» posted on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010 at 12:48 pm by ABM

Fabric Buttons How-To Series: Getting Started by Choosing Your Fabric

One of the growing trends in monogramming and embroidery is the use of fabric-covered buttons as an accessory for a number of items, from clothing to purses to shoes. Many small embroidery shops have begun to offer a selection of fabric buttons, including custom monogrammed buttons. With a professional grade button machine, a small embroidery shop can quickly expand its product offering with a fun and versatile fabric button that has a number of uses. This post is the first in our week-long series on fabric buttons.

Getting Started by Choosing Your Fabric

One of the most exciting aspects of fabric buttons is choosing the right fabric with which to decorate the button. A trip to the local arts and crafts store is sure to provide a wide array of patterns and designs that can give any fabric button a certain amount of flair.

A number of popular designers offer their patterns as fabrics that can be used for a number of arts and crafts projects. Such popular designers include Lilly Pulitzer and Vera Bradley. With decorative fabric from a popular designer, it is easy to make a trendy fabric button that is sure to impress.

However, some designer fabrics can be somewhat pricey. For a small business looking to produce a large number of fabric buttons in an assortment of colors and patterns, arts and crafts store such as Jo-Ann Fabrics can be a great place to find inexpensive yet stylish patterns.

When choosing fabric, it is important to remember that not every type will work in a button maker. It is a good idea to check the thickness of any material as some materials are too thick for a button maker and others are too thin. This is not a major issue, as most fabrics used in button making are of a relatively similar thickness; however, specialty fabric buttons, using leather for example, will require a button maker that has been calibrated to accommodate the material.