If you’ve ever opened a tin of vintage buttons and felt like you discovered a small, glamorous archaeological site, you’re in excellent company. These tiny treasures deserve better than being trapped in a jar like Victorian-era hostages. With a little imagination (and maybe a glue gun you claim you “barely use”), you can turn vintage buttons into mini masterpieces.
1. Vintage buttons on knitted garments
Give your knits an upgrade worthy of a Parisian grandma who knits in cashmere. Swap plain closures for vintage buttons for knitted garments and suddenly your cardigan murmurs, “Oui, I’m chic.”
How to Sew a Button on a Knitted Garment
Choose the right button:
Go for a shank button — it behaves better on knits and won’t sink into the stitches like it’s hiding from responsibility.Use strong thread:
Regular thread works, but buttonhole twist is like the gym-buff cousin who actually lifts. Trust it.Reinforce the area:
Add a tiny felt circle or a backing button inside the garment. It keeps the knit from stretching… unlike your patience.Thread your needle and knot it:
Yes, you have to knot it. No, you cannot skip this step. The universe will know.Position the button:
Place it exactly where the buttonhole naturally lands when the garment is closed. If you guess, it will be crooked, and you will blame the dog.Anchor the thread:
Bring your needle up through a small bar of yarn — not a whole stitch. We’re sewing, not performing open-heart surgery on your sweater.Sew through the button:
Shank button: Easy — just pass through the shank like you’re threading a very fashionable bead.
Flat button: Leave a tiny bit of slack. Knits need breathing room, darling.
Repeat 5–8 times:
Enough to secure the button. More than that and your knit will start filing complaints.Make a little thread shank (for flat buttons):
Wrap the thread around the stitches under the button a few times. Voilà — a tiny pillow for your button to sit on. Luxury!Secure the thread inside:
Tie a couple of knots, then weave the tail into the yarn like a sneaky little ninja.Test your work:
Button it up. If it looks crooked, pretend it’s “artisanal.” If it’s really crooked, sigh dramatically and redo.Final tip:
Don’t pull too tight. Knitted fabric likes freedom and flexibility — just like you after a glass of rosé.
How to Choose the Perfect Buttons for Knitted Garments
Pick lightweight buttons (resin, wood, nylon, or hollow metal) to avoid stretching your knit.
Choose shank buttons instead of flat buttons — they sit better on thick yarn.
Match the button size to the yarn weight (bigger buttons for chunky knits, smaller for fine knits).
Avoid buttons with sharp metal edges that could snag delicate fibers.
Consider natural textures (wooden, leather, corozo) for rustic knits and Czech glass or rhinestone buttons for dressier cardigans.
Test the buttonhole size on a small swatch before sewing anything permanently.
Sew with strong thread (buttonhole twist or embroidery floss) and reinforce with a small backing button inside.
Choose wash-safe buttons if the garment will be washed often.
Use contrast colors for a bold look or tone-on-tone buttons for a refined finish.
For heavy cardigans, opt for oversized statement buttons to balance the weight of the fabric.
Add decorative buttons only on non-functional sections if you want sparkle without strain.
When in doubt: rhinestone buttons are always a chic upgrade — lightweight, strong, and eye-catching.
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Here are a few links to help you find some adorable knitted garments. These links are affiliate links, so they won’t cost you a thing — but they might earn me enough for a little coffee:
➜ Mohair Knit Maxi Dress – Elegant See-Through LuxuryWrap yourself in soft, ethereal elegance with this Lovely Mohair Knit Maxi Dress, crafted from a premium blend of 70% Italian kid mohair, 5% merino wool, and 25% nylon. Perfect for autumn layering, this dress offers both comfort and sophistication—ideal for evenings out, cozy weekends, or gifting to someone with impeccable taste. Made in Ukraine and shipped with care, it’s available in several lovely colors.Click here to explore all shades and fall in love.
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➜ Elegant mohair sweater is hand-knitted from premium fluffy mohair yarn, giving you that perfect mix of softness, warmth, and effortless chic.
Why you’ll adore it:
• A stylish oversized look with loose, dreamy knitting
• A luxurious blend of 32% Kid Mohair / 28% Merino Wool / 40% Nylon—super soft, feather-light, and cloud-level cozy
• Iconic oversized puffy sleeves that say, “Yes, I’m fabulous…and yes, I’m comfortable.”
2. Vintage buttons for sewing projects
Whether you’re altering, mending, or creating from scratch, vintage buttons for sewing bring charm that modern buttons can only dream of.
Oh, You Don’t Have Any Sewing Ideas? Here, Let Me Help You With These 5 Creative Projects Using Vintage Buttons
1. Vintage Buttons on a Wedding Veil
Give a simple veil a poetic upgrade by scattering delicate vintage buttons near the comb or around the edge. Suddenly it goes from “nice” to “I am ethereal, please admire me.”
2. Cocktail Hat Glam With Vintage Buttons
Add a cluster of rhinestone or pearl buttons to a fascinator and watch it transform into a small, fabulous crown. Ideal for weddings, garden parties, or entering a room as if you own it.
3. Women's Bags With Button Charm
Stitch a line of Art Deco or floral buttons along the flap, or use one dramatic Czech glass button as the closure. People will ask if it’s vintage Dior. You may smile mysteriously.
4. Button-Embellished Belt Makeover
Give a plain belt a runway moment by sewing vintage buttons across the front. Oversized button as the centerpiece? Even better. It’s couture on a Tuesday.
5. Straw Bag With Vintage Button Flair
Turn a basic straw bag into a Riviera-chic accessory by sewing on seashell, floral, or rhinestone vintage buttons. It instantly looks like you summer in Saint-Tropez (even if your passport is expired).
3. Vintage buttons for decorating
Use buttons for decorating frames, lampshades, table linens, gift boxes, napkin rings, or any object that needs a little sparkle and a little chaos.
4. Vintage buttons for making hair accessories
Why limit beauty to blouses when your hair can join the party? Use vintage buttons for making hair accessories by attaching them to barrettes, combs, headbands, or bobby pins. One little glass button and—poof—you suddenly look like someone who casually attends art openings and never forgets to water their plants. Vintage charm, zero effort.
5. Vintage buttons for blazer transformations
A blazer becomes iconic when you add vintage buttons for blazer embellishments. Think heritage chic meets effortless cool.
6. Vintage buttons for coat makeovers
Oversized vintage buttons for coat projects take any winter coat from “functional” to “main character in a romantic film set in Prague.”
7. Vintage inspired brooches with vintage buttons
Make your own brooches by layering vintage buttons on felt, metal blanks, or fabric Yo-Yos. Glue, stitch, stack—they all work. The result? A brooch that looks like it came from your imaginary Paris antique dealer.
8. Vintage buttons on a bracelet projects
Create charming button bangles using elastic thread or chain links. A vintage buttons bracelet jingles softly as you walk, announcing your creativity like a tiny couture tambourine.
9. Vintage buttons on beret projects
A beret + vintage buttons = instant French-girl energy. Cluster them near the brim or create a starburst pattern. You’ll look like someone who owns a tiny art gallery and refuses to explain your process.
If you're looking for beautiful berets — because let’s be honest, they’re not always easy to find — here are a few affiliate links to some berets I find absolutely adorable:
Looking for that je ne sais quoi that turns a simple outfit into a “Did she just step out of a Parisian love story?” moment? This hand-embroidered 100% wool French beret is your new secret weapon.
Click here 🔗 through the affiliate link to see all the colors and details… and to give yourself permission to feel a little more French today.
10. Vintage buttons on decorative bouquets
Add vintage buttons to fabric flowers, wedding bouquets, or dried arrangements. They become tiny jewels among the petals—and unlike real flowers, they never wilt, complain, or demand sunlight.
What are the best tools to use when crafting with vintage buttons?
A sharp needle, polyester thread, jewelry pliers, elastic cord, a glue gun, fabric scraps, and of course: an unreasonable quantity of vintage buttons. (The correct number of buttons is “more than you currently own.”)
Ready to dive deeper into the glamorous rabbit hole of sewing notions? Explore the Zaza of Canada treasure boxes: vintage buttons, Czech glass masterpieces, floral beauties, big bold coat buttons, and sparkly rhinestone shank marvels. Warning: once you start browsing, you may “accidentally” fall in love with a button you didn’t know you needed.
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3 Zaza of Canada Blogs About Vintage Buttons
If you're anything like me, you have a jar of vintage buttons that you guard like a dragon guarding treasure. You don’t use them—oh no— you admire them, you reorganize them, you take pictures of them...
Well guess what?
Today is that day.
Below you’ll find a collection of my totally addictive button-themed blogs. Enter at your own risk: side effects may include stitching at 2 a.m.
Go on, click around. Your imagination will thank you.
⭐ Creative Ways to Repurpose Vintage Buttons
For those moments you whisper “I should stop hoarding buttons”… and then immediately click this blog instead.
🔗 https://zazaofcanada.com/blogs/sewing-ideas/creative-ways-to-repurpose-vintage-buttons
⭐ What to Do With Vintage Buttons
Jewelry, but make it button-chic. Click if your inner magpie demands sparkle and history.
🔗 https://zazaofcanada.com/blogs/sewing-ideas/what-to-do-with-vintage-buttons
⭐ Unique Sewing Project: Glass Buttons Art Quilt
The blog where vintage glass buttons finally say, “Move over, diamonds — we belong on quilts.”
🔗 https://zazaofcanada.com/blogs/sewing-ideas/unique-sewing-project-glass-buttons-art-quilt
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