6 Best Glass Jars For Button Collections To Organize
Organize your sewing room with the 6 best glass jars for button collections. Find the perfect storage solution for your craft supplies and shop our top picks.
Every dedicated knitter knows the quiet joy of rescuing a vintage button from a dusty bin, only to realize the collection has outgrown a single tin. Proper storage prevents delicate shank buttons from snapping under the weight of heavier wood or metal toggle closures. Choosing the right glass jar transforms a cluttered stash into a curated display of haberdashery history. These vessels protect precious findings from dust, oxidation, and the inevitable frustration of losing that one perfect match for a cardigan project.
Ball Wide-Mouth Mason Jars: Best for Display
The wide-mouth design of a standard Mason jar provides unparalleled access when searching for that final button to finish a stranded colorwork sweater. Because these jars are made of clear, non-reactive glass, the natural luster of horn, mother-of-pearl, or vegetable ivory buttons remains visible even when tucked away on a shelf.
The primary advantage here is the sheer volume and accessibility. A 16-ounce wide-mouth jar allows for easy scooping, which is far superior to digging through deep, narrow containers when trying to match a button to the specific gauge and drape of a finished garment.
However, consider the footprint. Wide jars take up significant horizontal space on a craft table compared to vertical storage solutions. If desk real estate is at a premium near a knitting station, these might feel cumbersome rather than convenient.
Le Parfait Super Terrine Jars: For Large Buttons
Le Parfait jars feature a signature rubber gasket and wire-bail closure, offering an airtight seal that is superior for protecting antique buttons made from sensitive materials like celluloid or early plastics. These materials can degrade or become brittle if exposed to high humidity, so a secure seal acts as a preservation tool.
These jars are exceptionally wide and shallow, making them the gold standard for oversized coat buttons or chunky toggles. When dealing with heavy-duty outerwear buttons that wouldn’t fit through the neck of a standard bottle, the terrine shape provides the necessary clearance.
The trade-off is weight. These glass jars are heavy, even when empty, and the wire-bail mechanism can be fiddly to open and close repeatedly. They are best suited for permanent, long-term storage of a curated collection rather than for frequent, daily access.
Libbey Small Spice Jars: Perfect for Tiny Buttons
Tiny buttons—often used for delicate baby garments or fine-gauge lace cardigans—are easily lost in deep containers. Libbey small spice jars are narrow enough to keep these miniature fasteners from shifting, ensuring the collection stays organized by size or color.
Because these jars are uniform in size, they look polished when arranged in a row. They are ideal for knitters who prefer to organize buttons by specific projects, such as keeping a set of six matching 10mm buttons for a baby sweater in one dedicated vessel.
Be aware of the opening diameter. While perfect for small buttons, these jars are difficult to clean inside and can be frustrating to pour from if the glass is thick. Only use them for buttons that are small enough to be easily retrieved with tweezers or a small scoop.
IKEA Korken Jars: Best Value and Affordability
The IKEA Korken series offers a classic, apothecary-style look at a price point that makes it feasible to organize an entire room of supplies. The hinged lid with a rubber seal keeps dust and lint—the eternal enemies of stored fiber arts supplies—completely at bay.
These jars are highly modular and stack reasonably well, making them excellent for utilizing vertical space in a sewing or knitting corner. They come in a variety of heights, allowing for a cohesive visual aesthetic even when storing buttons of different scales.
The hinge mechanism is the weakest point of the design. Over years of heavy use, the metal clips can lose tension or require adjustment. For a budget-friendly solution, they are excellent, provided one exercises a bit of caution with the hardware.
Anchor Hocking Stackable Jars: Best Overall
Anchor Hocking stackable jars are the versatile workhorse for the serious button collector. Their ability to stack vertically creates a “tower” of buttons that saves precious table space while keeping different types of findings within arm’s reach.
The clarity of the glass is excellent, allowing for quick visual identification of button sets. This is particularly helpful when auditing a stash to see if there are enough matching buttons for a complex project requiring a specific count, like a row of buttons along a front placket.
The stacking design relies on the lid of one jar nesting into the base of the one above. While stable, these are not meant to be knocked over. Keep them on a sturdy, level surface away from the edge of the workstation to avoid accidental breakage.
Kamenstein Revolving Rack: Ideal for Sorting
A revolving rack isn’t a single jar, but a system of glass containers that brings order to a chaotic hoard. By assigning different button materials—such as wood, bone, metal, and plastic—to different jars on the rack, you can locate specific materials in seconds.
This is the best choice for knitters who keep an extensive variety of fasteners. Instead of searching through one massive jar for a specific 15mm toggle, the rack allows for categorized retrieval.
The limiting factor is the size of the included jars. They are typically optimized for spice storage, meaning they are relatively small. If the button collection includes many oversized or antique buttons, the rack may lack the internal volume required for a complete stash.
How to Choose the Right Jar for Your Buttons
- Size matters: Match the jar opening to the average diameter of your buttons.
- Seal necessity: Use airtight seals (gaskets) for vintage materials that are sensitive to humidity.
- Accessibility: Choose wide-mouth jars for high-frequency access and narrow jars for long-term sorting.
- Space planning: Measure the shelf height if planning to use stackable or vertical storage solutions.
Tips for Sorting Your Buttons Before Storing
Always categorize by material first, as organic materials like wood and bone require different care than synthetic plastics. Next, sort by size and hole count—two-hole, four-hole, and shank buttons behave very differently when being attached to a knitted fabric.
Consider a “work-in-progress” jar for loose buttons that haven’t been assigned to a project yet. By keeping these separate from your main, sorted collection, you avoid mixing up your curated stock with random findings picked up at thrift stores or estate sales.
How to Safely Clean Vintage and Antique Buttons
For sturdy plastic or metal buttons, a gentle soak in warm water with a drop of mild, pH-neutral soap is sufficient. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove stubborn grime from the recessed areas of intricate carvings.
Avoid submerging delicate materials like mother-of-pearl, bone, or wood, as these can swell, crack, or lose their finish. Instead, use a slightly damp cloth to wipe them down, and always ensure they are completely air-dried before returning them to an airtight glass jar to prevent mold growth.
Creative Ways to Display Your Button Collection
Arrange your jars by color to create an ombre effect, which serves as both functional storage and an inspiring visual element in your workspace. Use decorative labels with notes about the button material or the source of the collection to add a personal, archival touch.
Position your most beautiful vintage buttons in the smallest, clearest jars at eye level. This turns your button supply into a gallery of texture and color, reminding you of the history and potential of every single piece in your collection.
A well-organized button collection is more than just a supply of fasteners; it is a library of inspiration waiting to be incorporated into the next project. By choosing the right glass storage, you ensure that these tiny treasures remain preserved and ready for the moment the perfect design comes along.
