Thread ButtonsThread buttons were used on men's shirts and other undergarments from the late 17th into the early 19th century. Not only were thread buttons less expensive than bone, wood or metal but they would not break during the strenuous beating and scrubbing used by the laundresses which is described in the book The Laundress. Unlike buttons made of other materials, thread buttons are soft and comfortable to lay against while sleeping. Thread buttons (also called Dorset buttons after the area that produced many) are individually hand made from either unbleached (top), off white (center) or white (bottom) strong 16/2 linen thread and are approximately 1/2" in size. There is a small thread shaft at the back to sew to your undergarment (right). You can learn to make your own thread buttons like these with The Lady's Guide to Plain Sewing [Book I]. |
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$1.20 - Unbleached |
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Horn ButtonsHorn buttons, only 1/8" thick, work well for spatterdashes and gaitered trousers but were sometimes used in other outer clothing. These strong durable buttons were competitive in price with other types but available in limited numbers in the 18th century since the making of them was slow. Being stamped or pressed out of horn these lack the center hole of the wood and bone molds. Rather these have two small holes. For example advertised in The Virginia Gazette of 1776, "RUN away . . . in Frederick county, Maryland . . . two Irish servant men, both weavers, [one of them] . . . had on a short pale blue coat, that has been turned, double-breasted, with black horn buttons". |
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70¢ each - 5/8" |
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Wooden Button MoldsButton molds were used to make both cloth and thread covered buttons. The drill bits used to make these had a guide in the center which left a hole. The center hole is necessary when making "death head" and "basket weave" thread covered buttons. Directions to make "death head" buttons are in "Death Head" buttons their use and construction. In The Virginia Gazette in 1774, "RUN away . . . a Scotchman . . . He had on . . . a Newmarket coat of light bath coating, not bound, but stitched on the edges, with death head buttons on it". |
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70¢ each - 1" Wood |
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Domed Bone Button MoldsBone button molds are slightly domed on one side and flat on the other as were common in the mid to late 18th century. It is easiest to make "death head" buttons using wood button molds since the rough texture of the wood help hold the threads in place. Fabric covered buttons may be made of either but if the garment will be washed bone may hold up better. Directions for cloth covered buttons are included in The Lady's Guide to Plain Sewing [Book II]. For example in New Jersey in 1780, there was "Stolen from a House - one light coloured watch-coat, buttons covered with the same coloured cloth". |
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70¢ each - 1" Domed Bone |
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Flat Bone Button MoldsBone button molds flat on both sides were more common in the 19th century. It is easiest to make "death head" buttons using wood button molds since the rough texture of the wood help hold the threads in place. Fabric covered buttons may be made of either but if the garment will be washed bone may hold up better. Directions for cloth covered buttons are included in The Lady's Guide to Plain Sewing [Book II]. For example in New Jersey in 1780, there was "Stolen from a House - one light coloured watch-coat, buttons covered with the same coloured cloth". |
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70¢ each - 7/8" Flat Bone |
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Set of Ten Brass RingsBrass rings are for making fabric covered and thread cartwheel buttons (we suggest white or half bleached linen 35/2 thread). Instructions are found in The Lady's Guide to Plain Sewing [Book II]. for making both types of buttons. |
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$1.50 - set of ten |
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Carved Metal ButtonsSpanish American buttons of c. 1750 to 1820 were originally carved metal buttons but are now cast from the originals. Buttons like these are sometimes found in runaway descriptions as in the Virginia Gazette of 1771, "committed to the said Jail, on Suspicion of being a Runaway Servant, an Irishman . . . who had confessed himself to be a Runaway Servant . . . The Apparel he now hath on is a blue Cloth Coat with yellow carved Buttons". |
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$1.00 - 3/4" Brass | |
Domed Metal ButtonDomed buttons were common throughout the 18th and into the early 19th century. These are made of the highest quality brass or German silver with soft rounded edges. In Virginia in 1776, "A HORSE THIEF...he is as consummate a Villain as was ever imported from England...He is an expert Gunsmith (which, however, he will not own) and if he is enlisted for a Soldier will be very useful in repairing Guns, but must have a sound Lashing before he will do it as it ought to be. He stole . . . a white Sagathy Coat, double breasted, with yellow Metal Buttons; a brown Surtout Coat, double breasted, with white Metal Buttons". |
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$1.25 - 1/2" Brass $1.65 - 1/2" German Silver |
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Domed Brass Button
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$1.45 - 3/4" Brass $1.65 - 3/4" German Silver |
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18th Century Sleeve ButtonsSleeve buttons were used on the sleeves of men's shirts and women's shifts from the early 18th to the early 19th century. Cuff links are often confused with sleeve buttons but are structurally different. Sleeve buttons have been found in such numbers at archeological sites from Ft. Michilimackinac, Michigan to Williamsburg, Virginia it is believed people of all economic standing wore them. Further evidence to suggest poor people wore sleeve buttons may be seen in Jack, Hove Down - With a Grog Blossom Fever. Sleeve buttons were also issued to soldiers of several military regiments including the 17th of Foot in 1776 and the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment in 1778. These are made of excellent quality 1/2" domed buttons and available in brass, German silver and copper. For example in 1776 in Shrewsbury, New Jersey there was "Stolen from a store...two or three hundred pair of brass sleeve buttons, New England make". The picture shows the front and reverse of the sleeve buttons to illustrate the figure-eight attachment. We sell these by the set which includes enough buttons for one shirt. In other words two pairs of buttons each pair connected by an attachment. |
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$7.00 - Copper Set |
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