Pick the size for the garment, then the material for the story you want on the front. Plastic fashion buttons are easy; corozo, shell, and cotton read as considered, and we stock them. Full sew-on technique lives in Buttons: types, sizing and sewing them on .
Button sizes in millimeters
Choose by the button's diameter in millimeters. Some patterns use an older unit called ligne (L): 1L is about 0.635 mm, so 24L is about 15 mm.
| Pattern size (L) | About | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 16–18L | 10–11.5 mm | Shirt fronts, collars, fine blouses. |
| 20–24L | 12.5–15 mm | Dresses, cardigans, light jackets. Our 12 mm and 15 mm sets. |
| 28–32L | 18–20 mm | Coat fronts, statement closures. Our 18 mm eco and corozo flowers. |
| 36L+ | 23 mm+ | Heavy coats and decorative only. |
Eco-friendly materials we stock
Corozo (tagua nut)
Plant ivory from the tagua palm. Dense, takes dye well, ages with character. A strong eco swap for plastic fashion buttons.
Shell
Natural shell with depth and sheen. Choose for garment fronts you want to show, not hide.
Cotton or soft fiber buttons
Soft hand for baby clothes and gentle garment fronts. Less click than resin.
Eco-composite or bio buttons
Plant-based composites sold as a lower-impact alternative to virgin plastic. Still read the listing for care and heat.
Cellulose acetate
Sarah Hearts describes these buttons as cellulose acetate. Check the product details rather than assuming that a plant-derived material is biodegradable or certified lower-impact.
Colorful resin sets (teal, pop-of-color, terrazzo) are also on the buttons basket when you want saturated, plastic-free-looking fronts. Check each listing for material.
Buttonholes
Length ≈ diameter + thickness + 3 mm. Test on a scrap with the same layers and interfacing. More detail and shank technique: full buttons guide . Stabilize with interfacing on fine fabric.
Quick answers
- What does 24L mean on a button?
- 24L means a button about 15 mm across. L is an older button-size unit; 1L is about 0.635 mm. Use the millimeter diameter when choosing a button.
- Which eco-friendly button material is best?
- Corozo and shell for durable garment fronts; cotton for soft applications; eco-composite when you want color range with a plant-based story. Avoid mystery “eco plastic” with no fiber or feedstock named.
- How do I size a buttonhole?
- Button diameter + thickness + about 3 mm ease. Domed and shank buttons need more length than flat ones of the same diameter.
- Where can I buy eco buttons from Kitschy Notions?
- Shop corozo, shell, cotton, and eco-composite sets in our buttons collection. Stock and colors rotate.