Removable Buttons

[Carolina Kiltman]

For those who want to use washers, probably the cheapest way is to drill an appropriate sized hole in a US cent. (they aren't solid copper any more, zinc with copper plating.) I haven't found any washers cheaper than that.

[svc40bt]

Many thanks to all who have provided pictures and explanations. Having seen and read them, I have a couple more questions.

Are the shanks of the buttons extra long to go through the extra material? If not do they then pucker the outer fabric when buttoned?

Finally, the silver buttons shown have a top and bottom, and the diamond shaped buttons used on the dressy Argyles have a verticle and horizontal direction; how do you keep the buttons from rotating?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

how do you keep the buttons from rotating?

A gentleman has better things to occupy his mind than rotating cuff buttons.

[puffer]

A gentleman has better things to occupy his mind than rotating cuff buttons.

What ??? No Servants ??

Puffer

[DTrain]

I modified a tailcoat to a PC and got some pewter buttons to go on it. These are diamond shaped thistle buttons from noonesbusiness.com. I used the "bent safety pin" method and this works great. The pins came about 50 to a pack for about $3 and the buttons have a shank that anchors them well. They don't pucker, spin, or float. They can be easily removed for dry cleaning and easily replaced.

This is easy and works well.

[Bugbear]

That is interesting information about the cap badges, Puffer. Thank you for bringing that up.

To clear up something about my first post, I bought a card of removable buttons to figure out how they work, but did not have instructions. When I couldn't think of how they would be attached to the jacket, I just assumed that they were marked wrong at the store, and the pin was there to hold them on the card... As I said, it all made sense after the shank holes were explained, so I went and looked at them again.

So, big thank you to svc40bt for asking the question, and everyone else for explaining. Life can go on now.

[vmac3205]

You make the little holes small enough that the shafts don't turn. I just use my button holer as my machine won't do the circle. The shafts are long enough that they go through all the layers of fabric, no problem. Wlverine will be shooting some photos in a few days. You could OM him and see if he will send you some details of the buttons on his PC.

[Bugbear]

There you go, DTrain, that's the ticket. I just don't like the idea of making shank holes in all my jackets; it's fine if you're comfortable doing that though.

[svc40bt]

Anyone have pics of the bent safety pin method.

[Bugbear]

Anyone have pics of the bent safety pin method.

No, sorry... I'm not even sure you could take a picture that would make sense.

* I am finding it hard to explain too, but basically there is a small bend in the middle of the pointed wire of the safetypin. It's like a half circle or a "V" shape, and that is what holds the button on. The other side of the pin has to be bent to make both sides equal.

You put the pin through the fabric, over the shank, and back in the fabric then push it through until that little bent part is over the shank. Then you close the pin and it's done.

You can also get quilt basting safetypins that are already bent, but they are a bit bigger than you need, and cost a bit more. Hope that helps. *

* You know, I'm not satisfied with the safetypin technique anymore. The safetypins leave a dent in the fabric if they aren't shaped right, they can be difficult to put on, and they can show if the buttons are not on the large size. However, I don't want to punch holes in my jackets.

So, I'm trying to redesign a safetypin of sorts that will do the job without needing the holes. *