Caring for Our Vintage Hand-Painted Glass Buttons
What We Learned from a Wash Test
One of our favourite corners of The Button Dept. is the collection of unique glass buttons, everything from clear vintage-inspired styles to tiny hand-painted florals. These delicate pieces are like little works of art that add something truly special to any project.
We especially love using the hand-painted ones, but we know they’re fragile. We wanted to better understand how they hold up when exposed to water and gentle detergent.
To find out, we ran a simple test. We soaked two buttons in a bowl of water mixed with Soak Wash for a couple of days. One button had a coat of clear nail polish to seal it, and the other was left untreated.
The results?
The sealed button held up beautifully, with its paint completely intact. The uncoated button, however, showed noticeable flaking and some of the paint came off the glass.
This little experiment confirmed what we suspected, these buttons need a bit of extra care.
Whether you’re finishing a hand-knit cardigan or adding the perfect detail to a handmade blouse, the right button makes all the difference.
Our hand-painted glass buttons are vintage and often show signs of age, that gentle wear is part of their charm and history. They’re especially loved by knitters and sewists who want a one-of-a-kind finishing touch for their sweaters, dresses and tops. With a little care, these delicate details can stay beautiful through years of wear.
Care Note:
These hand-painted glass buttons are delicate and made with love. To keep them looking their best, we recommend removing them before hand washing or soaking in water and detergent. For added protection, you can seal them with a clear coat (like Mod Podge or nail polish). Handle with care, and they’ll be part of your handmade story for years to come.
Blog
The Person Behind Santosha Farm
Meet Julia Sutton, farmer and cook at Santosha Farm! Santosha Farm is a 1.5 acre, non-certified organic farm located in the Almaguin Highlands. In addition to attending local market sales and supplying local resorts and restaurants, Julia hosts and develops meal packages for farm guests that incorporate seasonal fresh produce, directly from the farm.
In The Studio with Sherri Lynn Wood
Spend some time in the studio Sherri Lynn Wood! Sherri Lynn first taught at the workroom in 2019 and we are so excited to have her join us in Sprucedale this summer! Sherri Lynn teaches improvisational quilting as a creative life practice, and is considered an expert innovator and leader in the modern improv quilting movement. Her best-selling book, The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters: A Guide to Creating, Quilting & Living Courageously (Abrams, 2015), provides scores, or frameworks, for flexible patterns and creative exploration, along with practical instruction in stitching techniques and intuitive colour.
In The Studio with Ron Collins
Spend some time in the studio with Ron Collins! Ron first began teaching at the workroom in 2023 and we have looked forward to his twice yearly visits since then. Ron is Canada’s best known sewing personality and is adored as a designer, speaker and teacher. He is the first male Canadian Designer to have his own line of patterns with Vogue Patterns, which premiered in 2017.
