Make Custom Polymer Clay Engraved Buttons for your Knitted Items

I have been looking for the “right” buttons for a sweater. I can’t find what I want so I decided I would play around and see if I could create some.

I thought of trying polymer clay. I bought a neutral color because I wanted to embed the design into it, and then bring it out with paint.

First I purchased some Polymer Clay

I made 3 simple buttons by:

Warming the clay up until it was pliable and made a flattened piece of clay, like you would a sugar cookie, approx. 1/4 inch thick.

I think used a sharpie pen, (the fat kind) as a rolling pin to even it out and make the top portion smooth.

I used a bottle cap (from some body lotion) to punch the button out.

A cuticle stick to make the button holes.

I also used the cuticle stick to try and scrape a design into the button. I wanted to make a bamboo like design.

(I made the design first and then punched the holes), Go into both sides of the button with your stick for the holes.

Now bake according to the instructions on your clay package.

When I took mine out, (this is the first time I have ever used polymer clay) it was still soft. I discovered it hardens when it dries.

Let dry overnight. (you may not need to let it dry this long?) The next day it is hard and feels like a ceramic button.

I then used an acrylic paint and Cream coat varnish/gloss.

Mixed them together. I used a small amount of paint to gloss. My plan was to “antique” the button.

I then rubbed the paint/gloss into the button well, getting it down into the lines that I had scraped.

After this dries, I put a coat of gloss on it to make it shiny.

Yay, now I have three custom made buttons for my sweater! Not too bad for a first try at handmade buttons.

I also made three plain buttons to paint a design on, more on that later!

-Knit Fast, Dye Yarn
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