Tutorial Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

I am really getting into Spring right now and thought it would be good to bring back a tutorial for embroidered button covers that can be used as pins! I love that these covered buttons can be totally customizable. I created some Springtime sketches of a bee, flower, and ladybug to share with you here, but I know these button covers would look great with monograms or even the year and school logo for the students who will be graduating in the next couple of weeks. These don't have to only be used as pins or buttons either! If you add this to the end of a bobby pin, it can be worn as a hair pin.

This tutorial might be a refresher for some, but I think it's a fun and easy way to infuse embroidery into very unexpected places!

In order to make these Springtime button covers you will need:

- button cover kit (found them for under $10 at the local fabric store)
- embroidery hoop, scissors, floss, and supplies
- Muslin or fabric of your choice
- Water soluble marker
- Scissors
- Safety pins
- Springtime pattern

The kit comes with everything you need to cover buttons with fabric of your choice. There is also a template on the back of the package that serves as a cutting guide, to ensure fabric is the appropriate size to cover the button and be secured at the back.

Step One: Using a water soluble pen and the template from the button kit package, transfer the template to the fabric. Place the button front in the center to measure out where the pattern should go. There should be about 1/2 and inch of space between the edge of the button front and the cutting line.

Step Two: Transfer the pattern to the center of the circle. Place in an embroidery hoop and stitch. Repeat for all patterns.

 

Step Three: Once your stitching is complete, cut the fabric. Trim any excess floss from the back. 

Step four: Place the fabric face down in the large part of the attachment tool. Then the backing over that. Make sure the button back covers the edges of the fabric. Then use the plastic cap attachment tool to snap the button back into the button front. You'll be able to hear and feel the back snap into the front.

 

Step Five: Repeat the process to attach the stitched fabric to the buttons. 

Step Six: Take a small safety pin and thread it through the loop at the back and attach it to your blouse or place of choosing. This can also be tacked in place with needle and thread, if you prefer not to use a safety pin.

 

Step Seven: Enjoy the Springtime critters and blooms all day long!

Hope you enjoy and give this tutorial a try!

Tutorial Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone! I have had New Year's Eve on my mind, and thought I needed a fun cocktail ring or accessory to add to my outfit for the evening. Today's tutorial can be used for any event or holiday, but I am going to use it as a New Year's Eve embroidered cocktail ring. 

Supplies needed for this project:

-fabric scraps or small pieces of fabric

-button cover kit in the 1 1/8 inch (2.8cm) size

-ring bases

-embroidery floss and needles

-beads or decorative accents

-hot glue gun and/or glue of your choice

-pliers

-scissors

I used 6-strand purple and blue metallic embroidery floss from DMC, and separated them into 3-strands for each piece I stitched. I found ring bases at my local craft store, but they are also available here. 

Step 1: Choose a piece of fabric and lay out your pattern. I had this fabric with a medallion print that was about the same size as the button form that I covered. This made it easy to keep the pattern within the print of the fabric. I filled the print of the fabric with french knots for one ring. I had some clear beads in my sewing box that I thought would add a little sparkle to the center of the french knot ring. I drew up a quick sketch of a diamond for the other, which you can access here.

For fabric without a print, I used a very light outline of the button in pencil and then stitched random little stars within that space. 

Step 2: Once your stitches are complete, it's time to assemble the button and finish the ring. The package of buttons that I purchased had a pattern on the back that ensured the fabric was cut the appropriate size to cover the button. I made a template from the pattern on the package and used that to cut the stitched fabric.

Step 3: Now you can cover the button. These instructions came with the button kit that I purchased, but in case you need them, this is how to cover the button hardware with the stitched fabric. You will need the two button pieces, your stitched piece, and the button assembly tools for this step.

Place the stitched piece of fabric face down inside of the white curved button cover tool. Place the button top face down on the fabric. 

Gently press the button into the white button cover tool and fold the excess fabric over the back of the button piece.

Place the back button piece on top of the fabric and pushed down gently.

Take the blue button cover tool and place the hollow side over the exposed button piece and press down.

You should hear a click when the back piece fits into the front button piece. 

Gently remove the button from the white tool piece. 

Step 4: Take your pliers and pull the wire out of the back of the button.

Step 5: Using the hot glue gun, add a small amount of glue in the center of the back of the button and then add the ring base to the back of that. Make sure to place the ring base centered so the stitches don't look crooked once the ring is on.

Step 6: Place ring on finger and enjoy!

Hope you all have a very wonderful holiday season and happy new year!

'Patterns': Buttons

Embroidered buttons by vvvanessa

Not so much a pattern this week, as more a kit. Vanessa embroidered these extremely cute buttons using a kit from Tako Fibers. It looks like Tako Fibers are on vacation right now, but definitely worth checking back on them when they return I think.

Buttons, buttons, buttons

Stitched by wildolive

Every time I peep into the pool I see even more fabulous buttons from the Feeling Stitchy button swap. You peeps are amazing! :)

fs embroidered button swap

Hand stitched Liberty print fabric buttons by teasemade

__ Embroidered buttons by Adaiha
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FS Swap Nest with Robins Eggs by craftydill
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Backstitch embroidered button by TheCraftyLibrarian
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And finally, how could you not love these sweet little bees that crafty mcgee has stitched for her partner craftydill -

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FS Swap Received - Bees & Flowers

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This is just a small selection of my favorites so far from the embroidered button swap. Aren't they great! To see more of the buttons and goodies being swapped link here

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If you're taking part please remember to tag your Flickr photos 'fsswap' so we can find you!

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Embroidered Button Swap

Sweet tweets

' Birdcage' - embroidered button brooch by knittinjo

I fell in love with this tinted linen birdcage as soon as I saw it! And I think I may have found the little bluebird that escaped from the cage on this wonderful sheet of wip buttons by BrooklyneChaos ...
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Something for the weekend -

Check out this sweet freebie birdcage embroidery pattern by Aimee Ray!

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SWAP - Just a little reminder that the post date for the Embroidered Button Swap is next Friday (19th)! I can't wait to see what you've all been stitching!

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Have a lovely weekend x

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More Button Finds

Heart Buttons by Deep Indigo

I just had to share this bowl of sweet hearts with you! You can see more of Deep Indigo’s rainbow heart embroidered buttons here.

___I hope to add a few work in progress photos next week from some of our button swap members (if they are willing to share with us!), but for this week I leave you with this sweetly stitched wip photo by Birthine -

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Work in progress by Birthine

Embroidered Button Swap

1. new stuff, 2. Hand embroidered Birdy Buttons

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Swap update -

Well this is very exciting, we have 60 members signed up, so that means over the next few weeks 360 small fabric circles will be stitched, made up into buttons and shipped around the world … and I can’t wait to see them all!

Firstly thank you so much for all your emails, and as you all signed up so quickly I will be sending over your swap partners’ details sooner than planned. So expect an email from me within the next 3-4 days once I’ve paired you all up.

Sorry if you missed out!
I had a few people email after we reached 60 members, so sorry to all that missed out, but it doesn’t mean you can’t stitch along with us! If you fancy having a go at making some embroidered buttons we’d love to see them! Just remember to tag any photos in the embroidery pool with ‘fsswap’ so we can find you!


more tutorials and inspiration –

Save the whales – buttons stitched by ohfransson

This was one of the first images I saved as a favourite on Flickr when I joined a couple of years back - they are just wonderful! I used the same technique of satin stitching over wool felt on my Valentine heart button here

To see how Elizabeth made these buttons link here - save the whales

And to see another great little embroidered button tutorial link here - Molly’s sketchbook embroidered buttons
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more next week...

Next Saturday I will post the list of swap partners, but you will receive an email from me by Thursday (at the latest) with your partners' details.

I will also be adding another tutorial showing how to make fabric buttons without squashing your stitches, as we all know how delicate those little french knots can be!

Happy Saturday! x

FS Embroidered Button Swap

1. Monica's, 2. Redheads!, 3. embroidered button swap - bunnies, 4. Embroidered buttons

swap update: thanks for all your emails - **sign-up has now closed**

update: Feb 13th - link

Hello and welcome to our first ever swap here on Feeling Stitchy! If you love fabric buttons and embroidery, like me, then this is the swap for you! Here’s how to join – Please email me at feelingstitchyswap(at)live.co.uk with the following information ...

Your name

Your address

Your email address

Your blog, flickr address, twitter id …

A little bit about yourself and your crafts, sewing, fabric style, etc (and if you have any allergies as we are sending chocs/sweets!)

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Your gift-wrapped parcel should contain –
A set of 6 hand embroidered buttons (any size or style you fancy), some craft supplies (for example, threads, ribbons, vintage buttons, etc) and a little chocolate or sweet treat.

Some dates …
Sign up deadline is Wednesday 17th February * sign up has now closed as we have reached 60 members *(only by email to - feelingstitchyswap(at)live.co.uk) I will then post details of who's sending to who here on Saturday 20th February.

You will then receive your partner’s info by Wednesday 24th Feb and should mail your parcel no later than 19th March 2010

Please be aware that you may have to ship international, as this swap is open to all ;)

Grab a badge for your blog here

More swap info! ...

The swap will be open to a max of 60 people - I will try to email you back asap, but please expect a little delay in receiving reply emails from me.

You will be sending to and receiving from the same person - so please find out more about your partner via email and by visiting blogs etc.

Please check back here for any swap updates over the next few weeks.

Feel free to add your work in progress photos to the embroidery pool, but please tag any wip and finished photos with “fsswap” so we can find you!

If you do have any questions please ask them over here at the flickr embroidery group and I will get back to you asap.

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Some useful links
Tutorials …
Amy’s embroidered button tutorial
Pimp Stitch embroidered button tutorial with Amy Cluck’s sweet mini button patterns
Inspiration …
Embroidered button flickr group

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I will be back next Saturday with an update, some more tutorial links and some embroidered button finds to inspire you all - Happy Stitching x

oh and please tweet and blog about the swap to spread the word - thanks x

The Pinpals / In Stitches Showcase

While I was in Chicago for part of my book tour, I got to see lots of new work by artists weilding the needle at the current exhibit at Renegade Handmade: The In Stitches Showcase. One of my favorites was The Pinpals from Canada. Cross-stitched buttons, earrings, wall-hangings, pendants and lockets....lovelovelovely.

ETA: Whoopsy! I accidentally posted an image from Miniature Rhino with the original post. But thas cool, 'cause I've been meaning to blog about MR too!

Link

Button tree

Stitched by Creative Kismet

I love how these buttons seem to be growing on a tree. Lovely!

Cross stitch letters

stitched by incywincystitches

This pile of cross stitch letter buttons just fills me with glee.

Hedgie love

from OrangeZoo

Want to embroider your own buttons? Try this embroidered button tutorial from PimpStitch!