric won't slide, and it saves time having take it apart and redo it.
I made some badge reels with embroidered initials on them, and this is what I did. The spray just didn't hold it tight enough. I do spray a little adhesive inside the button and that helps hold the fabric down while you push the back in. I just don't like to see a lot of wrinkled fabric around my buttons if possible.