Fabric Button Making Kits

American Button Machines is the fabric button kit specialist. Whether you run an embroidery shop, outfit a school in matching spirit wear, or sell handmade accessories at craft fairs, we can set you up with a professional fabric button making kit built and calibrated for the exact fabric you plan to use.

There are two ways to get started: order a dedicated fabric button machine quoted for your project, or send us the button maker you already own and we will modify it for fabric for a modification charge. Either way, the machine is calibrated to the thickness of your fabric before it ever reaches your workbench — so your very first button comes out crisp, centered, and professional.

Two Ways to Get a Fabric Button Making Kit

Option 1 — Order a Dedicated Fabric Button Machine

We build fabric button making kits around a dedicated fabric-capable press, the die size of your choice, and a starter supply of button parts. Because every fabric behaves differently in the press, dedicated fabric machines are quoted individually rather than sold off the shelf. Call us at (972) 985-5074 or send a request through our contact page and tell us what size buttons you want to make and what fabric you plan to use. We will put together a quote for a complete kit calibrated to your material.

Option 2 — Convert the Button Maker You Already Own

Already own an ABM button maker? For a modification charge, our technicians can convert your existing machine to press fabric buttons. Ship us your machine along with the fabric you plan to use, and we will calibrate the press to your material's thickness, test it, and return it ready for production. This is the most economical path for shops that want to add fabric buttons to an existing paper button business.

Why We Calibrate to Your Fabric

Fabric moves and folds differently than paper, so a fabric button machine must be matched to the material it will press. Our fabric button makers are calibrated at the standard setting to accept light to medium weight cotton — think T-shirt fabric. Run anything heavier, like denim or velvet, through a standard press and you are likely to see firsthand what a jammed button maker looks like.

That is not to say you can't use those specialty fabrics — they simply require further calibration. That is why we ask every fabric button customer to ship us the actual fabric they plan to use. Our technicians calibrate the machine to your material's thickness so it presses cleanly from day one. If you want to work with a variety of fabrics, we will calibrate your machine to your thickest fabric, and you can test thinner fabrics from there.

Smaller button sizes need extra attention: because 1" and 1.25" dies are so much smaller, they require more extensive calibration, so fabric samples are always required for those sizes. Embroidered and monogrammed fabric is also fully supported — it just needs the same sample-and-calibrate treatment, and Mylar is not used with embroidered buttons.

How the Process Works

From first call to first button, here is what to expect:

Choose your path. Decide whether you want a quote on a dedicated fabric button machine kit, or a fabric conversion of the ABM machine you already own.
Contact us for a quote. Call (972) 985-5074 or use our contact page. Tell us the button size you want to make, the fabric you plan to use, and roughly how many buttons you expect to produce.
Ship us your fabric. We will send you instructions for submitting samples of each fabric you plan to use. If you are converting an existing machine, you will ship the machine in along with your fabric.
We calibrate and test. Our technicians calibrate the press to the thickness of your fabric, then test-press buttons in your material to confirm clean, centered results.
Your kit ships to you. Your machine arrives calibrated and production-ready, along with your dies and button parts.
Start pressing. Make ponytail holders, monogrammed buttons, zipper pulls, and more — and reorder fabric button supplies from us whenever you run low.

Pro Tips for Fabric Button Making

Calibrate to your thickest fabric. If you plan to press a variety of materials, have your machine set up for the heaviest one, then test your thinner fabrics.
Back thin fabrics. Lightweight materials may need a piece of paper or muslin behind them to make up the additional thickness in the press.
Mind your ribbon width. Ribbon must be wide enough to wrap the button — for example, a 1.5" button requires a 1.837" fabric circle.
Cut clean circles. A fabric circle cutter produces consistent, centered blanks far faster than scissors.

What Can You Make With a Fabric Button Kit?

Fabric-covered buttons are one of the most versatile products a small shop can offer. With a calibrated fabric button machine you can produce:

Monogrammed and embroidered fabric buttons
Ponytail holders and hair ties — a favorite for matching school uniforms
Zipper pulls, shoe charms, and flip-flop accents
Pinback buttons, magnets, and flatback buttons for jewelry and badge reels
Pocket mirrors and keychains
Button bracelets, necklaces, and other fabric-covered jewelry

Embroidery and monogram shops in particular find that owning a fabric button machine lets them offer personalized buttons at a fraction of the cost of ordering them from a manufacturer — and turn them around the same day.

Fabric Button Supplies & Related Products

Once your machine is calibrated, we stock everything you need to keep production running. Schools and government institutions are welcome to order machines and supplies by purchase order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to send in my fabric?

Fabric button machines must be calibrated to the thickness of the material they will press. Fabric that is thicker or thinner than the machine's setting produces off-center buttons or jams the press. When you ship us the actual fabric you plan to use, our technicians calibrate the machine to that material and test it before it ships, so it works correctly from the very first button.

Can the button maker I already own make fabric buttons?

In many cases, yes. For a modification charge, our technicians can convert an existing ABM button maker to press fabric. You ship us the machine along with the fabric you plan to use, and we calibrate, test, and return it production-ready. Call (972) 985-5074 and we will confirm whether your model can be converted and quote the modification.

What kinds of fabric can I use?

At the standard calibration, our fabric button makers accept light to medium weight cotton, like T-shirt fabric. Heavier materials such as denim or velvet can absolutely be used, but they require custom calibration — which is exactly what the fabric sample process is for. If you plan to press several different fabrics, we recommend calibrating to your thickest material.

Can I make buttons from embroidered or monogrammed fabric?

Yes. Embroidered fabric requires special handling, so we ask you to provide samples and our technician will calibrate the machine for your embroidered material. Note that Mylar is not used with embroidered buttons.

Why are fabric machines quoted instead of sold at a listed price?

Because every fabric machine is set up and calibrated for the customer's specific fabric, size, and application, we quote each fabric button making kit individually. That way the quote reflects exactly what your project needs — nothing more — and the machine arrives ready to press your material.

Do you accept purchase orders from schools?

Yes. We accept purchase orders for fabric button machines and supplies from schools and government institutions. Visit our purchase orders page or call (972) 985-5074 to get started.