Beaded buttons take about an hour or so to make, and give you a little bit of bling to enjoy. A perfect project for those leftover beads from a planned project, or those little tubes that you just couldn’t resist at the bead shop!
Have fun picking a color theme. Or, work around a focal bead to fill in the fabric to make the special button. You can use seed beads, crystal beads, czech glass beads – really any beads! What’s important is to have fun and let the creation evolve as you add more beads.
Here is our beaded button tutorial:
How to Make Beaded Buttons
Beaded buttons are a quick and easy hand project that add a special bling to a garment or accessory. And, they are fun to make!
Before you get started, let me tell you - beaded buttons are addicting to make! I use a small hoop. Trace the outline of the button on the fabric - get a bunch of beads and start beading!
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Here is how to make beaded buttons step-by-step.
Materials
- Covered button kit
- Tightly woven, light weight fabric in the general colors of the beads you will use. I like to use the wrong side of a fabric
- Beads! It's good to have at least one focal bead and a variety of shades, sizes and shapes
- Beading thread
Tools
- Beading needles
- Small embroidery hoop
- Embroidery scissors
Instructions
- Start by placing the covered button blank on the fabric. You won't see the fabric through the beading, you just want to make sure it will blend. This is when I use up some of the ugly scraps I have, and use the wrong side.
- Draw around the button. I use a sharpie - use anything with staying power in case you take a long time to finish your button, Don't use chalk or the markers that erase with water or air. We'll bead over this line, so it can be permanent.
- Hoop your fabric, with the marked circle kinda centered. Hooping the fabric keeps it taut and makes it easier to sew the beads.
- Start filling the circle with beads. Here are some examples. I like to start with a few focal point beads - on this one the larger darker blue beads with a small bead on top. Then, fill around in the drawn circle with smaller beads. Have fun trying different techniques and textures.
- Here is another start. I used some flower beads as the focals and then filled in around them with seed beads. Make sure to fill the marked circle with beads.
- Once you have filled the marked circle with beads, take it out of the hoop and cut away some of the excess fabric. Leave enough fabric to wrap around the covered button. How much depends on what size of button you are beading.
- Here it is all trimmed up and ready to finish.
- Now, do a basting stitch around the circle, making sure that the stitching line is bigger than your button blank.
- Place the button blank top inside and pull the thread snug to wrap the beaded fabric around the button top.
- Don't cut your thread! Put the base for the covered button over the back of the button, making sure the shank comes through the hole in the button back. When doing covered buttons with beads, place a beading mat or other soft surface down so that when you push down to lock the button back, you don't break your beads. I generally use at least a triple fold of a bead pad.
- Once you have the back "locked in" (you'll hear it click), take the thread that you have left and begin adding more seed beads around the edges to cover the visible fabric.
- And, here is the finished button! With beads covering all areas of fabric! You can see that if you had a high contrast fabric, you might see it, but as long as the fabric blends, you are good!
Recommended Products
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kai 5 1/2 inch Embroidery Scissors, Black Handle -
Caydo 6 Pieces Embroidery Hoop Set Bamboo Circle Cross Stitch Hoop Ring 4 inch to 10 inch for Embroidery and Cross Stitch -
Nymo Nylon Seed Bead Thread Size B (8 Bobins 144 Yards Each) 0.008 Inch 0.203mm Spool 390 Yards Mixed Colors -
Beadsmith ColorEyes Color Identified Beading Needles (Assorted Sizes) -
Beadalon Bead Mats 2/Pkg-13X18 -
Dritz 114-36 Craft Cover Button Kit with Tools, Size 36 - 7/8-Inch, 14-Sets
Here is the first beaded button I ever made. See how adding some bigger focal beads make the beaded button more interesting?
Here was my second beaded button, where I used some larger beads – I think it is more interesting.
Then, I wanted to try one color – would a monocromtic button be better?
How about some bigger beads and more monochromatic?
What if I tried different colors?
My sisters decided I was having too much fun by myself. Here is Ginny’s button – a terrific spiral . . .
We had a wonderful week together, and a fun time making the beaded buttons – now what to do with them all? Here are all of the buttons we made during a fun week.
Browse through all of our beading projects and inspiration on Create Whimsy.
