Aug 23 2006
Cute as a Button
My mom says "cute as a button" a lot; or the corollary "cute as a bug's ear" (you know, weird "Southern-isms"… I don't even think that bugs have ears, do they?) So these little sayings stick out in my head. But really, it is true. Buttons are cute. I love them.
I saw this tutorial a few months ago and wanted to try it with some black and gray buttons I found last year at the thrift store. The directions were a little ambiguous, so I "winged" it. The final result:
Unlike the tutorial, I used buttons of different shapes and sizes, so it looks different. I used beading string (from the craft store) a crimp bead, and a regular clasp closure to secure all of it together. It jingles when I walk, so you can hear me coming! I like this one, but I see room for improvement. I have some plans for some other button jewelry… I met a crafter on Flickr who puts together the coolest button art and jewelry - I love .tomate's work! (see more of her wearable button art set here)
I have quite a button collection; I have inherited some from my grandmother's old button tin, as well as purchased many of them second-hand at thrift shops and yard sales. I have purchased a few of them new, most specifically for knit projects, or more button jewelry. I arranged these in bags according to color - and I just used my whole black and gray stash for the necklace, so I will have to replenish those.
My favorites among the thrifted and inherited buttons
Simple and round, fancy and shiny - buttons always catch my eye!
I have also been inspired by another Flickr friend, Cosette of Cosymakes, who uses buttons and embroidery in her handknitting. Much of the yarn that Cosette uses is repurposed from old garments, and she makes the knits beautiful again with simple stitching and button embellishments - I am particularly fond of her hats!
Inspired by the lovely colors for this month's Project Spectrum, I started an embroidery kit that I got on clearance at a craft store last year. The colors are a light cream color, with a slight pink tint, and dark chocolate brown DMC floss.
This is the DMC Linea Embroidery kit, which included this silk scarf with a light fringe and pre-printed lines for the stitcher to follow. This is particularly helpful to me, as I have not embroidered or stitched in several years, and needed a good reminder of what goes into it. I enjoyed doing this simple running stitch, and may need to pull out some of the books I bought a few months ago to re-inspire me for embroidery and crewel work! (Remember Colorful Stitchery and The New Crewel? Not to mention the Stitch-It Kit that I got last Christmas… all are sitting patiently on my craft bookshelf!)
I am waiting for that day when Kris encourages me to quit work and school, because he wants me to have more time to craft 
TOO CUTE! I love buttons too. What a great idea! I like the look you achieved with the buttons of various sizes. Very cute!
Wow, that necklace is fantastic! Very creative, Lolly!!!
Cuteness! Maybe it will jingle less if you epoxy those puppies together…
Ooh, fabulous! You’re such a crafty girl.
What a great necklace! I love it. I bet you rock it well, too.
You’re so fortunate to have your grandmother’s buttons. Aren’t vintage things passed down the best?
Some of those vintage buttons look very familiar- I, too, have my Grandma’s button tin.
Great necklace! If I’m not mistaken, these kind of necklaces came about in Victorian times and it was almost like a charm bracelet. You would collect buttons from friends, family, and your travels. I’m not sure if they were originally intended to be necklaces or just ropes of buttons, but it’s a fun fact never the less!
Of course, if it was victorian times, you probably would have all the time in the world to craft, knit and embroider!
wow I haven’t done button necklaces for YEARS. I was addicted to making them when I was about 19. I saw some in a craft shop on holiday in san francisco and decided it was the best thing ever. I mixed some with beads, which depending on the buttons works really well.
oooh…that is cool!
I love buttons…I used to root around in my G-mas buttons…it was pretty cool to see how detailed they were…
very very crafty…I’m scheduled (ha!) to do a little cross stitch for Pixie’s bday!! I love yours - it’s stamped
Oh, awesome, Lolly. Hmm, I’d be willing to trade you some totally amazing handmade thing for a button choker. . .
The embroidery is really lovely too. I’ve been doing a bunch of embroidery lately as part of an art piece, and it’s really satisfying in a way that knitting isn’t. I guess because I love to draw, the simplicity of a running stitch or stem stitch line just gets me really excited.
That is super cute! I love it! I, too, love buttons! you are so organized with yours! I need to do that!
The necklace looks great! I can also picture it in shell buttons too.
…I may have to abscond with my mum’s collection!
your button necklace turned out sooo great!
major cuteness! loves the necklace!
That necklace is as cute as a button. I look forward to future offerings! : )
I love the button necklace - I have one very similar to it that I bought at a flea market. I have always wanted to try to recreate it. I’m so happy to see that you succeeded!
I may have to try making one myself one of these days!
-Jody
Great necklace, creative and resourceful!!
You are looking sooooo skinny, lady! Nice necklace!
That is gorgeous!!! What a great idea.
See you next week!
Wow, great buttons. What fun necklace you made of them, too.
Fabulous necklace, L! I’m even more impressed after reading the amazingly bad directions (and it’s my job to make sense of bad directions).
I look forward to seeing what else you do with those beautiful buttons.
Really cute necklace!
If you have any buttons that you particularly like, you can make a mold by pressing the button into polymer clay, baking the mold, then you can make some more buttons from polymer clay. You can also make rather unique buttons using polymer clay; great stuff!
CUTE!!!! I love the necklace! I, too, have an inherited button tin - I should sort those out and see what all I have! Thanks for the idea!
Dude, you are simply craftabulolus! Love it!
How craftycreative of you!!! Those lime green buttons are great! They’d look pretty on a sky blue sweater….
That necklace is so cute!
I alwasy love your posts because they are so inspiring! I now have placed the Stitch it Kit on my amazon wish list. That looks like so much fun! Great necklace!
I also love buttons and make a bee line to them whenever I see them in stores. If you’re interested, I can tell you a few good places in DC and VA to get some good vintage ones… You’re also reminding me that I need to do some PS neutral-focused posting!
The embroidery is way cute, I love that it’s just a subtle, personalizing detail.
I love the buttons. That button jewelry on flickr is too cute. When my grandparents were cleaning out their house they asked what we wanted and my daughter claimed a rather large stash of buttons. I’m a little jealous.
Your button necklace is great. It reminded me that I have one of my own that someone made for me (mine is considerably more colorful).
oh i love the socks and the button chocker! very posh
(i love that sock book!)
I love, love, love the button necklace!!
That necklace is so cute! I love old buttons. I always felt special when my mom sewed old (and cute!) ones on my clothes.
LOVE the button necklace! Any tips on making it better for the rest of us, now that you’ve tried it out? My stepmother has a huge button jar, I might have to beg her to let me use some of them!
i love that necklace and have wanted to make something like that forever. but i seem to be paralyzed by trying stuff that i’ve never done before, which is kind of a problem. plus, i’m always running out of time. maybe i need to stop readying so many blogs
I love that button necklace..those are so popular down here, I am seeing them everywhere, and wanting one for myself:) I hope you are well, you look beautiful. I wish I had soem more time at home before I had to come back down here…it’s crazy.. Talk to you soon sweet girl!
awww how cute is that! I loooove it!
Lovely button necklace! Buttons can be used to make really interesting bracelets as well.
I love your necklace! Thanks for the great link. She has some beautiful buttons at her Etsy shop. I’ve been looking for just the right buttons for a sweater I knit last year. It’s about time I got to it.
I love the buttons, and the button link. I have TONS of buttons, I mean gazillions of them and I’m always wondering what to do with them. Thanks for the inspiration!
Great necklace. Buttons are a fabulous thing to collect and use in creative ways!
I recently bought a bag full of different buttons at Michaels and have put them in a decorative tin can. Right now I don’t have much to put them on yet, but hey, at least I have them right?
I scrolled down and read a couple of your previous posts to this one, and I must say you are looking great! How much weight have you lost now? Wish I could stick to something and get mine off.
Also, if you’re interested, I’m starting a mitten KAL (http://knittinmittens.blogspot.com) in September until March. I’m hoping to get prizes as well. Feel free to stop by the blog and let me know if you’d like to join. It’s open to all knitters!
It must be button day on the net!
That necklace is so neat….cute as a button for sure.
hi!
thanks so much for linking me!
that button necklace is fantastic! its very elaborate, i must try one someday
and i so wish i could knit! all i can do is knots and wholes… i’m quite jealous!
keep up the good work!
i’ll be coming back often to check out your craft
wow. your necklace is beautiful! it’s funny, just a few nights ago i was staring at this huge box of old buttons, trying to figure out how to make a necklace out of some. yours is so much prettier than anything i had imagined.
Love your buttons, and that silk scarf!
great idea Lolly! Thanks so much for sharing it, I have so many of my Grandmother’s and Great Grandmother’s buttons that I don’t know what to do with. This is perfect, thanks again!
Oooh. Pink-y and brown .. such yummy colors to go together.
You are so crafty…I love it!
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