How to Crochet a Button Charm Necklace

March 10th, 2009 in patterns & designs, fashion, jewelry making, crochet     

I have a collection of sweet vintage glass buttons that I love, but for some reason I rarely make clothes that actually use buttons. So I came up with a way to use some of these little gems and really show them off. It's a simple crochet chain necklace, with the buttons hanging like pendants from each of five crocheted extensions. You can easily customize the technique to make all sorts of necklaces and bracelets, so let's get started!

You'll need:

• Five buttons (shank or two-hole buttons work best), plus one additional button for a closure at the back
• Crochet cotton (or any fine yarn or heavy thread that fits through the holes of your buttons)
• A crochet hook compatible with your thread
• A tape measure
• A needle to help you thread your buttons onto the thread (optional)

The only crochet techniques used are chainstitch, slipstitch, and finishing off.

This is all you need to make this project.

1. Measure your neck (or how long you want the necklace to be). Jot this number down. A simple sketch will help you determine the placement of the extensions.

Make a sketch to figure out the placement and measurements.

Find the center point of your length (this will be where the center extension is), then decide how far apart you want the legs. My necklace is 15 inches long, so the center point is at 7-1/2 inches. I made the extensions 2 inches apart from the center, which leaves 3-1/2 inches for each side of the back.

2. String the buttons onto the ball or spool of thread (don't cut it). Arrange them in the order of use (you won't be able to change the order once you get going), and string them up.

Lay out your buttons as you want to use them, and string them onto the thread.

You'll probably want your favorite (or the biggest) in the center, but that's up to you. A needle may be helpful, but my buttons were so tiny the needle wouldn't fit through some of their holes.

3. Begin crocheting. The buttons should be hanging out between the spool and your hook, waiting to be pulled up when you need them. Leaving a long tail (5 inches to 6 inches is good), make a slip knot and begin chainstitching the first back section of your necklace (3-1/2 inches in my case).

Then make a slip knot and begin your chainstitching.

Chain the length of your first back section.

*When you reach this point, place a marker (I just used a piece of contrast thread).

Place a marker to indicate the beginning of the first extension.

Now begin chaining your first extension, however long you want that to be (I made mine 1-1/2 inches). At the end of this chain, slide your first button up against the hook, then slipstitch your way back up the chain to the marker.

Chain the length of the extension and slide the first button up to the hook...

...then slipstitch back up the extension chain to the marker. The button will be anchored at the end of the extension.

This completes your first extension. Remove the marker and chain the length of the space between your extensions (2 inches for me).

Continue chaining to the next extension.

Repeat from * four times, making the final chain the same length as your first one (for the other half of the back).

And repeat for each button!

Almost finished, we just have to add the closure loop and button.

Place a marker again, and crochet a chain twice as long as the width of your closure button, for the loop.

Make the loop big enough for your closure button to slip through.

Connect with a slipstitch at the marker, and make a few more slipstitches into the next few chains for a secure connection. Finish off.

4. Add the closure button. Thread the beginning long tail onto a needle and thread it through the button several times, then take a stitch through the first chain stitch, and finish off.

Sewing on the final button for the closure is the last step.

Weave in the tails at both ends of the necklace.

Voila! You can make these as chokers (like mine) or longer lengths. I've also used beads, charms, seashells, and bits of coral—essentially anything with a hole in it! Try it out and see if you can stop making these once you start!

Here's the finished necklace.

posted in: patterns & designs, fashion, jewelry making, crochet, buttons, thread, necklace