How to Make a Fabric-Covered Button with Scraps

A fabric-covered button is a small sewing project with a surprisingly useful result. It can turn a leftover print into a matching fastening, disguise a plain shop-bought button, or add a thoughtful handmade detail to a garment, bag, cushion, or hair accessory. Because the project uses very little material, it is ideal for keeping attractive scraps out of the bin.

You do not need an elaborate button-covering machine. A small button-covering kit, a scrap of fabric, sharp scissors, and a few basic sewing tools are enough for most home projects. The key is choosing fabric that is thin enough to gather neatly but stable enough to hold its shape around the button.

The same careful approach used for a garment project applies here: test the materials, pay attention to grain and pattern placement, and press where necessary. For more sewing inspiration and approachable project notes, visit Josie’s sewing blog, where independent patterns and practical techniques are explored with home sewists in mind.

Choose The Right Button And Fabric

Button-covering kits usually contain a domed front, a metal or plastic back, and either a shank or holes for sewing. Select a size that suits the project. Small covered buttons work well on cuffs, collars, children’s clothing, and accessories, while larger versions make attractive decorative details on cushions, coats, and bags.

Your fabric scrap should extend beyond the button face by enough to wrap around the back. Most kits include a paper template or recommend a cutting size. If yours does not, place the button on the fabric and allow a generous margin all around. You can trim excess later, but fabric that has been cut too small cannot be rescued.

Light to medium-weight cotton, lawn, rayon challis, and fine linen are generally easy to use. Very thick canvas, bulky wool, and heavily embellished fabric may create ridges underneath the back. Stretch fabric can work, but it needs careful handling because it may shift or become distorted while being pulled into place.

Prepare The Scrap Carefully

Wash and press the scrap if it has not already been prepared. Prewashing is especially sensible when the finished button will be attached to a garment that may later go through the washing machine. A fabric-covered button made from unwashed cotton could shrink or develop puckering after laundering.

Use the button template to mark the wrong side of the fabric with chalk, a washable pen, or a fine pencil. For a directional print, decide where the motif should sit before cutting. Florals, stripes, and small geometric designs can look completely different when the centre shifts by only a few millimetres.

Cut with sharp fabric scissors or a rotary cutter and ruler. A clean circular or polygonal edge makes the wrapping process easier. If the fabric frays heavily, apply a tiny amount of fray-preventing liquid to the outer edge and allow it to dry fully. Avoid saturating the scrap, as stiff patches can make the button back difficult to close.

Cover The Button Face

Place the fabric right side down, then position the domed button face in the centre with the curved side against the fabric. If your kit provides a mould, set the fabric and button into it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The mould keeps the button steady while the edges are brought over the back.

Work around the circle gradually rather than pulling one section tightly first. Fold opposite sides towards the centre, then fill in the gaps between them. This distributes the fullness and helps prevent a visible pleat on the front. For a small button, tweezers or the blunt end of a tapestry needle can help tuck the fabric neatly.

If the front looks wrinkled, lift the fabric and try again before fitting the back. Gentle tension is enough; excessive pulling may distort the print, stretch the fabric, or produce a sharp ridge around the edge. On a directional design, check that the motif remains centred as you work.

Secure The Back In Place

Once the fabric is evenly arranged, fit the button back over the folded edges. Some kits use a press-like plastic tool: the covered button is placed into the base, the back is positioned on top, and the pressing piece is pushed firmly down. Other designs simply snap together by hand.

Follow the instructions supplied with the kit, since the parts are not interchangeable across every brand. If the back refuses to close, remove it and trim a small amount of excess fabric from the centre. Do not force the pieces together with a hammer unless the kit specifically recommends that method and you are working on a protected, stable surface.

For extra security on a washable item, add a small circle of lightweight interfacing behind the scrap before covering the button. This is particularly useful with fine cotton or loosely woven fabric. Avoid glue as the only form of attachment: it can stain fabric, become brittle, or fail during laundering.

Compare Button Styles

The best fastening depends on the fabric, the item’s use, and the finish you want. A sew-through covered button is usually straightforward for beginners, while a shank button creates a clean finish on the outside of a garment. Plastic components may be convenient for light projects, whereas metal backs can feel more substantial.

Button style	Good for	Main advantage	Watch point
Sew-through covered button	Blouses, cushions, bags	Easy to stitch securely	May show thread on the back
Shank covered button	Coats, dresses, collars	Neat outside finish	Needs a shank-friendly kit
Plastic-backed button	Children’s wear, accessories	Lightweight and simple to fit	Can be less durable under strain
Metal-backed button	Coats, bags, structured garments	Strong and polished	May need careful pressing
Flat decorative button	Appliqué and craft projects	Sits close to the surface	Not always suitable as a fastening

Before committing to a whole set, make one sample and attach it temporarily. Check whether the button is comfortable, whether the fabric catches around the edge, and whether the size looks balanced with the garment. A covered button should support the design rather than compete with it.

Improve The Finish With Simple Details

Pattern placement is often the detail that makes a scrap-covered button look intentional. Centre a flower, place a stripe vertically, or use a tiny motif as a focal point. If the scrap is too small for a centred design, embrace an abstract section of the print rather than trying to force symmetry.

For garments, match the button fabric to a facing, pocket lining, binding, or contrast panel. A single covered button can act as an accent, while a complete row creates a stronger visual statement. If you are sewing lingerie or delicate separates, keep the button lightweight and check that no rough metal edge will sit against the skin. This lingerie pattern guide can provide further inspiration for small-scale fabric details and independent sewing projects.

Press the finished button lightly from the fabric side only if the material allows it. Never place a hot iron directly over the button, especially when it contains plastic. A pressing cloth and low heat can smooth nearby fabric without damaging the covered surface.

Avoid Common Button-Covering Problems

A puckered front usually means the fabric has been gathered unevenly or cut with too much excess. Remove the back, smooth the fabric, and refit it by folding opposite sections first. If the button remains bulky, use a lighter fabric or reduce the seam allowance around the scrap.

A loose cover can result from an undersized button back, insufficient overlap, or fabric that is too slippery. Confirm that the scrap matches the kit’s recommended size and use a small piece of interfacing when the weave is loose. Very smooth fabric may also benefit from a few temporary hand stitches to hold the folds before the back is pressed into place.

Keep these practical checks in mind when making a batch:

• Test one button before cutting every scrap.
• Match the fabric weight to the button size and intended use.
• Centre directional prints before trimming the fabric.
• Trim bulky folds from the back, not from the visible front.
• Sew the button on with strong thread and a secure knot.

Put Your Fabric Buttons To Work

Once you have made one successful button, save suitable scraps in a small envelope or box with the button size written on the lid. Grouping pieces by colour, fabric weight, or project makes it easier to create coordinated sets later. Even a narrow leftover strip may provide enough material for a tiny button or a decorative accent.

Use fabric-covered buttons on handmade garments, tote bags, aprons, soft furnishings, patchwork projects, and gift wrapping. They are also a useful way to echo a print from a garment without using a large amount of matching fabric. For a reversible project, cover buttons in two complementary scraps and choose the side that suits the occasion.

A few minutes of preparation produces a professional-looking result from material that might otherwise be forgotten. Gather your favourite scraps, choose a compatible button kit, and make a sample button today before adding a personal fabric detail to your next sewing project.