How to Make a Fabric Covered Button Necklace
- 1). Assemble the buttons, following the instructions on the button kit. You will need four of the larger buttons and six of the smaller ones. Using pliers, remove the hook on the back of the buttons for all but two of the larger buttons.
- 2). Cut a V-shaped bib out of the felt material. The V should be 3 inches wide across the top two points of the V, 2.5 inches long from the top edge to the bottom and about one-half inch in thickness. There should be about 3 inches of material in the middle, measuring up from the bottom angle, to add stability to the bib.
- 3). Arrange the buttons on the bib. Place the top half of the two large, intact buttons at the top ends of the V -- with the hook on the back overlapping the edges of the bib. Make sure the hooks are accessible.
- 4). The remaining two large buttons will follow, so that the four buttons are touching each other in a rough smile. Two smaller buttons will follow directly beneath the middle larger ones. So far, all the buttons should be touching but not overlapping. For the top layer, place a small button on top of the edge between the larger buttons, in the center of the four adjacent buttons at the center of the bib, and one half-overlapping between -- and a little below -- the two small buttons at the bottom.
- 5). Trim away any excess material that may show at the edges of the bib. Reassemble the pendant, hot-gluing all the buttons in place. Make sure the wire catches on the top two buttons are able to be threaded, and that these buttons are firmly attached. Allow to dry.
- 6). Cut the ribbon in half, and thread a jewelry crimp onto one end of a ribbon. Then thread the ribbon through the exposed wire hooks on one of the top two buttons. Thread the ribbon back through the crimp, and close. Trim off any excess ribbon, so that the crimps and ribbon edge do not show beyond the button. Repeat on the other side.
- 7). Try on the necklace and tie the ribbon into a bow in the back. Only around 13 to 14 inches of ribbon are needed on each side for the actual necklace, and the rest will be for the tie in the back. Adjust for a proper fit, and trim off any excess ribbon.
Source...