Thursday, December 6, 2012

The Buttons

Since there was a fair bit of interest in the crocheted buttons yesterday, I'm posting how I did them today.   Below are the instructions as they were written in the pattern*.  I made some modifications though, which I'll explain at the end.

The pattern calls for "button molds;"  I have no idea what those are, and a quick google search didn't help.  I just put a plain old button inside  and it worked fine.   For this sweater, the pattern recommends a size B crochet hook (2.25mm), which produces a nice, firm fabric.  The buttons I used were 7/8" diameter.



For each button:
Chain 3, join with slip stitch to form a ring.
Round 1:  6 sc in ring
Round 2:  2 sc in each sc (12 sc)
Round 3:  *1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around (18 sc)
Round 4 and 5:  1 sc in each sc (18 sc)
Round 6:  insert button mold; *sc in next sc,  skip 1 sc; repeat from * around until mold is completely covered.
Fasten off.

sc = single crochet in US, or double crochet in British English


the back

Once I'd made my first button, I found that there was too much empty space inside, so I eliminated Round 5.  In other words, I only worked one round of single crochet after the increase rounds.

I also found it easier to work Round 6 all the way around once, and then insert my button into the cup-shaped space created.  This helped keep the button from slipping out as I finished closing it up.  To keep the back as flat as possible, I worked the last few stitches as slip stitches rather than as single crochets, and then left a tail long enough to use for sewing the button to the sweater.

There you have it.  Like I said, easy peasy!


*Design number 27, Vogue Knitting Magazine Fall/Winter 1963

10 comments:

  1. Cool - thanks! I'm assuming you used a button with a shank, not a button with holes?

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    1. Oops, sorry! No, just a plain, shankless button. I think the shank would get in the way and make it more difficult to sew on. I just sewed right through the fabric of the button; it was really nice not to have to fish around for a hole!

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  2. HUGE thanks for posting this. You are right - they'll be perfect for my Wisdom. Now I just need to learn how to decipher a crochet pattern. I'm off to the yarn store to buy a hook and then I'll be looking at uTube. Thanks again!

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    1. Don't worry - it's super easy! I updated a little because I realized the terms are not the same in the US as they are in the UK. Not sure about Canada!

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  3. Thanks for sharing! I Pinned this post for future reference.

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  4. This is great, Gail... I will definitely use them!

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  5. I'm so impressed that you made your own buttons! You are such a good problem-solver.

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  6. Great buttons Gail and I think I will have to use my basic crochet skills to try one!

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    1. Cool! I'm glad I posted this - people seem to really like them!

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