Sewing Buttons & Craft Buttons

The difference comes down to how the fastener attaches to the garment and how much space it leaves for fabric layers. Flat buttons feature 2 or 4 holes drilled straight through the face; they sew relatively flat to the textile and are ideal for lightweight shirts, cardigans, and bedding. Shanked buttons have no holes on the front; instead, they feature a hollow metal or plastic loop protruding from the back. This shank lifts the button body away from the fabric, providing the essential clearance required for thick coat panels, heavy tailored blazers, and winter outerwear to overlap cleanly without pulling.

Button sizes are traditionally specified on your sewing pattern envelope in either millimeters or lines (Ligne). In our diverse collection, we stock exact sizes ranging from tiny 10mm clear utility options up to large 30mm statement pieces. For standard shirts, look toward 11mm to 14mm varieties. For tailored sports coats and suits, a combination of 15mm and 17mm buttons works beautifully for sleeve cuffs, while larger 20mm and 22mm shanked blazer buttons are the industry standard for the main front closures.

Toggle buttons are elongated, barrel-shaped fasteners designed to slip through fabric or cord loops rather than standard cut buttonholes, making them exceptionally easy to fasten with gloves on. We stock high-quality toggles across three highly distinct materials: traditional 2-hole rustic wood, polished bronze metal, and smooth chestnut brown imitation bone. Because of their large size and rugged appearance, they are the gold standard closure choice for heavy duffle coats, chunky cable-knit winter cardigans, capes, and decorative canvas bags.

These are highly popular utility items for general domestic sewing and alterations. Our large bags of mixed-size silver and gold buttons provide an eclectic mix of sizes and styles, making them a budget-friendly choice for school craft projects, knitting spares, and scrapbooking. Buttonhole elastic is a specialized elastic strip featuring pre-woven slot openings running down its center. It is stitched flat into the internal waistbands of childrenswear, maternity clothes, and adaptive garments, allowing the wearer to button into the elastic to easily adjust the waistband size as needed.