Colors & Fibers

Buttons can be made from silk, wool, linen, mohair, cotton, or metallic thread. While there are online color charts for most of the threads we normally use, we have found that the color values vary greatly between different computer screens. Please keep that in mind if you plan to select a color from a computer display.

If you wish to use WOOL, we use the Appleton colors. If you do not have access to their color chart, you can send us a swatch of fabric, and we can email you a photo of the fabric with some suggested thread color choices.

For SILK, if you send us a fabric swatch, we can email a photo with color suggestions from the 50+ colors  we  normally use. We primarily use Fujix and Gutermann products. If you wish to provide silk buttonhole twist from another source, we can discount button prices accordingly.

MOHAIR is the latest addition to our offerings. It was perhaps the most common fiber used to create Death Head buttons. Made from Angora goats, it is softer and has more shine than sheep's wool. Our mohair thread  is 100% pure, or with a bit of silk added into a few of the shades. However, some colors come from overseas, so there can be a slight delay in getting these buttons made. The colors available are more limited than those available in plain wool. You can send us a swatch of fabric, and we can email you a photo of the fabric with some suggested thread color choices. 

Metallic thread colors available are silver and gold. There is a fine and a thick thread size available, depending on the demands of the button design.

Linen for shirt buttons is available in white, cream (off-white), and brown (natural). These are the colors most commonly associated with 18th century buttons.  If you are interested in more varied shades of  hand-dyed colored linen for a project, I can put you in touch with a dyer and you can see what she currently has available. The lovely coral pink on the sample buttons pictured is one of her colors.

Cotton may not be historically correct for some periods. However, it is an attractive material. We have access to the standard DMC Perle colors available at most large craft stores.