Whale Buttons

I created these whale buttons (from the sketch in the whale.svg file) for use in some knitted slippers. They are not the most practical buttons, but they do have whales on them.

Files:

• WhaleButton.stl / WhaleButton-WhaleButton.step - the whale button (22mm diameter)

• BackingButton.stl / WhaleButton-BackingButton.step - a small backing button. Useful for attaching buttons to knit button bands. I print these in TPU but PLA should work too. about 15mm diameter.

• WhaleButton.FCStd - FreeCAD project file. Check the spreadsheet for parameters (size, number of holes, etc.) that can be changed without needing to edit any sketches.

• whale-v3.svg - The SVG drawing of the whale

Recommendations:

• PLA

• .16 mm layer height

• .4 mm nozzle (.2 might be even better)

• iron all top surfaces

I print these in 3 colors on a non-AMS printer by putting a pause in the slicer before layers 17 and 23 (assuming .16 layer height):

• Start with base color

• Switch to whale color

• Switch to outline color

For a cookie-cutter version of our whale friend see:

For a version you can just snap into your Crocs:

Revisions

Version 3 (July 2026):

• I completely re-made the FreeCAD project file so it is clean and easy to maintain

• Moved the holes to the inside of the whale. This puts them pretty close together, but will that way stitching will not interrupt whale shape. Old files (with wider holes) still available in the "old" folder.  

Version 2 (December 2025):

• whale-V2.stl - The whale now has a thicker outline that is more durable and prints better with .4 mm nozzle. I recommend this version over the older whale.stl. The last photo is of v2.  Also includes a small, thin backing button (useful to stabilize buttons when attaching to knit button bands).