Using buttons as focals

Ladybrook3 wrote

on Oct 26, 2012 9:04 AM

How do I use buttons with shanks as focals and get them to not twist around?

Thanks

D.M.Z wrote

on Oct 26, 2012 12:20 PM

Ladybrook3, that is a difficult question to answer without knowing more about how advanced you are in beading, what the button looks like, what kind of shank, etc. But, in general if I had a nice sized button and I wanted to use it as a focal, I'd put it on a longish rectangular "patch" of beading that I'd make, I'd leave a hole or slot in the center bottom to hold the button firmly, and then sew on the button, fold the top of the "patch" over to form a loop and attach the loop to your necklace.

Another way of keeping the button hanging straight would be to add another loop near the top or the button and use the two loops to stabilize the button into position.

Hope this helps you a bit, if not write back with more info on what you are actually attempting to do. Donna

shanks wrote

on Oct 26, 2012 4:27 PM

Hi, 

Might take a short piece of wire and push it down over the smallest part of your round nose pliers, making a loop with two ears sticking out.. Take this and put the loop up through a little piece of cloth. You now have a sort of button shank. You will need two. Glue the cloth and wire where you need them and run your thread around so as to stabilize the button so it will not flip. I have a hard time explaining, but it works.  Little buttons are another matter.