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Watch the video: “Easy Coiled Cord Buttons Tutorial” by GINA-B SILKWORKS
If you’ve ever searched your stash for the perfect decorative button and come up short, this project answers the call. Using gimp thread as a structured core and perle cotton for the stitchwork, you’ll spiral a neat, eye-catching disc and cover a button mold for a polished finish. It’s approachable for beginners and satisfying for seasoned stitchers alike.
What you’ll learn
- How to form a tight, tidy eyelet center with blanket stitch on gimp
- How to spiral outward while keeping the disc flat and even
- How to fit the coil to a button mold and cover the back cleanly
- Smart handling tips for stiff vs. soft gimp and thread management
Introduction to Coiled Cord Buttons Coiled cord buttons marry structure and stitch. The core (gimp) is a wrapped multi-thread cord; the decorative thread (perle cotton in size 8 in the video) secures and shapes the coil with blanket stitches. The result is a sturdy, textured button you can color-tune to any project.
What are Coiled Cord Buttons? They’re small, coiled discs made by looping a cord and securing each round with blanket stitch so that a narrow line of the cord peeks through. The video emphasizes that both stiff and softer gimp types can work—the stiff sample shows clearly on camera—while the technique itself is versatile enough to try with braids, ordinary twisted cords, or even doubled string.
Why Make Your Own Buttons? Customization. You choose the cord, the thread color, the mold shape, and even the sheen—add a metallic thread for sparkle or switch to a very fine thread to change the surface texture. Handmade buttons can turn a simple cardigan, pouch, or cuff into something memorable. The video’s samples show how a single gimp can look different simply by changing the perle cotton color.
Gathering Your Materials and Tools Essential Supplies You’ll Need
- Gimp thread (stiff is demonstrated, but softer works too)
- Perle cotton (size 8 in the tutorial)
- Button mold (oval shown; disc shapes work well too)
- Needle (a blunt tapestry needle is fine; the presenter uses a longer hook needle)
- Optional: scissors, a tiny bit of fabric glue, and tape for managing the back
Understanding Gimp Thread and Its Varieties Gimp comprises a multi-thread core wrapped at right angles with fine thread; some versions include a delicate metallic wrap for sparkle. In the video, a piece of gimp is unraveled so you can see the core and outer wrap—a helpful reminder of why it’s both structured and flexible. Stiffer gimp holds the coil obediently; softer gimp is easier to bend but may require more care to keep stitches in place.
Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Your Button Building the Center Eyelet 1) Loop and anchor: Leave a short holding tail of gimp, loop it so two segments lie close, and bring the perle cotton up through the loop.
2) Blanket stitch foundation: Work blanket stitches to catch the two segments together, placing the ridge along the top of the coil. As you establish the shape, gently tighten to reduce the central opening.
3) Close the ring: Continue until you join, forming a tidy, small eyelet—the exact center of your button.
Quick check
- The coil should be compact, with a clearly defined blanket-stitch ridge.
- The center opening should be small and neat.
- If your long thread kinks, pause and let the needle dangle; the twist will fall out.
Spiraling Out to Cover the Button Face 4) Catch the ridge: Spiral outward by taking the needle through the ridge of the previous blanket stitches, forming new stitches that leave a fine line of gimp visible between rows. This is the signature look.
5) Keep it flat: Press and coax each round to sit flush next to the last; stiffer gimp may need a firmer hand to comply, while softer gimp may need extra care to keep stitches from shifting. 6) Adjust spacing: As the spiral widens, you may sometimes add a second stitch in a larger gap to maintain even spacing. 7) Manage the tail: When the central gimp tail gets in the way, you can trim it—but leave it slightly longer at first so you can add a dab of glue to prevent unraveling (depending on the cord you’re using).
8) Size check: Continue until the disc fully covers the button mold’s face; aim for tidy, even gimp exposure and a flat, balanced spiral.
Pro tip If you like to blend hand and machine work across projects, keep notes on thread colors and cord types. That way, your handmade buttons can echo a motif you might later stitch with a magnetic embroidery hoop on a machine embroidery piece.
Securing the Back and Finishing Touches 9) Go over the edge: Once the face is covered to the mold’s perimeter, bring the remaining gimp smoothly over the edge toward the back. Align the front and hold tension as you begin to secure the edge.
10) Anchor the transition: Twist the gimp around the back to manage excess; if needed, use a small piece of tape temporarily while you establish your first rows of blanket stitch around the circumference.
11) Add thread if needed: If your working thread is short, bring in a new length and secure it with a small knot at the back. Continue with rows of blanket stitches on their own to start covering the back edge.
12) Tighten and center: Turn the work, keep your thumb on the gimp to maintain tension, and make sure the mold stays centered as the back tightens. 13) Decrease to close: As you near the center of the back, decrease by occasionally skipping a loop and stitching into the next, or pass through a space without catching and then work the following loop; both methods help the opening close without bunching.
14) Final close: Weave through the last loops (simple looped stitches rather than full blanket stitches), draw everything snug, and secure with a knot.
Watch out Metallic thread is enticing here, but it wears more quickly under repeated blanket stitches. If you try it, work with shorter lengths and rethread more often for a cleaner finish.
From the comments A common question was about gimp size. The maker used a 2 mm hand-spun gimp in this demo. You could go thinner (1 mm or 0.5 mm), but that either produces a smaller button or demands more rounds. Super-soft pure silk gimp isn’t ideal for this technique because it’s too fine and lacks the firm handle needed for easy control.
Tips for Perfecting Your Coiled Cord Buttons Maintaining Even Tension
- Keep the coil flat: Gently nudge each new round until it sits snugly against the previous. Uneven tension shows quickly in a spiral.
- Let twist drop out: If your thread begins to kink, hold the button up and let the needle dangle to release the twist.
- Use a longer needle: The video’s hook needle is longer than a tapestry needle, which can be easier on the hands over long passes.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- The center opened up: Once the eyelet is established, don’t hesitate to re-snug early stitches. A tiny adjustment can refine the center.
- Uneven gimp exposure: Control how much cord shows by fine-tuning stitch tension and placement into the prior ridge.
- Soft gimp drifting: Softer cords can shift; hold the work a bit more firmly and add an occasional extra stitch in a wider spot to stabilize.
- Gimp unraveling after trimming: A tiny dab of glue on the cut end (let it dry) helps lock it.
- Back won’t close neatly: Use the decrease options shown—skip a loop or pass through a space before the next loop—to coax the opening to a tidy close.
Quick check Before knotting off:
- Is the front spiral centered over the mold?
- Is the back neatly covered with no large gaps near the center?
- Does the button feel firm and even at the edge?
Creative Variations and Project Ideas Experimenting with Thread Colors and Types
- Change the perle cotton color to dramatically shift the mood—even when the gimp stays the same. The video shows how color alone transforms the look.
- Try a very fine thread to get a different surface texture (the maker mentions achieving an “orneau effect” with fine thread). Metallic accents can add sparkle, but remember to use shorter lengths.
Beyond Buttons: Other Applications of This Technique
- Decorative accents: Turn a finished disc into a brooch or a statement earring component by adding findings at the back.
- Jewelry ideas: One commenter suggested a choker—multiple discs sewn to a ribbon or band could make a striking collar.
- Textural patches: Stitch a few discs to a fabric panel as focal points on a bag flap or cuff.
From the comments A viewer noted the similarity to coiled baskets, recalling classes where silk thread was coiled around a paper core. The maker agreed: a silk thread with a paper core would create a cool button, too. That connection is a great reminder—coiling is a universal technique that adapts beautifully to small-scale adornment.
Optional finishing You can add a woven loop shank to the back if your pattern or garment requires it, or simply keep the back smooth and stitch the button on with strong thread where the loops close.
Light machine-side note for mixed-media makers If you pair these hand-wrought beauties with machine-embroidered garments, you might find yourself exploring different hoop systems for better placement and fabric handling. While this hand technique doesn’t require any hooping gear, many stitchers also keep an eye on add-ons like magnetic embroidery hoops. Some prefer a low-profile magnetic embroidery frame for bulky fabrics, while others look for broad availability across regions like embroidery hoops uk. If you’re building your first setup, browsing options for an embroidery machine for beginners can help plan future mixed-media projects. And if you’re shopping locally, you may end up searching for terms like embroidery hoops for sale near me to compare in person. For magnetic varieties, makers often discuss the feel and hold of a magnetic embroidery hoop before committing.
Conclusion Coiled cord buttons are the sweet spot where structure meets stitch. With gimp as your core and blanket stitch as your workhorse, you can build a button that reads as both classic and contemporary. The process is accessible—loop, anchor, spiral, cover—and the finish is refined. Try one with size 8 perle cotton to get the rhythm, then branch out into metallics, fine threads, or shaped molds. When a project needs that extra note of craft, this small circle of coils sings.