Introduction: Button Garland

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This is an excellent way to use up all those buttons you bought on etsy or ebay in the midst of a whiskey fueled craftathon.
(This may or may not be what actually happened)

These button garlands are dead simple and absolutely adorable. I think they'd be perfect for weddings, holidays, parties or even just to hang around the house.

And they're cheap! You can buy buttons in bulk at the sites mentioned above, or get the ugly ones on clearance at craft stores. And the embroidery floss to make up the rest of the garland normally goes for 20-40 cents a skein, which is cheap cheap!

Step 1: What You'll Need:

  • embroidery floss, color of choice
  • buttons!
  • embroidery or other large needle
  • scissors
  • motor skills

Step 2: Preppin'

Cut the embroidery floss to the length you want - I would do this a few feet at a time. You can tie multiple strands together and it'll save you lots of tangles. It's hard to keep it straight while pulling it through the button multiple times!

Knot the end of the floss twice and thread the other end through your needle!

Step 3: How to Put the Buttons On

In three easy steps!
  1. guide your needle through both holes and slide the button to the place you want it on the floss
  2. bring the needle back through to the front of the button opposite of where it just came out
  3. pass the needle through the other hole to the back and hold the button in place as you pull the floss through
It's important to hold the button firmly while pulling the floss through during the last two steps, otherwise it can move up and down the floss.

Continue this process, spacing the buttons evenly (or unevenly or whatever you like) until you come to the end of the floss.

Step 4: How to Deal With Small Buttonholes

Hold the button as shown below after pushing the floss through the first time.

Pull the ends of the floss towards the bottom edge of the button. This leaves more room in the holes so that you can pass through the remaining two times!

Step 5: How It'll Look If You Do It Correctly

Two strands of floss seen from the front, only one strand of floss seen from the back.

Step 6: Keep Going Until You're Happy!

Tie the ends of each strand you finish and then hang them! You can easily separate the embroidery floss strands at the ends and hang it over nails, which is awesome.

Enjoy your garlands!