How to Make Blinds Out of Buttons

Use a variety of buttons to create fun and funky button blinds.

You can make blinds out of buttons to enhance the decor of any window or doorway. Use castoff buttons to create an inexpensive, eco-friendly window treatment. Make coordinating button blinds to hang from doorways. Select a variety of button colors or choose a single color scheme. Mix and match button types and styles. Similar to the beaded curtains that were popular in the 1960s and 1970s, button blinds are a clever update on a retro favorite.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Heavy fishing line
• Needle (optional)
• Scissors
• Tension curtain rod

Instructions

1. Measure the area to be covered by the button blind.

2. Cut heavy fishing line 15 to 18 inches longer than the desired length of the finished blind and fold 4 inches at one end of the line back on itself to form a loop. Hold the double piece of fishing line between your thumb and index finger and wrap the double piece of fishing line around two fingers, crossing over the line to insert the bend through the circle formed by the line. Pull tight to form a loop with a knot at the base.

3. Thread the unknotted end of the fishing line through a hole in the first button, back to front, and then through another hole to the back. Move the button to the knotted end of the line and thread the line through the holes again to secure the button in place. Thread the line top to bottom twice through the hollow protrusion when using buttons with a shank rather than sew-through holes.

4. Add additional buttons to the fishing line until the desired length is reached. Space each button as desired.

5. Thread the line through the holes or shank of the final button on each strand three times instead of two. Tie a knot at the back of the button to secure the line. Make additional button strands until you have as many as you need to fill your space.

6. Adjust the tension rod for a snug fit inside the window or door casing. Place the fishing line loops over the tension rod with the button strands all facing in one direction.

7. Wedge the tension rod inside the window or door casing and adjust the spacing of the button strands as desired.

Tips & Warnings

• As an alternative to using a tension rod, hang button strands from a curtain rod mounted outside the window casing.

• Combine buttons with beads or shells for more interest.

• Hot glue buttons to ribbon as an alternative to stringing them on fishing line.

• Depending on the length and number of button strands, the button blinds may be quite heavy.

Resources

• The Beaded Curtain: Beaded Curtain Designs
• CraftStylish: How to Make a Snowstorm