One of my fondest memories from my childhood was visiting my Grandmother Dorie and going into her #sewing room and opening up her tin of #buttons and seeing all the unique buttons she had collected. I wish I had a #buttoncollection to share with Charlie. Since November 16th is Button Day
I think I might start a new hobby with Charlie and we will start a button collection. We will visit our local Sewing Store Joann’s Fabrics to look for Buttons. Would you like to come with us. If your #Homeschooling your children this would be a Field Trip and a great way to spend time as a family and get children off the electronics.
Once simply ornamental in nature, the button as a means to fasten clothes has been around since the 13th Century Germany. Since then, a wide variety of materials like wood, clay, shells, and plastic have been used to make buttons in every size, shape, and color.
A button jar can morph into a great craft project, extra game tokens, or fashion embellishment. Sure, we have zippers and Velcro now, but buttons are just more fun, interesting, and whimsical. Buttons can even be works of art, so take time to appreciate those useful, buttons on National Button Day on November 16.
National Button Day Activities
- If you have a shirt you don’t wear anymore change out the buttons and make the shirt new again. Sew on some shiny metal buttons to give it an on-trend military look, or sew on kitschy novelty buttons to reflect your favorite hobby, animal, or even food. Be unique, original, and eco-friendly all at the same time.
- Visit a Thrift Shop, Rummage, or Garage Sale and be on the lookout for old clothing with unique buttons. Collectors love finding unique one of a kind buttons depicting mini works of art, that were worn by famous people, or reflect a certain era. Research to see if any of your finds are worth more than what you paid.
- Snip buttons from unused pieces of clothing, claim buttons you find lying loose, buy novelty buttons when it strikes your fancy, or pick ones up on the cheap when thrifting. Then, the next time you need a button, you’ll have a big variety of sizes, shapes and colors from which to choose.
Facts To Really Push Your Buttons
- Did you know women’s clothing traditionally buttons on the right (reportedly because it was easier for Maids to dress the ladies they served that way) and men’s on the left (because men dressed themselves).
- Boutonnieres go through a little slit in the lapel of men’s jackets that looks the same as a buttonhole, so we repurposed the French word for buttonhole to describe the Flower in English.
- Widely repeated but never satisfactorily confirmed, it is said that Napoleon ordered brass buttons be placed on the sleeves of all military uniforms so soldiers would be discouraged from wiping their noses on there jackets.
Why People Love National Button Day
Without that cool little fastener, we wouldn’t have some of the most descriptive phrases in the English language. But since we do, we can call people cute as a button or all buttoned up. Tell people to button their lip, which is oh-so-much nicer than shut your mouth. Hit the panic button or be so happy we bust our buttons. Buttons make the world a little brighter. Or as some might say, bright as a button.
Buttons as a fastener date back to 13th-Century Germany. Throughout history, people went so crazy for buttons they became a status symbol for a time. But beyond all that, those little buttons do a great big job of keeping our clothes together. Thank you, buttons!
The things you can make out of buttons are endless. Rings, hair ties, preschool learning games, clothes pin racers, Tree ornaments, earrings, magnets, picture frames, and whatever else you can think up. Buttons offer inexpensive rainy day fun, imaginative play for all ages, and are a great cure for boredom.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
