I love buttons. I have a lot of them. Lots and lots. Tins, containers. boxes and jars full of buttons. Hundreds and hundreds of them. The buttons are mostly vintage. Some are new. Some are still on their original cards. However the majority are loose and all mixed together. The problem is I am always digging through them, or tipping them out, looking for the perfect button for a project.
I have been thinking of ways to sort the buttons with no real answer. In an inspired moment I decided to tie the buttons together on a piece of string and tie them in a bow. A simple solution for sure, and I'm surely not the first to hit upon it. But this way when I tip them out I can see what I have immediately. I can add or subtract buttons easily. And then I can sort them into jars by colour. My sister then suggested using floral wire, which is a great solution, though I didn't have any on hand.
I began today by picking out my favourite little tin of vintage buttons and starting with them. Cohen sat on the bed with me while the baby slept. He sorted the buttons into little piles, while I threaded them on some thick cotton, then he popped them in the tin. It's a project that is going to take quite a few nap times to accomplish. But in the meantime all those funny little things that end up on the button jar will get sorted too - marbles, single cufflinks, nails, buckles - and the numerous plastic business shirt buttons and broken buttons can be weeded out of the collection while I'm at it.
How do you store or sort your buttons?
I love buttons too! I have 12 button jars and when the kids were between 3 and 5 it was the best to just dump them all out and let them sort through them.
ReplyDeleteNow I have the jars organized by color, and then I have to dump them out every time I want to find anything. I love your idea to tie the samesies together.
I recently discovered a love for buttons, and have began collecting them. I haven't very many yet, just a small jar and half a little tin full :-)
ReplyDeleteSarah x
I remember when I was growing up my mother would take us with her to a button store...it was called Windsor Button...and I loved it.
ReplyDeleteI still remember it so well.
There were aisles and aisles of sewing and crafting supplies and then at the back, a wall filled with what seemed like a thousand little drawers.
Each little drawer had a button pull and inside of course were all the matching buttons.
Thanks for inspiring that memory!
Ooh how I do love buttons, especially vintage ones.
ReplyDeleteI keep all my buttons in vintage tins and you know I have not ever thought of sorting them in this way...Brilliant Christina, I might just have to pinch this idea ;)
x
Buttons!!! What else is worth collecting??? Love how you have joined them up with their little partner. I keep mine according to colour, and use the jars as decoration in my little sewing room. Easily I could drool all day away in a button shop...J
ReplyDeleteOh, good idea. You won't mind if I send my stash of buttons up to you and Cohen to sort it for me, will you?
ReplyDeleteWow.. looking great!
ReplyDeleteI sorted my buttons by colour in a transparant sorting box. It's great looking at it! ;o)
will you pop over here and sort my buttons for me? Love the idea, not sure I would do it :)
ReplyDeleteI put mine in litte clear plastic ziplock bags by colour (blues, greens, pink/purple, yellow/orange/red etc.) It's not beautiful but it makes it easy to find what I want. I love the idea of using thread, I might try it :)
ReplyDelete