There’s nothing quite as elegant as a knotted button and loop closure. This traditional Chinese knot has been used for centuries, and you can custom make them to coordinate with special garments. In addition to being used as a functional closure, these interwoven balls of cord can be used for necklaces, earrings and other types of embellishment as well.

Getting started

To get started, choose a ready-made cord about ¼” diameter. Satin cord works well, as does woven rayon or metallic. Note that if the cord has a filler (light padding), it makes a more attractive ball. Velvet cord can also be used to create slightly larger balls. You’ll need 12”-18” per button, depending on the thickness.

If you’re using the ball button for a home décor use, you can use cable cord or a larger tubular cord to make a much bigger button than you would for a garment closure. You can also use rope for a nautical look. Chinese knot buttons are great for incorporating into drapery tie-backs or as elegant slipcover closures.

Another option is to make your own fabric tubing. To do this, cut a length of bias fabric (silk is ideal) 1 ½” wide. Fold the cord in half right sides together—matching raw edges—and add a narrow strip of lightweight batting under the folded fabric. Stitch along the cord length using a ¼” seam, catching the batting in the stitching. Use your favorite turning tool to turn the stuffed cord right side out and then smooth into shape.

In addition to the cord or tubing, you’ll need matching thread, scissors, a hand needle and a fray stopper or fabric glue for finishing the cord ends.

Ready, set, weave

1. Begin by folding the cord into a loop with one end OVER the opposite end.

2. Make a second loop behind the first one forming a pretzel shape.

3. Weave the second end of the cord over and under each cord in the pretzel pattern to create a sustainable knot shape. Note that it’s the over/under intertwining pattern that holds the cords together.

4. To shape the knot, gently coax each loop and pull to snug them together. If you pull too fast, the shape of the ball will be wonky.

5. Pull up to get the ball shape or leave looser for a flatter button.

Finishing

Once you have the button in a pleasing shape, trim the ends of the cording about ¾” from the knot. If the cord or fabric tube ends are ravelly, add a bit of fray preventer or fabric glue to secure them.

Sew the cord ends together and tuck them into the knot underside to secure. Leave the threaded needle attached to sew the button to the project.

Wrap the thread around the thread shank you created in that process to make an attractive finish for the button application.

Use ball buttons with loops on the opposite side of the closure, as they’re too bulky for a traditional buttonhole.

~Linda Griepentrog is the owner of G Wiz Creative Services and she does writing, editing and designing for companies in the sewing, crafting and quilting industries. In addition, she escorts fabric shopping tours to Hong Kong. She lives at the Oregon Coast with her husband Keith, and three dogs, Yohnuh, Abby, and Lizzie. Contact her at gwizdesigns@aol.com.

The thrill of selecting a pattern, snagging that perfect fabric, and retreating to your personal haven of creativity to craft a spectacular piece is unrivaled. Whether gorgeous garment, cozy quilt, chic handbag, or comfy pillow, the journey is the reward. But sometimes we just need that immediate ‘sew’-phoria from a quick and easy project. This project takes a humble tuna can and gives it a recyled life as a super-handy organizer cushion for your sewing machine needles. And the best part? Each section is labeled for different needle sizes and types. No more guessing games of “what size needle is this?”

Materials

• Empty tuna can-6 1/2 oz. size
• 1/4 yd. decorator fabric
• 1 1/3 yards 1/8″ ribbon
• Perle cotton or similar cord
• 24″ small cable cord for piping
• Fiber fill, scraps of batting, or other pincushion filler
• 6″ square of iron-on tear away Stabilizer

Cut from Fabric

• 24″ x 1″ crossgrain strip to cover cord for piping
• 4 1/2 ” circle
• 9″ circle
• 3″ x 22″ strip for puffing
• 3″ x 11%” strip for lining

Cut

• 24″ Cable Cord
• 30″ Perle cotton
• Eight 6″ pieces of 1/8″ Ribbon

Sew

Puffing Strip

1. Snap on a gathering foot. Set stitch length for approximately 2 to 1 fullness. Try stitch length 5, tension 7, and sew a practice sample. Measure it before and after stitching. If it gathers up to half the original size, you have 2 to 1 fullness. Adjust length and tension as needed. The longer the length and tighter the tension the more fabric will gather. Because softer fabric gathers more easily, prewash fabric that is stiff with sizing.
2. Gather both long edges of 3″ x 22″ puffing strip, stitching 5/8″ from the edge. The feed teeth are what make the gathering foot gather. You must have the fabric under the entire width of the presser foot. This is the reason for a full 5/8″ seam allowance on each edge. Do not help the fabric by pulling it from behind or holding it beside the foot as this flattens the gathers as they try to form. It is easy to make beautiful even gathers if you keep your hands in front of the foot.
3. Piping – Snap on a piping foot. Return the tension and stitch length to normal. Make 24″ of piping by wrapping the 1″ wide strip of fabric around the cable cord and placing it in the groove on the underside of the foot, raw edges to the right. Stitch with a straight stitch.
4. Sew piping to one long edge of the puffing strip with a 5/8″ seam allowance. Lay the piping on top of the puffing strip, right sides together. The raw edges won’t match, but there is no need to pin as long as the piping is laying in the groove on the underside of the foot. Simply keep the edge of the puffing strip at the 5/8″ guideline, and the piping will be guided as you stitch. Adjust your needle position slightly to the left to cover the previous stitching. Trim seams to less than 1/4″.
5. To sew the remaining piping around the 4 1/2″ circle, clip the piping seam allowance to the stitching and sew with the piping foot and 1/4” seam allowance. Set the needle stop down on your sewing machine to make it easier to stitch those tight curves. For less bulk at the overlap, pull out and cut off 1/2″ of the cord at the beginning and end of the circle so you can lap “cordless” piping at the ends.
6. Sew the lining strip to the piped edge of the puffing strip by placing the lining right sides together with the piped puffing strip. The piping foot will find the piping right through the fabric. Trim seam close to stitching.
7. Sew the other edge of the puffing to the piped circle, right sides together with the circle on the top. Begin sewing 5/8″ from the end of the puffing strip and sew completely around following the piping. Trim seam close to stitching.
8. Snap on the regular sewing foot. Sew up the side seam to form a circle. Trim seam.
9. Turn the piece right side out. It should look a little like a miniature chef’s hat.
10.  Slip the tuna can inside and pull the lining over the edge.

Cushion

1. Fold the 9″circle to form eight pie wedge sections. Mark these sections by pressing to create creases.
2. Center a piece of stabilizer under the circle. Make a small buttonhole in the very center. Cut the buttonhole open with the buttonhole chisel. Write, stitch, or embroider the different needle sizes in each section with your writing sewing machine. Include size 90, 80, 70, 60, Wing, Twin, Stretch, Jeans, Embroidery, or other sizes and types you use most.
3. Bartack the ribbon ends at the outer edge of the circle at each of the eight markings like spokes on a wheel. Pull opposite ribbon ends through the buttonhole in the center. Tie those ends to secure.
4. Snap on a narrow braiding foot. Select a narrow zigzag, slip the perle cotton into the guide on the foot. Zigzag over the cord, being sure not to catch it with the zigzag going all the way around the outside edge of the circle at a 3/8″seam allowance. Drop the feed teeth and stitch in place at the beginning and the end to secure.
5. Pull up the ends of the cord to gather. Put stuffing inside the circle in a doughnut form. Stuff firmly. Tie the cord ends tightly. Pull up the ribbons through the center of the stuffing and secure.
6. Poke the cushion snugly into the covered tuna can and stick in needles! Remember not to save needles that have been used for one garment or more. And anytime you have a machine problem, change the needle and rethread.

~ Project used with permission from “America Sews with Sue Hausmann”

Is there ever a day that goes by that you aren’t thankful for your sewing skills? Not here.

When I first moved to my small coastal town, I discovered that the post office does not deliver mail to the town’s residents. “What?” But the more I thought about it, there was an opportunity for exercise and walking the mile-and-a-half circuit to the post office with at least one of our dogs, to retrieve the mail. Along the way early on in the adventure, I passed an adult care home and a lady was sitting on the covered porch in her wheelchair calling out “doggie, doggie!” So, I went up to the porch with the dog and we started to chat. I asked her how many people stopped to talk to her, and she replied “no one, but you.”

Over the four years I’ve lived here, on the morning walk to get the mail, I always wonder if Doris will be out on the porch…some days she’s there, other days not, mostly dependent on the weather. One day we were talking and I asked her when her birthday was—turns out it’s 10 days after mine! Hmmm…what can one do in celebration for someone who is not mobile and living in an adult care facility?

I had an “aha” moment and decided to sew up 10 fleece hats, telling her to keep her favorites and share the others with the staff and other residents (who occasionally sit on the porch as well). Those were a big hit and she’s been sporting several throughout the months when there’s a chill in the air. But I decided my next project for her would be an adult bib—winner, winner, chicken dinner as they say! I’m currently making her third bib, this year to celebrate her 81st birthday.

It takes less than an hour to make and choosing fun prints is easy as pie. You probably have everything you need in your stash. So, today I’m sharing with you how to make Doris’s bib! Think about reaching out to someone in your own community who may need a bit of cheer—the project is super easy, takes only a yard of fabric, and you can make it up in less than an hour.

Doris’s Bib

Choose a washable and colorful busy print in a darker color to hide food spills, etc. There can be a theme to the fabric, like food motifs, or a sports print, or simply a favorite color that you’ve learned of through chatting. Doris’s favorite colors are pink and purple, and she has Crocs in both hues.

What you’ll need for each bib:

• 1 yard print fabric
• 1 package of double-fold bias tape (at least 3 ½ yards)
• 1” hook-and-loop tape
• Matching thread
• Pattern tracing paper
• Bib pattern (PDF format)

Making the bib

1. Trace the upper bib shape from the bib pattern (link above). Continue the center front line so it’s 27” long, then draw a line perpendicular to the center front line at the bottom. Extend the side edge straight down to match the bottom line. Using a saucer, round the lower outer corner for easier binding. Label the center front.
2. Refold the fabric to the width of the bib and pin the pattern center front to the fold. Pin the remaining pattern edges in place and cut out.
3. Starting at the back tab, bind the bib edges. Use a narrow zigzag to ensure catching both the upper and lower bias tape edges. Place the needle in the down position to make it easier to adjust the bias tape around the narrow tab curves. Be sure the bib edge is inserted all the way into the bias tape.
4. Press the bib edges to shape.
5. Sew the hook portion of the fastener to the wrong side of the overlapping neck tab, and the loop section to the right side of the underlapping tab.

Some options:

• Add a pocket from the extra fabric.
• Choose a second print and make the bib reversible.
• Make the bib from terry cloth fabric, but be sure to pre-shrink it. Choose an extra-wide bias tape due to the fabric thickness.
• For a waterproof version, use vinyl fabric. It’s easy to clean with just a wipe.

This bib is also suited for groups needing a community service project—even beginner sewers can make it up easily. Set up an assembly line of cutters, binders and fastener attachers for mass production.

~Linda Griepentrog is the owner of G Wiz Creative Services and she does writing, editing and designing for companies in the sewing, crafting and quilting industries. In addition, she escorts fabric shopping tours to Hong Kong. She lives at the Oregon Coast with her husband Keith, and three dogs, Yohnuh, Abby, and Lizzie. Contact her at gwizdesigns@aol.com.