Button Up!

'Civil War Era - Button Up!' by southroncreations

Though they didn't have modern plastic in the Victorian era, they had a large variety of other materials for buttons (sliced antlers, anyone?). And there were always the ones you could make yourself!

SALE 50pc Vintage Glass Butt... treasurebooth $6.50	Victorian Black Glass Button... victoriansenti... $40.00	Vintage Glass Buttons 4 Clea... kalliedesigns $6.99	4 Antique Black glass Button... thrulisaseyes $10.00
Clear Pink Transparent Vinta... ButtonFinder $4.45	Genuine Horn Buttons (4) Coa... ShopHavanaBana... $12.00	Antique victorian black glas... LushRocks $4.95	Dorset Buttons - Red SilverLiningSe... $15.00
Set of 2 VINTAGE Sliced Antl... abandc $2.25	Pair of Very Large AESTHETIC... outsiderartsup... $75.00	9 Vintage Clear Glass Button... ButtonMercanti... $6.00	Victorian Pressed Horn Butto... SkeeterBitz $6.00
antique Lot 33 carved Bone ... GothicPetunia $6.00	Handmade Dorset Buttons - Se... southroncreati... $8.00	Antique Buttons Black Dyed H... worn2perfectio... $36.00	Two Pure Silk Dorset Crosswh... lindmel $5.80

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

The above are vintage or handmade buttons you can buy now to recreate a Victorian outfit. But now, how about looking at some vintage outfits to study some lovely buttons ladies made in the past?

Fabric covered buttons were very popular. Ladies would use horn, bone or other available articles for the button form and sew the fabric around it by hand. This is a cute double button style from a wrapper.


Of course, you could make those fabric buttons even more fun by putting them in a bed of lace!



Here are some big showy fabric buttons on another wrapper.



Another favorite button style was glass. So shimmery and pretty!


A twist on fabric buttons - these are silk buttons with a mesh net over them. Wow!



Now we come to the really fun ones - Dorset buttons! These are handmade buttons woven onto a ring. Some are solid, some are hollow.





Here's a close-up. Isn't this neat?



I just couldn't resist trying these myself. Here are some I made for Mom for Christmas. Don't you think they'll look smashing on a jacket?


And here's some I currently have listed in my Etsy shop.


Wow! Who needs plastic buttons anyway?!