Remember the nostalgic moments of exploring Mum’s or Grandma’s button jar? I know I’ll be dating myself here, but as a quilting enthusiast who often loves quilting with buttons and beads, I think of those moments fondly. I’ve been building my collection of treasured trinkets, especially after having the fantastic opportunity to go through one of my quilting friends’ button jars (thank you, Pat!).
My stash is shown above.
This type of quilting opens up endless creative possibilities. Button clusters are an inexpensive option for embellishing your projects. I love adding them, and I’ll be talking more about them when we start stitching.
For now, focus on choosing buttons in various colours, sizes, textures, and shapes for your projects. Thrift stores frequently have mixed bags of buttons, perfect to add to your stash. Etsy shops usually sell buttons, particularly glass, which is terrific for quilting with buttons and beads.
What About Beads & Beadwork in Quilting?
Seed beads are the most common bead used in quilting. They work beautifully in seam treatments when quilting with buttons and beads. I would also recommend your quilting with buttons and beads collection, including tear drops, just a few, which make excellent wings for bugs. Daggar beads are great for dragonfly wings in quilting with button and bead designs. Bugle and various shaped beads like leaves and flowers are good additions to your quilting with buttons and beads stash.
A small collection of sequins is worthwhile. They come in various shapes and sizes, many available in Etsy shops for your quilting projects with buttons and beads.
I always like to have a small selection of charms when quilting with buttons and beads. Again, Etsy is a good source for these. Pewter charms work very well versus gold and silver as they blend easily with various fabric colors.
Sequins are another great addition to quilting with buttons and beads. They come in various shapes and sizes, and many are available on Etsy for your collection.
Start building your collection today – each button, bead, and charm can transform your quilting projects into unique works of art.
