Beadwrangler Workshop

Button Ears

A Beading Project

by

Lydia F Borin
The Beadwrangler

This Beadwrangler beading project shows you how to make Button-Ear stud earrings, a broach or a button cover using flat buttons with two perforated holes in the middle.

I started making Button-Ears about 15 years ago when I first learned to bead. I wanted to make pretty jewelry as gifts and not have to spend so many hours making each item. I had lots of buttons my mother and grandmother had handed down to me and decided to use them. I came up with some real treasures and everyone love them. Button-Ears are popular today just as much as they have been in the past. I am happy to share the how-to of making Button-Ears with you. You can make earrings, broaches or button covers with them or add them to hatbands, necklaces, bracelets and other wearables.

Cut a piece of buckram in a circular shape and smaller than the button. Cut the buckram a little smaller than the ear stud or button cover so it does not show after the finding is attached. Buckram will show when adding broaches/pins. Cut a small piece of ultrasuede or pigskin leather a little larger than the buckram and glue it to the buckram. Then stitch the finding to the ultrasuede/leather and through the buckram also. If you find the earring studs do not work on top of a small piece of buckram, add leather/ultrasuede larger than the buckram just as you would with a broach.

Thread your needle with beading thread and double it, 60" doubled, 30" on each side works well. Make a knot in the end and take it through the middle of the buckram and out again so the thread is attached and taut. Place the buckram on the backside of the button. Now take the needle through one button hole and back through the other and into the buckram again. Your button should be attached. Bring the needle back through the button to the front side.

String on 30 beads and take the needle into the other hole of the button and back to where the buckram is. Now you have a strand of beads attached. Bring the needle back to the front and string another line of 25 beads and repeat the process. Make another of 20 beads, one of 15 beads, 10 beads and 5 beads. This should begin to fill up the two button holes and have loops of beads on the front. Once you have covered the button holes, take the needle back to the buckram and stitch back and forth through the buckram about three times and then make a knot and cut off the excess. You can use a tiny dot of clear nail polish or fraycheck on the knots to keep them from fraying. Repeat the process for a second earring.

Attaching the Findings

Use E6000 or other fixative to glue on stud earrings or button cover. You can usually stitch on a pinback since they usually have holes for stitching through. Stitch the pinback to the buckram piece and the ultrasuede/leather backing

Finishing Touches

For broaches and button covers, you can add more beads since they will not be hanging on your ears. Try two or more bead colors combined, add drop beads or a lightweight charm, small decorative beads, experiment and you will find each Button-Ear you make will look unique and make wonderful inexpensive gifts.

NOTE: This design is the property of Lydia F Borin and is for personal use only. No part of this project may be used as part of another project, magazine article, book or other printed or electronic publication without the written permission of the owner. For further information contact lydia@beadwrangler.com