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

Almost Mother's Day

For me, Mother's Day is going to be tomorrow, because my mom will be arriving from North Carolina where she lives and spending the night before we go on to Germany together to visit her sister.  I can't wait to see her - we haven't been together since she visited last spring, although we either talk or email just about every day.  And I get to have her almost all to myself for 2 whole weeks :-)

Several days ago, I finished the back of my Antibes polo, and I decided to share it today in honor of Mother's Day because if it weren't for my mom, there wouldn't be any knitting or sewing going on around here.  Well, maybe there would, but she is the one who taught me both of these skills at a pretty young age.

I don't really know exactly how old I was when she first taught me to knit, but I remember I was in Mrs. Thomas's class, and that was third grade, so I usually count it from about 8 years old.  When she first taught me, she had me hold the yarn in my right hand - and I agree it's usually easier for a beginner to learn that way.

But I also remember that when I was maybe 13 or so, she strongly suggested that I start holding the yarn in my left hand, so I switched.  So now, I can do both, and that makes it SO much easier to do Fair Isle color work - one color in each hand! Thanks, Mom!

Mom also taught me how to crochet, I think even earlier than knitting.  Several years ago, one of my aunts presented me with this item which I made, and which she had saved for me for many years:

In case you can't tell, it's a dress for a Barbie doll!  You're seeing it from the back; the little loops at either side are where the arms go, and the strange loop at the top is for the head somehow.  I clearly remember sitting on the stairs at my aunt's house crocheting this!

A lot of the good stuff I know, I learned from my mom.  She's an amazing woman, and I'm always trying to be more like her.  There are times when I'll say or do something, and I think, "I'm turning into my mom!"  And for me, that's a good thing!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!  I love you!

Possible Fail

Well, I'm having a busy day, so there is little chance of fixing myself up and taking pictures of Jewel.  I'm in the process of creating a nice, organized music room for Hubby for his birthday!

I ended up finishing three projects over the weekend:  Jewel, Adore and the sun hat.  The sun hat is actually not quite finished - I need to find some twill tape to weave the band.

I'm not sure how I feel about this hat though.  Although I checked my gauge (and it was right on), it is too big for my head.  Not so much of a surprise, because I have a rather small head.  But the brim came out much wider than what is shown in the picture on the pattern and what I saw as a sample in the LYS. Meaning it is quite floppy.

Now, a nice, wide brim is what you want if you're trying to shade yourself from the sun.  And part of me likes the '70s boho vibe it gives.  But it's kind of in the way.  I may get some starch and see if that helps stiffen it a little.  The jury's still out on this one.

The other day I found all six colors of the Essie summer 2011 collection, Braziliant.
I've been kind of stalking this collection.  It wasn't due out until June 1, but I read somewhere that some Walgreens stores had gotten it early, and sure enough, I found them in a not-so-local store.  Happiness!  The first one I tried is called Super Bossa Nova. Love the name, because I love bossa, and love the color too:

Essie Super Bossa Nova
Color Me Braziliant Collection
Summer 2011

Bright raspberry pink, with just a hint of blue shimmer.  The formula on this one was odd though.  It was thick, though not difficult to apply, and chalky, for lack of a better word.  Even after the topcoat dried, it still looked like more of a satin finish.  I tried adding a coat of CND Super Shiney topcoat to one of the nails, but it didn't make a noticeable difference.  I'm wondering if the bottles being sold in salons will have a different formula.

Crazy Hat Lady

I LOVE hats.  I'm talking about the fashiony kind, not the kind you wear to keep warm in the winter.  Well, OK, those too!  I always feel like kind of a dork when I wear fashion hats around in public, but I just can't help it - I really love them!

When my mom was here a couple weeks ago, we headed up to my LYS, and I fell in love with a sample I saw there for a crochet sun hat made of PAPER yarn!  So of course I ended up with some:

Natural Club 100% wood fiber yarn

I got the green for me and the cream to make as a gift for my aunt in Germany. And here's a pic of the pattern:

"Shade Me" by Taylor Tengelsen

I tried the sample on in the store, and it is really cute - much cuter than it looks in the picture.  And the band is woven in with bias tape!

I didn't have a chance to sit down with this until the weekend, and I managed to finish the crown shaping:

So far I'm really liking this pattern.  It uses a large-ish hook (H) and all single crochet.  I also really like that the construction is spiral - no slip stitch, chain one at the end of each round.  You just mark the last stitch of the round and keep on going.  I will admit though, the "raffia" is a little rough on the hands.  It didn't take me all that long to get this far - maybe an hour and a half - but then I had to stop because my hands were getting fatigued.

The paper yarn is surprisingly sturdy.  I was worried I'd have to crochet very gingerly, but that's not the case at all.  I started with my hat so I could work out any kinks in the pattern and sizing before starting my aunt's, but so far things have been pretty straightforward.

close up