Sunday 15 December 2013

Advent :: day fifteen

You might want to sit down... another mini tutorial... two days running... boy, am I good to you!
 
 
If you follow Planet Penny you will know that Penny is also doing a blog post each day in a Christmas countdown and on day four she featured buttons.  I was rather taken with the button garland being as I have recently acquired a large number of pearly buttons (hence those Christmas cards!)....so I figured out how to make my own (I confess, it wasn't exactly rocket science) 
 
So, to make your own button garland you will need a stash of pearly buttons... cut them off your husband's shirts if necessary... you can always let him sew them back on after Christmas, a suitable sparkly thread and a smallish crochet hook.

 
Thread all the buttons you wish to use onto your thread and start off by crocheting a length of chain.

 
Slide your first button up towards your hook and crochet the next chain as if the button wasn't there, which will hold the button in place.

 
Continue to crochet another section of chain - the number of chain you crochet will determine how spaced out your buttons will be along the garland - I made about 20 chain between each button. Then add your next button as before.

 
And carry on like this until you have used up all your buttons, finishing with a length of chain.

 
And of course, they don't have to be pearly and white...

 
As colourful works too!

 
And if you don't fancy a garland I can imagine they would make a fun necklace or bangle if the buttons were more closely spaced... off to give that a try right now!

17 comments:

  1. I have a huge stock of buttons, some of them quite dull, but with a gold spray...... hmmmm! :)

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  2. Beautiful! :) I love all your pearly buttons!
    V xxx

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  3. Gold spray would really add some glitz, especially to a necklace. Cheers

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  4. How lovely, now teaching my 34 year old daughter and 5 year old granddaughter to crochet. Younger one got the hang of it immediately and commented, "Mummy really isn't very good is she, Granny!" Out of the mouths .....

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  5. I have hundreds of buttons but most are dark and boring. They'd need some help before I could use them for this, but it's a great idea with lovely results.

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  6. So many buttons ... so little time! This looks really cute and airy. Wendy x

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  7. good for wrapping presents too ?

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  8. So pretty! I especially like the pearly one.

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  9. This is a wonderful idea! I've got so many buttons that I've never known what to do with. Problem solved and they look wonderfl too! Thanks Gina xx

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  10. Gina, not only do I admire this idea, but I also really admire your button collection!

    I can imagine connecting this notion of crocheting a chain to connect all sorts of string-able baubles. There is no limit to the possibilities.

    xo

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  11. Lovely idea for when we teach the Y E to crochet!

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  12. Hello Gina I've been reading through your advent posts and really enjoying them :) This one really pleases me and I definitely plan to make some button garlands once I find the right yarn - thank you for sharing it. Lucy xx

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  13. Very Cute Gina! They would make cute bracelets too!

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  14. nice to see such simple things that you can find around the home to make such a pretty decoration Gina.

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  15. Now that is indecently simple and yet wonderful. You are a star x

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  16. your button garland is beautiful - I have so many buttons saved, I may have a go at crocheting them. :)

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