Fragile Buttons?

[slicedbread]

Hey guys, I'm still pretty new at this and something quite sad just happened to me... I get a suit in the mail that I ordered and as I try on the vest...a button pops off! I test the durability of the other buttons and easily two more break off... Now these aren't the typical buttons as the space with which to thread them is actually just a circle under them similar to the metal circle found on harris tweed jackets...
The biggest difference between the tweed buttons and the buttons on this suit are that the tweed buttons have metal for the circles and my suit's buttons are entirely plastic... I have a few pics of the buttons:

I guess what I'm trying to ask is 1) is there any way to strengthen the buttons I have and 2) Is there any way I could perhaps buy new ones of similar style...

 

[Snookie]

Are the buttons broken, or did they just pop off? Thread weakens considerably as it ages, and the remaining buttons probably all need reinforcement. Any fabric store and many craft stores should have good strong thread for you. The thread they sell at drugstores is junk and I don't recommend it except in case of emergency.

The type of button you have is called a shank button (and are easier to sew than a 2- or 4-hole button, IMHO). If you need more, start at your local fabric store (Jo-Ann, etc.) and see if you get lucky. I've also bought thrift store garments in order to remove the buttons. Also look on Ebay for vintage button lots.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Looks like the plastic broke... might be old and just week depending on the plastic.

Hmmm time for new buttons.

 

[slicedbread]

I really liked the buttons, but I suppose it's best to just go and get new ones...

 

[John in Covina]

Early Plastics

If the suit is vintage then the plastic buttons could be pretty old. Early plastics were some amasing concoctions developed for look and strength, but they were often found to be lacking over time. Why? Because the chemical composition of early plastics could be unstable and they would break down. In the pen world there were early plastics used in the Waterman Hundred Year Pens that crystalize, and disintergrate. THe action of plastics under heat and cold would show many problems for distortion and brittleness. The Eversharp Skyline has a plastic cap with an end piece that routinely shrinks enough so the threading won't engage, teflon tape to the rescue...

These days we have more plastics that are stable and strong, much less likely to break. You may wish to check antique and thrift stores for replacement button collections too, along with the sewing and crafts venues.

 

[Elaina]

The buttons should be fairly easy to find something similar to them so you can replace them. Probably not designed, but you never know. If the plastic shaft isn't broken, just restring all the buttons back onto the garment, since them falling off is really fairly common. If the plastic is broken, John gave some good ideas to get them replaced.

 

[slicedbread]

Thanks, John and Snookie, for dropping some knowledge for me...

I actually stopped by a couple of "antique" stores and found two different sets of buttons that I really liked and I suppose I'll get those ones. They're metal so I'm assuming they'll be a little more durable...