How to Crochet Buttons in Minutes

Buttons can be the perfect finishing touch to a handmade sweater, cardigan or shirt, and they add interest to cushion covers, bags and hats. But just the right buttons aren’t always easy to find. Why not learn how to crochet buttons and create them in exactly the color you want?

Crochet buttons can add color to any project

This tutorial shows you a quick method of making small and simple cotton buttons. Making them is a lot of fun and use only tiny lengths of yarn.

Once you’ve learned how, you can work them in many different yarns, create various sizes and add embellishments to really exercise your creativity.

What you’ll need

The cotton buttons made using this tutorial can be sewn onto a project for decoration, but they also work on a garment as fastenings.

Yarn

I found that 100% cotton yarn was perfect for functional buttons, as the disc is flexible enough to pass through a buttonhole, but it keeps its shape and is firm enough to hold the garment closed.

For the smallest buttons, I chose a 4-ply mercerized cotton from Planet Penny in a selection of bright, summery colors. For the larger ones, I used a heavy worsted weight (aran weight) cotton, Drops Paris, also available in lovely candy shades. You can experiment with any yarn for decorative buttons.

Crochet hooks

For firm buttons, choose a crochet hook a half size or whole size smaller than suggested for the yarn. I used a size C hook (2.5mm) for the 4-ply cotton and a size G (4mm) for the heavier weight cotton.

Darning needle

For weaving in ends.

Stitches you’ll need

  • Chain
  • Slip stitch
  • Double crochet
  • Single crochet (for embellishing, if desired)

U.S. terms used throughout.

Crocheting the button discs

Make a slip knot, leaving a 12-inch yarn tail. Chain 4 and join with a slip stitch to make a small ring. This forms the base of the button (photos 1-3).

Chain 2, then double crochet 11 into the ring, crocheting over your yarn tail. When you have completed the dcs, do not close with a slip stitch (photo 4).

Start crocheting buttons by crocheting in the round

Pull gently on the starting tail end and you will find that this closes up the hole in the center of the circle.

Note that you can use a magic loop to start, but the extra bulk created by using a foundation chain produces a slightly dome-shaped button, which I prefer.

Finishing your button

For a perfectly neat button, the next step is to close the circle so that the join is seamless. You can use this technique whenever crocheting circles — it gives a much better finish than the slip stitch and is just as quick to do. Here’s how:

Cut your yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. Use your crochet hook to pull your working loop until the yarn tail comes right through (photo 5). Thread this onto your darning needle.

Working with the front of the circle facing you, place your needle from front to back through both loops of the first double crochet that you made. Be careful not to go through the second starting chain (photo 6).

Pull the yarn through, but do not pull so tight the circle closes. Take the needle and again working from the front of your work, pass the needle from front to back through the last double crochet in the circle. The needle needs to go between the front and back loops at the top of the stitch (photo 7).

Pull the yarn through. Holding the circle between your fingers, pull the yarn to close the circle. Just pull tight enough so that the stitch you have made is equal in size to the tops of the double crochet stitches around the rest of the circle (photo 8).

Use an invisible join on crochet buttons

Making the button shank

This simple, neat crochet circle can be used as a decorative button as it is, but if you want to be able to sew it onto a garment and use it as a working button, it needs a button shank with a stem and a loop.

You can use the yarn tails to create this easily, which is why you need to leave such long ones.

The first step though is to sew in the first yarn tail to make sure the hole in the center of your button stays closed.

After pulling on it gently again to make sure the hole is tightly closed, sew in the end through the base of the stitches, working counter-clockwise (photo 9). You should then have both yarn tails at the same position at the back of your crochet circle (photo 10).

Tight finishes for crochet buttons

Trim the tail ends so they are the same length and thread both onto your darning needle. Insert the needle into the back of the disc, slightly in from the edge, and pull through. Leave a loop for your crochet hook (photo 11) and then work three chains (photo 12).

Pull through the yarn tails and rethread them onto your darning needle. You can then attach the end of the three chains to the opposite edge of the crochet circle and sew in securely (photo 13). This creates a small but firm loop that you can use to attach the button.

Making the shank of your crochet buttonA completed crochet button

Using your finished crochet buttons

My finished buttons made in 4-ply cotton measured approximately 5/8 of an inch in diameter. The crochet button made in the heavier weight yarn was one inch across.

The final size of your buttons will depend on the type of yarn and the size of crochet hook you use — you may have to experiment to achieve the right size for a garment. However, these buttons are so quick to make and any buttons you have left over will never be wasted!

Group of finished crochet buttons in 4-ply cotton

These could be gorgeous on a plain, dark cardigan or as the closure on a crocheted pillow cover.

Crochet buttons ready for use

This vintage bag was upcycled and brought back to life with a button theme, using a button fabric lining and adding crochet button decorations inside and out. Ideal for storing your yarn stash!

Crochet Button Bag

Embellishing your crochet buttons

I left the cotton buttons I made plain, as the colors were so gorgeous. But I did experiment with some buttons in other yarns — adding a little embroidery to make stars or crosses can be a lot of fun!

You can also add a round of single crochet stitches around the button disc in a contrasting color for a larger, decorative button. Try working into the front loops only or the back loops only for different effects. These would be ideal for adding to cushions or to decorate a blanket, scarf or a crochet bag.

Embellished crochet buttons

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One Response to “How to Crochet Buttons in Minutes”

  1. Denise

    Must try this.