Keyboard Jacket and Shirt Buttons

I have been fond of one of the laptop keyboard keys, the one with "Windows" on it. Only if it's a button! One day my daughter's one button jacket lost the only button. Another day my husband's laptop keyboard stopped working. All these little misfortunes come together as one easy peesy joyful project: use the laptop "Windows" key as a button to geek up my daughter's jacket! And one project became two in the end. I did become geekier because of this project, not only for the transformed jacket and shirt, also for the fact that I was curious and brave enough to push on the "Windows" key that I had never used before and found it brings up Start Up menu.

Supplies

For this fun project, you'll need:

1 Dead laptop keyboard

1 Craft knife

Thread and hand sew needle

Steps follow ...

Note: This article contains affiliate links as references for the same or similar products used in this project. If you click on the links and make purchases I could receive a small amount of commission from the affiliate company with no extra cost to you.

Wait Jump and Remove

Wait patiently for your significant others' laptop keyboard to stop working and make sure you jump as high as you can when it did because your perseverance is rewarded. (Don't suit me if your significant other was disturbed by your response to his/her misfortune).

Remove the keys by popping them off. I used my hands because they are always on, I don't need to look for them. If your fingernails are delicate, you may use a screwdriver. It shouldn't require much force, so use a light force. I even acted out a picture for you. Again I used my fingers though.

Drill Holes on the Keys

Stick the pointed tip of craft knife to one of the two spots on the key you want to drill holes, hold the key down with one hand and turn the knife with the other hand until it pokes through the back of the key, do this from the back side too to make the hole the same size on front and back. The hole only needs to be big enough for a large sewing needle and 4 strands of upholstery thread.

Drill the second hole. (The holes shouldn't be too close to the edge of the key or too close to each other).

Note: In the picture, there should be one hand holding the key, the other hand turning the knife to make a hole ... but my other hand was operating the camera... A third hand would definitely help.

Sew the Button

I used 4 strands of extra strong upholstery thread, with a secure knot at the tail, draw the needle through the fabric from inside to outside, then through the back of one of the holes; send the needle back down through the second hole and through the jacket fabric to the inside, tie a secure knot, hide the end of thread in between the button band and facing (type how to hide your quilting thread inside your quilt in Youtube for reference). Clip the thread and done!

Warning! This is so addictive. After I sewed the button to my daughter's jacket. I quickly popped off 14 more buttons, drilled 28 more holes and replaced the white common buttons on one of my shirts. The two projects took less than 1 hour.

Right now my daughter is doing show and tell the new geek button on her jacket in her class and I'm so ready to geek out in the spring sunshine in my new shirt!

Vote me for the Jury Rig It ! Contest and Fashion Contest if you liked it. Thank you.