Making buttons can be so much fun and are useful for so many things. As a sewer, I can create just the right button in the right color for my project. I have even replaced most of the buttons on my store bought clothes with my own handmade ones.

This tutorial covers the basic construction of several types of buttons, including textured and moulded. I show you how to make your own wire shank and include templates you can copy with an easy foolproof method for marking your buttonholes so they are perfectly centered every time.

The buttons shown in the photo are examples only. This tutorial teaches how to make a button by transforming your own original works of clay into functional art pieces.

The lesson is broken down as follows:

Page 2 - Using the button templates
Page 3 - Making a button with holes
Page 7 - Creating a wire shank
Page 9 - Making a shank button
Page 12 - Making a textured button
Page 14 - Making a mould
Page 15 - Making a moulded button
Page 17 - Finishing your pieces
Page 19 - Making a cornstarch pouncer
Page 20 - Buttonhole templates