One of the growing trends in monograms and embroidery is the use of fabric-covered buttons as an accessory for a number of items, from clothing to handbags and shoes. Many small embroidery stores have begun offering a selection of fabric buttons, including custom monogrammed buttons. With a professional-quality button machine, a small embroidery store can quickly expand its product offering with a fun and versatile fabric button that has multiple uses.
Starting by choosing your fabric
One of the most interesting aspects of fabric buttons is choosing the right fabric to decorate the button with. A trip to the local arts and crafts store is sure to provide a wide range of patterns and designs that can give any fabric button a certain amount of flair.
Several popular designers offer their patterns as fabrics that can be used for various arts and crafts projects. These popular designers include Lilly Pulitzer and Vera Bradley. Using accent fabric from a popular designer, it’s easy to make a modern fabric button that’s sure to impress.
However, some designer fabrics can be quite expensive. For a small business looking to produce a large number of fabric buttons in a variety of colors and patterns, a craft store like Jo-Ann Fabrics can be a great place to find inexpensive yet stylish patterns.
When choosing fabric, it is important to remember that not all types will work in a button maker. It is a good idea to check the thickness of any material, as some materials are too thick for a button maker and some are too thin. This is not a major problem, as most of the fabrics used in button manufacture are relatively similar in thickness; however, specialty fabric buttons, using leather, for example, will require a button maker that has been calibrated to fit the material.
Using a button machine to create cloth covered buttons
According to Keith Brown of Dallas-based American Button Machines, “Most button-making machines are made to produce buttons on regular printing paper. Fabric is a completely different type of material than paper. It is important to have a Button maker properly calibrated to suit the challenges of making a button out of fabric material.
With a little creativity and the right equipment, an embroidery company can expand its fabric-coated button offering and sell a wide variety of novelty buttons with various applications. After cutting the fabric to a specific size with a circular cutter, several different options, such as the type that American Button Machines sells, can be pressed into the back of the button to make several different products.
A number of different accessories, such as a keychain, zipper pull, or cell phone charm, can turn any button into a personalized novelty item. This is especially useful for embroidery stores, which can make a custom fabric button to personalize any item. There are several backs that can be used with a fabric button. While some prefer a pinback to decorate a purse or to wear on clothing, a jacket, or a hat, others may want a more versatile back.
The many uses of fabric covered buttons
Snap-Inz are used to turn a fabric button into a shoe ornament to decorate Croc shoes. These charms can be glued to the back of a button and simply snap into place through the holes in the Croc shoes. Another use for fabric buttons is as a ponytail holder. This can be achieved with a special button on the back that has an eyelet to pass a ponytail elastic. Other specialty kits may include button bracelets and necklaces, as well as pacifier clips and key rings.
“Discerning customers are looking for the latest in quality button making options such as pocket mirrors, ponytail holders, key chains, necklaces, pinback buttons and refrigerator magnets,” said Keith Brown. “Applying a custom initial monogram to a fabric button is a great way to decorate a favorite item or add a custom look to a backpack, jacket, purse or a pair of flip flops.”
Seize the opportunity by owning a button machine
While monogrammed fabric buttons are gaining popularity, it can be difficult for a small embroidery business to seize the opportunity. Also, many production methods are not efficient enough for a small business trying to establish itself as a fabric button supplier. Cloth covered buttons can be extremely versatile, but most manufacturers do not offer any options for their customers.
Most embroidery stores start out slowly, perhaps using a Dritz button cover kit or a similar type of “hand pressed” button. While Dritz buttons are good for making a fabric covered button, the results can sometimes seem a bit homey as they generally don’t produce the same quality as a fabric covered button made on a professional button making machine. Dritz buttons are good, but they were never designed for the high-end production method demanded by the monogram industry.
While relatively inexpensive to manufacture (with basically non-existent accessories), these “push together” fabric button styles can be difficult to assemble. They depend on the strength of an individual to press the pieces together by hand or with a hammer. Once all the materials are gathered, they are placed in the press, which is then pressed to form a button. There are several limitations to this method. Pressing cloth buttons by hand can be difficult to do and uncomfortable for the user. The person making the button must proceed extremely slowly to ensure a quality product. Rushed work can, and often does, result in a button that is not centered and looks bad. Also, pressing a button together is not an efficient button maker as it takes more time to make a button compared to using a professional button making machine.
Many production methods are not efficient enough for a small business trying to establish itself as a fabric button supplier. For a company looking to make a large number of fabric buttons, or a variety of covered button types, old buttons that are hand pressed together simply aren’t up to the task of quickly producing a large number of fabric buttons. quality. These push-together button styles are good for a family or art class making buttons for crafts, but an embroidery shop that needs a large number of fabric buttons in a short amount of time would be more suitable if using a machine. professional for making fabric buttons. “
Many gift shops and resellers simply order fabric-covered buttons from a manufacturer like Morgan and Company. With professional-quality equipment, a manufacturer can quickly produce a large number of buttons; However, there are some drawbacks. The price of these fabric buttons can be quite high, since the manufacturer has to increase the price of the button to the reseller, who in turn marks it again for the end customer. Also, if a customer wants to customize a button with an initial monogram, the manufacturer may not be able to produce a custom monogram or charge a high price for the custom embroidery. To cut costs and continue to produce personalized embroidery gifts, many embroidery stores are starting to purchase their own button making machine.
Making a fabric button is extremely easy with professional equipment. After selecting a particular fabric and completing any embroidery or monogram, a circle cutter is used to cut each piece of fabric that will be used on the buttons. Once the other necessary supplies are gathered, a professional button maker can quickly produce a large number of buttons.
It is important to reiterate that a standard button maker must be properly calibrated to accommodate the challenges of making a button from fabric material. There are very few “professional” grade button manufacturers available on the market today that make fabric buttons. One of the simplest and most efficient is a button maker with a rotating die and a pull lever.
How to Correctly Use a Button Machine to Make Fabric Buttons
In a rotary die button maker, the materials are put into two separate dies. The button housing and fabric are placed in the first die, which is rotated inside the machine, and the lever is pulled once. The button is then placed backward on the second die, which is rotated toward the press, and the lever is pulled a second time to complete the button depressing operation.
“We have found that a button maker with a rotary die is the most efficient way to produce buttons in large numbers extremely quickly,” said Keith Brown of American Button Machines. “Button parts are loaded directly in front of the operator so they don’t have to make long movements left and right to load parts, slowing down production. The two dies rotate on a central axis, providing speed and precision to the same levels these machines can produce a button in as little as ten seconds. Other fabric button machines are designed to have interchangeable dies. Dies can be interchanged for quick and efficient resizing While production is not as fast as the rotary die method, these machines produce very high-quality, cost-effective buttons. “
A fabric button is a great way to personalize any item and add a unique sense of personal style. With a wide range of fabrics and a variety of button making options, fabric buttons have a number of uses including pocket mirrors, key chains, pigtails, pinback buttons, shoe ornaments, and necklaces. By investing in a professional quality fabric button manufacturer, an embroiderer can easily expand their offering and capitalize on the growing popularity of fabric covered buttons.