A Creative Button Application

Lois · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:38 am Post subject: A Creative Button Application

I was snoop shopping with a friend this week. I saw a fabulous button technique on a Dana Buchman suit. The buttons were large with a bar across the center (no shank). The button was attached to the jacket with grossgrain ribbon. The ribbon was a matching color (black) and was simply tacked to the jacket and then tied in an over hand knot to attach the button. There was a thread tack through the ribbon knot, to keep it secure. The ribbon ends were cut at a diagonal. Ta-Da! That was it! So simple but so interesting.

I'm going to be on the look-out for buttons that would work with this technique. The business suit was made from a fine grade wool, and buttons matched the fabric for a low contrast look. But I also imagine this technique on a casual jacket (stretch cotton or denim), maybe using different color ribbon on each button depending on the fabric print.

zigzagger · Joined: 07 Jun 2007 Posts: 52 Location: Massachusetts

That sounds like a very cool design! I would be interested to try this on a light summer jacket or as a handbag closure. Perhaps you could also try this with thinner ribbon and tye a bow instead of a knot, and then tack it down.

Lois · Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 9:34 pm Post subject:

Oh what a cute idea - the bows!! I had been thinking about a thinner ribbon or a cord would work on several buttons I see on the website. I think for a summer jacket it would be very cute.

zigzagger · Joined: 07 Jun 2007 Posts: 52 Location: Massachusetts

I have another possible application for this technique. On our recent NYC trip, I saw a jacket that had funky, random, mismatched buttons all along one sleeve. I think if you did this using this technique, it would make for a very cool jacket!

Lois · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 12:36 am Post subject:

Does anyone have the August/September 2007 issue of Vogue Patterns? On page 11 there's a photo of a button attached with a decorative cord, tied in a knot. It's a good article titled Sophisticated Suit Details.

Dixie · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:07 pm Post subject: Re: A Creative Button Application

Lois · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:49 pm Post subject:

Sorry for being unclear. Descriptions are not my strong suit! Try to envision a round belt buckle. The button was sort of like that. Round - and not the usual holes in the center. Instead the button had a thin straight piece cross the center. On the RTW garment I saw, the buttons were attached with a ribbon knotted over that center piece. Ribbon was tacked to the garment 1st and then button was added, with ribbon knotted on top of the button.

Another version could be done with a button which has 2 holes. A thin cord or ribbon could be sewn in the center onto the garment (in the button position) and then the 2 ribbon ends threaded through the buttonholes and tied in a knot. If you check out that Vogue pattern mag you will see an example of what I'm struggling to describe.

zigzagger · Joined: 07 Jun 2007 Posts: 52 Location: Massachusetts

Dixie,

This is the way I envision it: Imagine a flat, donut-shaped button. Now, put a long, thin rectangle across the back (towards garment) to act as a shank. Then, tack down the center of the cord/ribbon where you want to place the button, and thread it through both holes, and knot/tye it.

Hope that helps!

zigzagger · Joined: 07 Jun 2007 Posts: 52 Location: Massachusetts

I tested out my bow idea on a scrap of muslin with a rejected button Dixie gave me, and a bit of leftover ribbon. It actually looks pretty cute! Hope this helps, Dixie!

Dixie · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:24 pm Post subject:

Ok, now I understand! And thanks for the picture, Zig. Funny - as soon as I understood the concept, I thought of the button you used in your demo. It's Fango, and it's actually made the way Lois described the one she saw. So, if anyone wants to give this idea a try, look no further! http://store.sawyerbrook.com/Templates/frmTemplateR.asp?SubFolderID=1&SearchYN=Y

Lois · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:53 am Post subject:

That's IT Zigzgger! Looks very cute! The one I saw did not have the bow. It tied in the center in a knot. The ends were cut at a diagonal. But I do like your sample a lot.

Thanks for posting the pic.

zigzagger · Joined: 07 Jun 2007 Posts: 52 Location: Massachusetts

Lois,

I just received a periodic email from Vogue with a sample page from the latest issue, and there was the button technique you originally found! On a suit, thin cord, overhand knot, diagonal ends. You really did pick up on a new trend!

~zig