Giant button - a nice handmade gift for crafters

So maybe you, or someone you know likes to sew and craft, and has a burgeoning button collection that hasn't quite gotten off the ground yet, and is also in need of some nice original wall art to decorate their home with?  Look no further because making your very own giant button is the perfect thoughtful and creative answer!

The 18" button is hand crafted from pine boards and "sewn" with parachute cord.  Now all I have to do is find a really big sweater...

Step 1: Materials and Tools

Materials

• 18" pine round circle from Home Depot
• parachute Cord
• paint
• picture hanging supplies

Tools

• router w/ circle jig
• palm sander
• ruler
• square
• painting supplies
• drill
• large spade drill bit

Comments

[Wasagi]

 Nice! That IS the hardest button to button...

[wecanclean]

Dang I love that song!

[wecanclean]

Very reto idea! Love it! I think I'll skip all the wood working tho.This can be simulated by using & recycling a" pickle bucket" lid. SWEET! Thank for the idea!

[inkstainedheart]

I would love to try this project using a piece of mirror and clear cording!

[noahw]

Really thick mono filament would like very very nice in this application.  If you can't put your hands on some thick glass/mirror, then perhaps just some clear acrylic would look good.

[thepelton]

I have a machine called a ringmaster that will cut a disk out of flat wood up to twelve inches in diameter, and I am thinking of making some giant buttons using that.  The library is about to close, or I would have a lot more to say.

[luvit]

'bout time you buttoned-up that wall! sheesh.

[randofo]

This looks awfully familiar to some other Instructable that I have seen recently.

[noahw]

It was a by-product of the Compass Table.  Version 1 was made of pine, Version 2 was made of sanded plywood so that it would match the look and feel of the legs.  Much better in my opinion.

I assume this is what you mean?

[Ninzerbean]

 I thought so too - I am so jealous of your skill with a router. I can use about everything else but that. Oh, and great 'ible, very funny pop art. Make more giant stuff!

[thepelton]

I'd like to see such stuff as a giant needle and a spool of thread to match.

[noahw]

Sewing a stuffed pig shut for a pig roast a few years ago with a custom made steel needle and thread is as close as I can come to your request.

[randofo]

This seems a bit off from what he was requesting.

[noahw]

Baby Baby, you're the best.

[noahw]

It's DIY baby!  Things never turn out *quite* like you hope.

[noahw]

PS, Ninzerbean's got me saying baby now in my comments...look below.

[Ninzerbean]

(It comes from a  quote I heard that goes "Baby Baby, you're the best". It's a great line for guys to learn and practice saying with feeling.)

[noahw]

The router is a great tool to get comfortable with.  It's safe and often produces the finishing element of a project that takes it from good to great.  If it's really the only tool that you've been shying away from, you should really go for it.  I'm encouraging you - "Go, go!"

Btw, making big/excessive projects is sort of my jam on Instructables...
www.instructables.com/id/Giant-Ice-Cream-Cookie-Sandwich/
www.instructables.com/id/Ultimate_Breakfast_Sausage/
www.instructables.com/id/Giant-Welcome-Sign/
www.instructables.com/id/Run-out-of-toilet-paper-112th-as-often/
www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-Really-Really-Big-Swing/

:)

[caitlinsdad]

Wnoah, not so fast, baby...

If you do a guide on giant things don't forget my bread and peanut butter...
Giant clown shoes
Giant human feet slippers
Giant toothbrush
Giant Hostess Twinkies cake
Giant power drill
Giant magnet
Giant Altoids Tin lunchbox
and the Giant Fn computer key stool

[noahw]

I couldn't see all these great links in one place and not make Giant Guide baby!

Thanks!

[Ninzerbean]

Baby Baby, that is why I subscribe to you. Anyway as far as the router goes, it's on my list of things to do before I die so I will, I will.

[thepelton]

I recall a movie, I believe it was called "The Borrowers" in which someone played a little elf that had an immense button on his suit.

[thepelton]

Found information on the movie, but I couldn't find a pic of the immense button, but I recall seeing it, probably in a movie mag.

[caitlinsdad]

 If you really want a giant button and matching needle, visit the garment district in New York City.

You didn't use the router to round over the edges?  Put in a 3x3 hole matrix so you could weave the thread to look like a letter for a custom monogram.

[noahw]

The 18" pine circle from Home Depot came with the edges already nicely rounded over like that.  It's an easy enough thing to do with the router, but the fact that it already looked so much lick a button when I started was part of the inspiration for the project in first place. 

3x3 matrix is a good idea!  Might need 3x6 so you can two letters out of the monogram...

[LoneWolf]

That's really cool!!! I'll have to send one to my Grandma, that's the kind of things she likes.