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Closet Edit

bridgie

Veteran

Closest Edit Challenge accepted. While I am excited about this challenge, it is extremely difficult for me, so I have decided to ask for help with everything I have doubts, no matter how minor.

Just before this challenge started I had decided to post the following in off-topic. It probably should go in spam but I am sincere.

Do you have a jar or whatever you might use of extra buttons? Do you keep extra buttons in case you might need them, and do you ever discard any? I am guilty of keeping all extra buttons, and never discarding any, and rarely need any of them. And to make matters worse, occasionally I find an unknown button in a jewelry box, a spare drawer, most anywhere.

So, I have started my closet edit, and worked on makeup and shoes, have not completed either. I think if I could do something about the button problem, it would be very encouraging.

Thanks for humoring me. Have a good laugh. I am laughing at myself!

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20 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

JAileen

Veteran

I have two big jars of buttons. One is white buttons, and the other is everything else. I use large vintage canning jars, the pale green ones, with tin lids. They were gifts from my SIL several years ago. And I do use them. I sew some, and so need them from time to time. I keep them with my sewing machine. If the jars were overflowing I might discard some. Some of the buttons were from my mothers button jar.

cindysmith

Veteran

I used to keep buttons. I kept all the buttons. These days, my house is too small to keep all the things I used to keep, so I regularly go through my button pile and pull out any that go with garments I don't own anymore

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

My mom used to have a ceramic pot with a lid, full of buttons. When I was a kid I loved to plunge my hands in- I loved how they felt, all cool and slippery! They are also fun to look at- all the colors.
I realize these are not very practical reasons to keep buttons. When was the last time you actually used one or sewed one??

rachylou

Veteran

Ohmigosh. You are so right. I am a button hoarder. I should start my closet cleanup by tossing the button bin.

bridgie

Veteran

JAlleen, I can always count on you. Well, I can at least start by locating the jar of buttons and adding the strays to it. Some of my buttons were my mothers and possible even my grand-mothers who did sew a lot. My grand-daughter (now 26) liked them a lot when she was little, and I bet my 4 yr old great-grand-daughter would probably like them. She was by my place today, and she doesn't miss anything. She starts with my antique pearlized opera glasses, followed immediately by appearing as Minnie Pearl in my new burgundy felt fedora with the tags still on. She then carefully replaces what she looks at here and knows how to use it, and does not use my clothes as toys. Of course I furnished her with a bunch of necklaces, bracelets, costume jewelry a long time ago.

I see a pattern developing, I am finding a reason to keep the buttons!

Thanks for posting.

cindysmith, I have downsized also, and really trying to get rid of more stuff that I don't need, but that is very difficult. I tend to find a reason or excuse to keep everything (see my reply to JAlleen above.) However, I suppose if I had to get rid of clothes or buttons, it would be the buttons to go first. Thanks for posting. I hope you are enjoying your new house!

bridgie

Veteran

Jessikams, Thanks for posting! Yes, looking at the coloring of buttons and sometimes (especially the older ones) the shape and designs is what I find most interesting. I do not remember the last time I sewed a button on anything.

P.S. Not that I would wear anything with a missing button or take to a tailor for that reason. I guess I have just been lucky that way, buttons don't fall off. Of course, when my three children were growing up, there were missing buttons and other repairs to do, but my mother always took care of that, and all three of them (2 boys and 1 girl) can manage minor alterations now.

rachylou, Thanks for posting! My post gave you a jolt, didn't it? Don't be too hasty about tossing the button jar. I sure am not. I bet your mother has a button jar too.

Joy

Veteran

I keep only buttons that go on garments in my closet. I have sewer some on the inside seam of the garment they belong to and have intentions to do more of that. They are now waiting in a 3-hole binder with plastic pages with pockets that I think we're DS's for collecting collector cards. I try to put a tag or note with each set of buttons to identify the garment. I have used many shirt buttons to replace broken ones. I also put extra thread or yarn that comes with a garment in these plastic pick pages. It is easy to find what I need by flipping through the notebook

bridgie

Veteran

Joy, Thank you for posting.

Your are so well organized, and it appears that you enjoy making it happen.

I know I would love being well organized (I consider myself slightly organized) but I can't say I totally enjoy the effort needed to get there. lol

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I adored my mother's button box. It held the most interesting treasures. How I wish I had it now! I did find it after she died but she had given most of the interesting buttons away before that. What's more, they don't make as many as they used to (or maybe they do, but she didn't know where to get them or they didn't come on ready to wear clothing.)

I do save buttons, also, but I go through them occasionally to see if the garment they were meant for is still with me. I keep them in a little container in my dresser.

Anonymous

I DO have a button jar!!! I intend to keep mine for two reasons. One, my Mother always kept a button jar and I followed suit. That button jar is a tangible connection to my Mother (who I still think of every single day). Second, a long time ago, buttons were astonishing pretty. I like collecting "beauty." Admittedly, there are far more "utilitarian" buttons in that jar, but I still have a few beauties.

Sal

Veteran

I have one too and recently ransacked mine to find a button - I like it and wish I had more interesting ones. It does not take up much room and it is useful!!

Staysfit

Veteran

I keep a button shoebox. I have tiny baggies usually used for pills that I purchased at a pharmacy. I put a button any thread and a label for the relevant garment in the baggie. I only keep the buttons for clothing I own. I have needed buttons. In fact, as I was doing a quick study of my summer clothes, I noticed a missing button on a blazer. I had planned to see if I have any extras so I can repair it, otherwise I may need to get all new buttons. Ugh!

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I have a button jar too and yes I do use them as a home sewer.

kkards

Veteran

my mom always had a button basket....when we downsized her last year it went with her...i throw them into a junk draw, but not sure why, i rarely use them, and the last time i tried to sew on a button i had to go out a buy a needle and thread....

does anyone of a certain age remember this labor saving devise from the 1970s? my uncle worked for the company that designed it, he might have been one of the engineers behind it, not sure...

Avery Dennison The Original Buttoneer Fastening System by (Buttoneer System)

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You are DELIGHTFUL, Bridgie.

Yes, I keep some spare buttons, but not all of them.

Great job on the shoes and jewellery. Onward to the button jar

bridgie

Veteran

Suz and Sterling, nice to hear that you two very busy and exciting people hold onto buttons.

bridgie

Veteran

Sal, thanks for posting. Just shows that people in various parts of the world have similar habits.

bridgie

Veteran

Staysfit, Thanks for reporting in. Bet you enjoy playing in that box of buttons! I would. I hope you have a button for the one missing on your blazer. Sure better to find a spare button than shopping for new ones, in my opinion.

Cardiffgirl, thank you for posting. It is great that you have a real use for your buttons, rather than keeping them for just in case - (add your own words).

bridgie

Veteran

kkards and Angie. Thank you!

kkards, no I had never seen or heard of the Buttoneer! It looks very interesting. Just to show you haw wimpy I am, My first thought was I want one of those, but on second thought, since I have lived this long without one and never seem to sew a button on a garment anyway, I think I should pass.

Angie, I truly have done a great job with my shoes. Still have more to do, but feeling very encouraged. Just for the record, I have found four buttons!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*chuckle*

Good start. Toss the buttons and gloat about the shoe edit.