6 Best Button Sets For Skirt Closures To Consider
Upgrade your handmade skirts with our top 6 button sets for secure closures. Explore these stylish, durable options and find the perfect fit for your project.
Selecting the perfect buttons for a hand-knitted or sewn skirt is as critical as choosing the right yarn weight for a project’s drape. A well-placed closure prevents gapping, secures the garment’s silhouette, and adds a professional finishing touch that elevates a homemade piece to heirloom quality. When the tension of the waistband meets the weight of the fabric, the hardware must be both decorative and structurally sound. The following guide explores the best button sets for skirt closures, balancing aesthetic appeal with the practical demands of fiber arts.
Akoya Shell Buttons: Most Elegant Choice
Akoya shell buttons offer a luminous, iridescent finish that works exceptionally well with fine-gauge wools or silk-blend skirts. Their natural luster provides a high-end, polished look that elevates simple stockinette or lace skirts.
Because shell is a natural material, slight variations in color and thickness are expected. This organic quality complements hand-dyed yarns beautifully, creating a cohesive, artisanal aesthetic.
Be mindful that these buttons are thinner and more delicate than synthetic alternatives. They are best suited for skirts that do not experience significant stress at the closure point, as they can crack if caught under intense pressure.
Handmade Olive Wood Buttons: Best Rustic Feel
Olive wood buttons are characterized by their deep, swirling grain patterns and warm, earthy tones. They provide an instant connection to nature, making them the ideal choice for chunky cable-knit skirts or heavy-duty wool tweed projects.
The durability of olive wood is a standout feature for everyday wear. These buttons resist splitting and maintain their structural integrity even after repeated trips through the laundry, provided they are washed in a mesh garment bag.
The tactile experience of wood against yarn creates a harmonious sensory profile. These buttons add weight and substance to a waistband, which can help anchor a skirt that features a looser or more textured knit pattern.
Gutermann Sew-Through Buttons: Top for Durability
When functionality is the primary goal, Gutermann sew-through buttons are the industry standard for reliability. These buttons are engineered for high-frequency use, ensuring that a skirt remains securely closed throughout a long day of movement.
The secret to their longevity lies in the precision-molded resin, which resists heat and breakage better than most natural materials. The holes are often smoothed to prevent fraying or cutting the thread, a common issue with cheaper plastic alternatives.
For a skirt that sees constant rotation in a wardrobe, these are the safest bet. They offer a clean, minimalist profile that doesn’t compete with complex knitting patterns or elaborate hem details.
Sajou Horn Toggle Buttons: Best for A-Line Skirts
Toggle buttons provide a distinctive closure style that acts as a structural focal point on an A-line skirt. The elongated design of horn toggles allows for an easier, more secure fastening method than traditional round buttons.
Authentic horn offers a rugged, sophisticated texture that softens with age. The natural variation in shading means no two buttons are identical, adding a layer of bespoke character to the finished garment.
Toggles are particularly useful when the skirt fabric is thick or layered, such as in wool felt or dense wool crepe. Because they are designed to be looped rather than pulled through a tight hole, they place less stress on the garment’s fiber over time.
Czech Glass Buttons: Top Vintage-Inspired Pick
Czech glass buttons are prized for their intricate molding and deep, saturated colors. They bring a touch of old-world charm to a skirt, making them the perfect companion for heirloom-style designs or skirts featuring vintage-inspired lace motifs.
These buttons are surprisingly sturdy, though they are heavy. Ensure the button band is sufficiently reinforced with interfacing before attaching these, as their weight can cause the knit fabric to sag or distort under gravity.
Choose these when the skirt design acts as a canvas for a decorative statement piece. Their shimmer catches the light in a way that synthetic materials simply cannot replicate, providing a high-impact aesthetic reward.
JHB Metal Shank Buttons: Best Modern Statement
Metal shank buttons provide a structural advantage for skirts because the shank lifts the button away from the fabric surface. This creates space for the buttonhole fabric to nestle underneath, preventing the skirt from pulling or puckering when closed.
JHB metal buttons often feature detailed crests, geometric patterns, or metallic finishes that offer a modern, polished edge. They function like jewelry, transforming a functional closure into the primary design element of the skirt.
Because they are metal, weight and potential tarnishing are factors to consider. Always verify the button’s finish is water-resistant to avoid rust staining the yarn during the blocking or washing process.
How to Pick the Right Button Size for Your Skirt
The button size must be determined by the thickness of the fabric and the width of the buttonhole. A good rule of thumb is that the button should be slightly wider than the buttonhole itself to prevent accidental opening.
If the fabric is chunky or heavily cabled, you will need a larger button to maintain the proper scale. Small, delicate buttons on a bulky knit will look overwhelmed and easily slip through the hole, while massive buttons on a light fabric will cause sagging.
Always test your button through the intended hole before sewing it on. If the button slides through the opening with no resistance, it is too small; if you have to stretch the fabric significantly, it will eventually cause the yarn to thin or break.
Shank vs. Sew-Through: Which Button is Better?
Shank buttons are generally preferred for thick fabrics because they create a bridge, allowing the fabric to sit comfortably behind the button. This prevents the “pucker” effect, where the material bunches up and creates an uneven silhouette.
Sew-through buttons are flatter and more versatile for light to medium-weight fabrics. They sit flush against the waistband, creating a streamlined look that is less likely to snag on handbags or other clothing.
For most knit skirts, a shank button is safer because it accommodates the natural depth and thickness of hand-knitted stitches. However, if the skirt is meant to be layered under a coat or top, a flat sew-through button may offer a smoother, less bulky profile.
How to Reinforce Your Skirt’s Button Band
Buttons are only as stable as the fabric holding them. Always apply a strip of ribbon or iron-on interfacing to the inside of the button band to prevent the weight of the buttons from stretching or tearing the knitted stitches over time.
When sewing on the buttons, use a sturdy thread that matches the fiber content of your skirt as closely as possible. Avoid using standard cotton sewing thread on high-stretch wool garments, as the thread lacks the elasticity to move with the fabric.
A “thread shank” can be created by leaving a small gap of thread between the button and the fabric during the sewing process. Wrapping this gap with the thread creates a durable stalk that protects the knitting from the friction of the button.
A Quick Guide to Common Button Materials
- Resin/Plastic: Affordable, durable, and available in endless colors; ideal for utility.
- Natural Shell: Elegant and iridescent, but fragile; best for delicate or special-occasion pieces.
- Wood: Rustic and warm; excellent for natural fibers and casual, textured garments.
- Metal: Heavy and sophisticated; provides a strong, structural anchor for heavier fabrics.
- Horn/Bone: Highly durable with unique patterns; adds a luxury, artisanal weight to the garment.
Selecting the right buttons involves a balance between the weight of your fiber and the intended use of your skirt. By matching the button material and attachment style to the thickness of your knitting, you ensure the garment remains functional and beautiful for years to come. Do not rush this final step, as the quality of the closure is often what defines the professional finish of a hand-crafted project.
