Wondering what to do with leftover buttons? Let’s face it, most of us have a jar of them tucked in a sewing drawer: spares from old shirts, a few vintage ones with real character, and a bunch that match nothing at all.
Good news, because that jar is worth far more than it looks. I rounded up 18 ideas for any budget, skill level or room, starting with easy clothing repairs and moving on to button details, home touches, bag closures and jewelry made from vintage buttons.
Quick prep: sort your jar by size and color first, so picking buttons for each project is SO much faster. And keep the jar away from little ones and pets, since loose buttons are a choking hazard.
What to Do With Leftover Buttons: Easy Clothing Repairs
Start here if you want a quick answer to what to do with leftover buttons. Repairs take minutes, cost next to nothing and save the clothes you already love.
1. Mismatched Cardigan Buttons
Who says a row of buttons has to match, eh? Sew a coordinated set of mismatched buttons down a cardigan front and the repair becomes the best part of the sweater. Pick buttons of similar size and thickness so every buttonhole still works.
2. Rescue a Shirt Cuff
A loose cuff button is the easiest fix on the list. Stitch on a reclaimed white button and your favorite shirt is ready to wear again. A plain one like this goes with almost everything.
3. Waistband Button Fix
When trousers lose the button at the waistband, a leftover one from the jar is the quickest rescue. Choose a sturdy sew-on button with enough weight for the job, since the waistband takes more strain than a shirt front, and stitch it down firmly.
4. New Buttons for an Old Coat
A tired coat can look NEW again with vintage replacement buttons. Tortoiseshell-style ones like these add old-school charm, and swapping a whole set costs far less than buying another coat. Tip: check the buttonhole size before you sew on the whole set.
Wearable Button Details for Everyday Clothes
Buttons are not only for fastening things. Used as details, vintage buttons add color and a bit of personality to everyday clothes.
5. Denim Pocket Flap
Give a plain denim shirt a pocket you can actually fasten. Add a small flap and button to the chest pocket so keys and cards stay put. One little button does the trick.
6. Roll-Up Sleeve Tabs
Talk about handy. Sleeve tabs with a button hold rolled-up linen sleeves in place, so they stay put while you cook, clean or garden.
7. Plaid Wool Neck Warmer
Plaid wool plus two dark buttons makes a snug button neck warmer that adjusts to fit. It overlaps at the front, so the buttons do the job of a scarf knot. SO cozy for winter walks!
8. Button-Trimmed Apron Pocket
A plain linen apron gets personality fast when you trim the pocket with tiny buttons in mixed colors. They are decoration here, so even the odd single buttons (yes, those too) have a place. Tip: sew them on with strong thread, since aprons get tugged and washed a lot.
Vintage Button Crafts for Around the Home
Around the house, odd buttons make handy closures for towels, cables, books and gifts, and each one is a small project you can finish in an afternoon.
9. Hanging Towel Loops
Kitchen towels love to slide off the oven door, don’t they? A button-on hanging loop fixes that. Sew a fabric loop and a button onto each towel and it hangs from a rail or handle in seconds.
10. Cord Wraps for Cables
Tangled chargers, meet your match. Small fabric cord wraps close with a salvaged button and keep cables coiled in a drawer or bag. Use a different button color for each one and you can tell the cords apart at a glance.
11. Book Sleeve With a Button Strap
Wrap a favorite paperback in a fabric book sleeve with a button strap and it travels safely in a bag. A vintage button on a floral print looks right at home.
12. Reusable Gift Envelopes
Skip the wrapping paper. Fabric gift envelopes close with a button and a loop, so the wrapping becomes part of the gift. Tip: choose a button that sits flat, so the flap folds neatly.
Button Closures for Bags and Cases
A button and a fabric loop make a simple closure for small bags and cases, no zipper needed.
13. Tote With a Button Loop
A simple tote gets better with a fabric loop and an old button that keep the top shut so small things don’t spill. Match the button to one color in the print, like the cream one on this floral bag.
14. Button-Flap Glasses Case
A plaid pouch with a button flap gives glasses a soft landing in a handbag. Stitch a rounded flap with a recycled button and add a soft lining for extra padding.
15. Travel Jewelry Roll
Roll it up, button it shut and toss it in a suitcase. A fabric jewelry roll keeps necklaces and earrings from tangling on trips, and a neat vintage button on the closure makes it personal.
Jar of Vintage Buttons: Jewelry and Accessories
This is where the prettiest buttons in your jar finally get their moment in the spotlight.
16. Fabric Flower Brooch
Two fabric colors, a gathered circle and a vintage button right in the middle. That is the whole recipe for a removable fabric flower brooch you can pin on a lapel, scarf or bag. Tip: add a pin back so it can move from outfit to outfit.
17. Denim Cuff Bracelet
Old denim, a touch of braided stitching and an amber button clasp add up to a denim cuff bracelet that goes with everything. Save the best-looking button in the jar for the clasp, because it is the star.
18. Vintage Button Pendant
Last but not least, the showpiece: a vintage button pendant on a simple cord. A decorative metal button like this one gets a felt backing and instantly looks like a keepsake.
What Will You Make With Leftover Buttons?
Buttons have SO many second lives, and I hope you found a favorite on this list. The next time you wonder what to do with leftover buttons, dig out that jar and start with the easiest repair. Which one are you trying first? Tell me in the comments!
Happy button crafting!
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Posted by: Med Houssem · In: Fabric & Textile Crafts
