How to Make Fabric Covered Buttons: Choosing the Right Button Maker Kit

Store-bought buttons never quite match. You finish a dress, a cushion or a tufted headboard, and the closest button you can find is almost-but-not-quite the right colour. Fabric covered buttons solve that completely: you cover a metal blank in your own fabric, so the button matches the project perfectly — whether that is a wedding gown in satin, a sofa in upholstery weave, or a quilt in your favourite print.

If you have never made them before, this guide walks you through what you need, how button sizes work, and how to pick the right fabric covered button maker.

What are self-cover buttons?

A self-cover (or fabric covered) button has two parts: a domed top and a back that snaps on. You lay a circle of fabric over the top, fold the edges in, press the back on, and the fabric is locked in place — giving a smooth, professional button covered in exactly the material you choose. No sewing on the button face, no visible seams.

Self-covered uses the same fabric as your garment; fabric covered often means a contrasting fabric for decorative effect. Same tool, same technique — only your fabric choice changes.

Metal vs plastic blanks: choose metal for anything heavy

This is the mistake that trips up beginners. Plastic blanks are cheap and fine for light dressmaking cottons, but they will not hold heavier material and can pop apart with use. Metal self-cover blanks are stronger, longer-lasting, and essential for upholstery, denim, drill and furnishing fabrics. If you are covering buttons for a sofa, headboard or coat, metal is the way to go — and a press machine seats them far more reliably than pressing by hand.

Understanding button sizes (the "L" system)

Cover buttons are sized by a ligne number (written like 24L, 32L, 40L) which corresponds to a millimetre diameter. You do not need to memorise the chart — just match the button size to the job:

• Small (around 10–15 mm / 16L–24L): shirt and blouse buttons, delicate detailing, doll clothes.
• Medium (around 18–20 mm / 28L–32L): jackets, coats, cushions and general sewing.
• Large (around 25 mm / 40L and up): upholstery, tufting, headboards, statement buttons.

How much fabric do you need per button?

A common beginner question. A reliable rule is to cut a fabric circle roughly twice the diameter of the button. Our button molds use this simple formula:

Fabric size = (button size ÷ 2 + 8) × 2

For example, for an 18 mm button: (18 ÷ 2 + 8) × 2 = 34 mm fabric circle. Tip: for sheer or lightweight fabrics, add a layer of light interfacing so the metal does not shine through.

The best pick: a button maker kit with 4 sizes

For most people, the easiest way to start is our Handmade Fabric Covered DIY Button Maker Press Machine Kit. It includes the hand press button machine plus four popular mold sizes:

• No.24 — 15.3 mm (0.6") — shirts and fine detail
• No.28 — 18 mm (0.7") — general sewing
• No.32 — 20.4 mm (0.8") — jackets and cushions
• No.40 — 25.5 mm (1") — upholstery and statement buttons

With the press doing the work, you get a smooth, tight cover every time — far quicker and neater than the hand-gather method, especially across a batch of matching buttons.

Need a different size? Add individual molds

If you need a size outside the kit, the Fabric Cover Button Maker Die Mold is sold individually in a range of ligne sizes — 16L (10.5 mm), 18L (11.5 mm), 20L (12.5 mm), 22L (14 mm), 24L (15 mm) and more — so you can build out exactly the sizes your projects need. These molds fit the same hand press machine.

What can you make?

• Bridal & formalwear: cover buttons in lace, satin or silk to match a gown exactly.
• Upholstery & home decor: tufted headboards, cushions, ottomans and pillows.
• Dressmaking: perfectly matched buttons for coats, jackets, shirts and dresses.
• Quilting & craft: use fabric scraps to make custom buttons no shop can sell you.

Frequently asked questions

Are the button blanks included?
The kit includes the press machine and the molds. The button blanks (the metal shells you cover) are bought separately so you can choose the size and quantity you need.

Can I use upholstery fabric?
Yes — use metal blanks and a press for heavier fabrics like upholstery weave, denim and drill. Plastic blanks are only suitable for lightweight material.

How do I stop the fabric pattern shifting off-centre?
Test on a scrap first, and centre any motif before pressing. For thin fabric, back it with light interfacing for a cleaner, opaque finish.

Do the molds fit your other hand press machines?
The button molds are designed for the button maker press. If you are combining tools, check that your press matches before ordering.

Make buttons that actually match

Once you can cover your own buttons, you will never settle for almost-right again. Start with the Fabric Covered Button Maker Kit for the four most useful sizes, and add individual molds as your projects grow.