7 Best Wooden Buttons For Hat Closures To Try
Discover the top 7 wooden buttons for hat closures. This guide compares durability, aesthetics, and ease of attachment to help you find the perfect fit.
Choosing the right wooden button for a hat closure is about more than just aesthetics; it is the final engineering step that determines how well your hard work holds up to daily wear. A well-selected button acts as a structural anchor, balancing the tension of the fabric while adding a professional, custom-made finish. Whether you are working with rustic wool or soft alpaca, the texture and weight of your button will change how the hat sits on the head. This guide explores the best wooden options to ensure your closure is as durable as it is beautiful.
Lykke Driftwood Buttons: The Premium Choice
Lykke is synonymous with quality in the fiber arts world, and their driftwood buttons live up to that reputation. These buttons feature a beautiful, weathered aesthetic that mimics the look of aged wood, making them a perfect match for earthy, hand-dyed wools.
The finish is exceptionally smooth, which is vital when you are pulling a button through a hand-knitted loop. If your button has rough edges, it will inevitably snag your yarn, causing pilling or even broken stitches over time.
Because they are crafted from high-quality birch, they are surprisingly lightweight despite their substantial look. They won’t drag down a delicate lace hat, but they are sturdy enough to handle the weight of a heavy cabled brim.
Katrinkles Laser-Etched Wooden Buttons
Katrinkles has carved out a niche by offering buttons that serve as tiny works of art. Their laser-etched designs are incredibly crisp, providing a level of detail that generic craft store buttons simply cannot match.
These are excellent for adding a personalized touch to gift items. If you are knitting a hat for a specific recipient, choosing a button with a subtle motif can elevate the entire project from a handmade craft to a boutique-quality accessory.
Keep in mind that the etching creates tiny grooves on the surface. While these look stunning, they can occasionally catch on loose fibers if the button is used in a high-friction area. I recommend them for decorative closures or hats where the button isn’t constantly rubbing against your skin.
ButtonMad Hand-Painted Floral Buttons
When you need a pop of color to complement a neutral-toned yarn, ButtonMad is your best bet. Their hand-painted floral designs are vibrant and bring a whimsical, folk-art energy to any project.
These buttons work best on hats where the yarn itself is a solid, muted color, allowing the button to act as the focal point. If you use these on a busy, variegated yarn, the design can get lost, making the button look cluttered rather than intentional.
Always check the paint finish before purchasing. While they are generally durable, they are not intended for heavy-duty outdoor gear that gets tossed in the wash repeatedly. Use these for your "Sunday best" hats rather than your daily commuter beanies.
Dill Wood Toggles for Rustic Hat Finishes
Toggles are a fantastic alternative to traditional round buttons, especially for hats with a wider, scarf-like brim or a slouchy silhouette. Dill produces a classic wooden toggle that provides a secure, bar-style closure.
The beauty of a toggle is the ease of use; they are much faster to fasten with cold, stiff fingers than a traditional button. If you live in a climate where you are frequently taking your hat off and on, the toggle is a practical, ergonomic choice.
Be aware that toggles exert pressure on a single point of your knitted fabric. To prevent the loop from stretching out, ensure your buttonhole is reinforced with a bit of scrap yarn or a tighter bind-off edge.
Hemline Natural Polished Wood Buttons
Hemline buttons are the reliable workhorse of the knitting world. They are widely available, affordable, and offer a clean, minimalist look that complements almost any knitting style, from simple stockinette to complex brioche.
The polished finish is the standout feature here. Because the wood is sealed and buffed, it is highly resistant to moisture—an essential quality for a hat that will be exposed to snow, rain, or humidity.
These are ideal for beginner knitters who are still learning how to manage tension. They aren’t overly decorative, so they won’t distract from your stitch definition if you are still working on perfecting your purls.
Taylor Made Wood Buttons for Chunky Knits
If you are working with super bulky weight yarn, standard buttons will look tiny and out of place. Taylor Made offers larger, chunkier wooden buttons that are scaled appropriately for heavy-gauge projects.
These buttons have larger holes, which makes sewing them on with a tapestry needle and a strand of your project yarn much easier. You won’t have to struggle to fit a thick needle through a tiny eyelet, which saves your fingers from unnecessary strain.
The tradeoff is weight. If you are using a very heavy button on a loosely knit hat, the fabric will sag. Always ensure your button band is knit at a tighter gauge than the body of the hat to provide the necessary structural support.
Jim Knopf Eco-Friendly Wooden Fasteners
For the environmentally conscious knitter, Jim Knopf provides a range of sustainable wooden fasteners. They focus on responsible sourcing, which aligns perfectly with the slow-fashion ethos of knitting your own wardrobe.
These buttons often have a more organic, raw feel. They aren’t perfectly uniform, which adds a lovely, authentic character to a hand-knit hat. If you enjoy the "wabi-sabi" aesthetic—finding beauty in imperfection—these are for you.
Because they are less processed, they may have a slightly more porous texture. I suggest giving them a quick check for splinters before sewing them on; a quick buff with fine-grit sandpaper can smooth out any rough spots in seconds.
Selecting the Best Button Size for Your Hat
Choosing the right size is a balance between function and proportion. A button that is too large will stretch your buttonhole, causing it to sag, while a button that is too small will constantly pop open during wear.
- Small (10-15mm): Best for decorative accents or lightweight, fingering-weight hats.
- Medium (18-25mm): The "goldilocks" zone for most worsted-weight hats.
- Large (30mm+): Reserved for chunky, oversized cowls or heavy-duty winter beanies.
Always test your button through the buttonhole before you sew it on. It should slide through with a little bit of resistance, but you shouldn’t have to force it, as that will eventually distort the shape of your knitting.
Sewing Techniques for Secure Button Attachment
Never sew a button directly against the fabric of the hat. Instead, create a "shank" by wrapping your thread or yarn around the space between the button and the fabric several times.
This creates a small neck of thread that allows the fabric of the buttonhole to sit comfortably behind the button. Without this shank, the button will pull against the fabric, causing the hat to pucker and potentially creating a hole in your knitting.
Use a strong, non-stretchy thread for attachment, even if you are using yarn for the decorative look. If you only use yarn, it will eventually stretch, and your button will begin to hang loosely.
Caring for Wooden Buttons After Washing Hats
Wooden buttons are natural materials and require a bit of care. Before washing your hat, check if the wood is sealed; if it is raw, it can absorb water and swell, which might lead to cracking once it dries.
If possible, remove the buttons before washing. If they are permanently attached, hand-wash the hat in cool water and lay it flat to dry immediately. Avoid soaking the hat, as the wood will act like a sponge.
Once the hat is dry, you can occasionally rub a tiny drop of food-grade mineral oil into the wood to keep it from drying out and becoming brittle. This simple step keeps the wood looking rich and prevents it from splintering over the years.
Selecting the perfect wooden button is the final stroke of genius in your knitting project. By considering the weight of your yarn, the intended use of the hat, and the finish of the wood, you can ensure your hard work remains both functional and stylish. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different sizes and shapes to see what best complements your unique tension and style. Happy knitting, and may your buttons always stay securely in place.
