Monday, May 20, 2013

Cute As A Button


I’ve found my next obsession passionate interest – buttons.  This is actually awesome considering that every knitter at one time or another is going to need buttons for something.  Which I did.  And now I’m hooked.  On buttons.  Don’t tell The Husband.  He shouldn’t really complain.  They’re actually fairly cheap.

Seeing as how we don’t have a great button place locally, I previously mentioned that I found the perfect place to order buttons – Etsy.  *Side note – I am addicted to Etsy.*  I originally browsed for buttons to use with my two baby cardis for the twins that are due next month.  I found the absolute perfect ones for the boy cardi, but ordered a few possibilities for the girl cardi, as I didn’t have anything strike me immediately that gave me that internal “Eureka!” like I had with the boy cardi.  I’m still waiting on a few that I hope will be there today.  Here is what I got so far:


Aren’t they adorable?  The little paw buttons will be what I use for the baby boy cardi.  I thought I might like the daisies on the girl cardi, but after putting them together, not liking it so much.  The birds I just ordered on a lark (see what I did there?) and the little house button (one of two) was just too cute to pass up.  All the ones I just mentioned came from Firefly Cabin on Etsy.  The ones I’m waiting on are from them also, but the second order was an afterthought (read:  I found more adorable buttons a day or three after I’d placed the first order). 

The other buttons in the photo are both from Bohemian Findings on Etsy and I just stumbled across them while poking around.  I can totally see me using the polka dot buttons for something in the future and when I saw the white and turquoise buttons, I knew they would be perfect for the little dress I was making for Baby C.  I gave the dress to her mommy yesterday and promptly realized that Baby C. is outgrowing stuff before I’ve even knit it!  After her mommy tried it on her, I asked for it back in order to extend the little straps so she could actually wear it for longer than, like, yesterday. 


The dress pattern is Super Simple Baby Tunic by Little Gunn and I used some acrylic Lion Brand Pound of Love I had on hand, since I’m trying to use my stash instead of spending more money right now (which would lead to deep distress on The Husband’s part, and marital doom on mine).  I have now confirmed the acrylic is great for baby blankets but for garments I am NOT feeling the love.  Sure, it’s machine washable and it doesn’t even feel bad but it just doesn’t behave well.  I couldn't get the bottom to lay down even though I garter stitched a few rows.  Meh...

Oh, and don’t you just love the flower?!  I found the pattern on Ravelry (where else?).  I looked for knitted flowers since I’m dangerously ineffective with a crochet hook and while these were designed to be attached to hair pins, it worked out marvelously well to dress up the little tunic.  The pattern is Daisy Hair Accessory by Amanda Berry.  So cute and so easy to make.

Since we’re on the subject of buttons, my blogger friend Kristie over at Journey North of 49 recently posted some pictures of a particularly adorable baby sweater she knit.  The sweater was sporting some ridiculously cute bee buttons which I immediately coveted.  They really add a perfect touch to an already beautiful little sweater.  My covetous tendencies aside, if you’ve never checked out Kristie’s blog, you should do so immediately.  You’ll be happy you did.

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10 comments:

  1. I love buttons as well. I save them off old clothes and trawl Ebay and charity shops for unusual ones. I even have some antique buttons over 100 years old. It can become addictive but is cheap and they are easy to store. I've knitted that dress pattern a few times now. I like the colour you chose and the flower finishes it off nicely.

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    1. Oh, I never even thought about eBay! Another place to button hunt! : )

      I like the dress pattern, but I did it in the round and with a larger size in mind and I'm not as happy with where I bound off for the underarms as I could be. Oh well, live and learn...

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  2. Buttons are AMAZING! I have a thing for vintage ones. LOVE them. And, they take up so much less space than more yarn! :-D

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    1. Indeed they do! I have TONS of space for buttons!

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  3. I love it!!! I wish i had the nerve to try and make one..my girlfriends daughter is having a baby tomorrow..anyway buttons are i'm sure a lot less expensive than your "husband's" toys! LOL

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  4. I think that scientists should do a study of the knitter's brain. First, they can hold up a skein of yarn and see what parts of the brain light up. Then they can hold up some cute buttons. I'm convinced the very same areas will be glowing.

    And I love that tunic - I just put it in my Ravelry queue.

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    1. One tip on the tunic - I'd work several rows more on the little straps that come around from the back than the pattern calls for. They were definitely too short. I got it back yesterday and extended them which made a huge difference.

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  5. To get the bottom of that sweet dress to behave, look up "killing acrylic". It can be a little scary at first since it is not possible to redo it. But you are a very capable knitter and I'm sure you can figure it out.

    Happy knitting :)

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