7 Best Acrylic Buttons For Washable Everyday Garments
Discover the 7 best acrylic buttons for daily wear. This guide highlights durable, washable options that blend long-lasting utility with versatile aesthetics.
Choosing the right button is the final, crucial step in transforming a hand-knit project from a "homemade" item into a professional-grade garment. While natural materials like wood or horn offer rustic charm, they often struggle to survive the rigors of frequent machine washing. Acrylic buttons provide a durable, color-fast, and lightweight solution that maintains its integrity through countless spin cycles. This guide explores the best acrylic options to ensure your hard work remains functional and beautiful for years to come.
La Mode Classic Four-Hole Buttons: Best Overall
When you need a button that simply works with everything, the La Mode Classic collection is the industry standard for a reason. These buttons offer a clean, unobtrusive profile that complements almost any yarn weight, from a delicate fingering-weight cardigan to a chunky wool sweater.
The four-hole design is a major functional advantage for the knitter. By distributing the tension of the thread across four points rather than two, you significantly reduce the risk of the fabric puckering or the button pulling away from the garment over time.
They are remarkably consistent in size and hole diameter, which makes the sewing-on process much faster. If you’ve ever spent an hour wrestling a needle through a poorly finished button eye, you’ll appreciate the smooth, snag-free edges here.
Dill Buttons Resin Toggle: Best for Cardigans
Toggles are a lifesaver for heavy, oversized cardigans where a standard button might feel too formal or fussy. The Dill Buttons resin toggle provides that classic "duffle coat" aesthetic without the weight and maintenance issues associated with real wood or leather.
Because these toggles are crafted from high-quality resin, they won’t absorb moisture or warp when your sweater is damp from the wash. This is critical for heavy knits that take a long time to dry, as you don’t want a button swelling and stretching out your buttonholes.
The elongated shape is also much easier for arthritic hands to manipulate compared to small, round buttons. If you are knitting for a child or someone with limited dexterity, this toggle style is a practical, ergonomic choice.
Blumenthal Lansing Basics: Best Budget Choice
Blumenthal Lansing is the brand you’ll find in almost every local sewing shop, and for good reason—they are affordable, reliable, and widely available. When you’re knitting a large project that requires a dozen buttons, the cost can add up quickly.
These buttons are straightforward and utilitarian. They don’t have the high-end sheen of luxury imitation horn, but they are perfectly color-fast and won’t bleed onto your lighter-colored yarns during a wash.
The main trade-off is the finish; it can sometimes be a bit plain. However, if you are knitting a vibrant, multi-colored project where the yarn is the star, you don’t want a flashy button competing for attention.
Dress It Up Novelty Shapes: Best for Children
Knitting for children requires buttons that are both fun and exceptionally secure. Dress It Up offers a massive range of shapes, from stars to animals, which can turn a basic garter-stitch cardigan into a favorite garment for a toddler.
The primary consideration here is safety. Because many of these buttons are novelty-shaped, you must ensure they are sewn on with a sturdy, non-stretchy thread like a high-twist polyester.
Avoid using these for infants who might chew on them, as they are not designed for teething. For older children, however, they add a touch of whimsy that makes the garment feel special and personalized.
Taylor Seville Acrylic Rounds: Best Durability
Taylor Seville buttons are engineered with a focus on structural integrity. If you are knitting a heavy-duty garment intended for outdoor wear or daily work, these are the buttons that will outlast the sweater itself.
The acrylic used in these rounds is particularly impact-resistant. Unlike cheaper plastic buttons that can crack or chip when they hit the metal drum of a washing machine, these hold their shape and finish remarkably well.
They also feature a slightly deeper groove, which helps the thread sit flush against the button. This prevents the thread from fraying against the rough edges of the buttonhole, extending the life of your button band significantly.
ButtonMode Flat Matte Finish: Best Minimalist
In the world of modern, minimalist knitting, the button should disappear into the fabric. The ButtonMode matte collection is perfect for those who want a clean, sophisticated look that doesn’t scream "plastic."
The matte finish is a huge benefit for photography and styling. It doesn’t catch the light or create distracting reflections, allowing the texture of your stitches—whether it’s cables or simple stockinette—to remain the focal point.
Be aware that matte finishes can sometimes show scratches more clearly over time than high-gloss buttons. However, this "lived-in" look often pairs beautifully with the natural, slightly fuzzy halo of wool or alpaca yarns.
JHB International Vintage Style: Best Aesthetic
JHB International excels at creating buttons that mimic the look of mid-century materials like bakelite or carved bone. If you are knitting a vintage-inspired pattern or a lace-trimmed shawl, these buttons provide the perfect period-appropriate detail.
The aesthetic detail is impressive, but the material remains strictly acrylic. You get the look of a delicate antique without the fragility, which is a massive win for a garment you actually plan to wear regularly.
These buttons often feature more intricate surface textures. While beautiful, check that the edges are smooth to ensure they don’t snag your yarn when you are buttoning or unbuttoning the garment.
Why Acrylic Is Ideal for Washable Knitwear
Acrylic is a synthetic fiber that is naturally hydrophobic, meaning it does not absorb water. This is the primary reason it outperforms natural materials like wood, which can swell, crack, or lose its finish when exposed to the moisture of a standard wash cycle.
Furthermore, acrylic is remarkably color-stable. You won’t have to worry about the pigment leaching into your hand-dyed wool or cotton yarns, a common disaster with cheaper dyed natural buttons.
Finally, acrylic is lightweight. When you are knitting a delicate lace garment, you don’t want heavy buttons that pull and distort the fabric. Acrylic provides the necessary structure without adding significant weight to the piece.
How to Properly Secure Buttons on Hand Knits
Securing a button on a hand-knit garment requires a bit more care than on a commercial piece. Always use a strong, smooth thread, and leave a "shank" of thread between the button and the fabric to allow the buttonhole to sit comfortably underneath.
- Use a toothpick: Place a toothpick between the button and the fabric while sewing to create a consistent gap.
- Reinforce the back: Always use a small, clear stay-button on the inside of the garment to distribute the stress.
- Double-check the tension: Ensure the button is loose enough to accommodate the thickness of your knitting, but tight enough that it doesn’t flop around.
The stay-button is the most overlooked step in garment finishing. It prevents the button from pulling through the fabric, which is the number one cause of holes in button bands.
Essential Tips for Buttonhole Maintenance
Buttonholes are the most vulnerable part of any cardigan. Over time, they can stretch out, leading to the dreaded "gapping" look where the button band doesn’t lay flat.
To maintain them, always unbutton your garments before washing. The friction of the button rubbing against the edges of the hole in the machine is what causes the fiber to break down and the hole to enlarge.
If you notice a buttonhole starting to stretch, you can use a small amount of matching thread to add a "buttonhole stitch" reinforcement around the perimeter. This adds a layer of structural support that keeps the shape intact for years.
Selecting the right acrylic button is about balancing the aesthetic needs of your design with the practical demands of daily wear. By choosing high-quality materials and using proper sewing techniques, you ensure your hand-knits remain functional and beautiful. Remember that a well-chosen button is the hallmark of a thoughtful maker. Happy knitting, and may your button bands always lay perfectly flat.
