I'd certainly never thought about making my own embroidered buttons before, but that was my next challenge.
Buttons were just never really something I'd thought about much before, but hear I was researching them, and I was completely amazed at how many different kinds there were. Once I started looking, I couldn't wait to get started on making some.
Dorset Buttons
These interesting buttons date back to the 17th century, when they were made with fabric, sheep's horn and thread. The button industry in Dorset grew and was thriving, however this was not to last. The Industrial Revolution and the development of the button machine, meant that this type of button was replaced with machine made buttons made out of pearl, bone and cloth. Nowadays, it has become a heritage craft and are made with metal curtain rings instead of sheep's horn.
These cartwheel buttons are worked by covering the ring with blanket stitch, followed by laying the spokes and finally patterns are made by winding thread around the spokes.
Singleton Buttons
Singleton buttons are another type of Dorset Button. A ring is covered with fabric and lightly padded with wadding. Backstitch is worked around the inside of the ring and then the button can be decorated in any way you like. Originally linen fabric and sheep's fleece was used.
Bird's Eyes and Mites
These buttons are both worked in the same with. The only difference is that the Mites have a larger hole in the centre, which is often decorated with spokes in the same way as the cartwheel buttons.
These buttons are different in that they are made purely from yarn. The yarn is wrapped around a stick, then secured with button hole stitch all the way round.
Fabric Covered Buttons
The simplest way to do fabric covered buttons is to buy the self-cover buttons that are widely available. The pack tells you what size fabric circle you need for each size of button. You can then embroider your fabric to whatever design you like, then simply cut out the circle, cover the button and click the back of the button in place to hold the fabric.
Once you start looking at these different types of buttons, it can take you down a whole new path that you never knew existed. They are lovely to make and the possibilities are endless.
After buttons, it was time to make my first assessment piece. To read about it click here: Stumpwork Sheep (claireharveyembroidery.com)
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