GOT IT COVERED
QI’d like to know how to cover buttons to match my knitted garments perfectly. Sometimes I can’t find what I’m looking for in the shops and wondered how tricky it is to make your own? Marina Vercelli, Ashford
Finding the right button to complement a handknit can sometimes be a challenge. You might discover the perfect colour, only to find the size is all wrong; or you may want a button that blends in with your garment, rather than standing out. The good news is it really is easy, and inexpensive, to make your own buttons to suit any project.
Most haberdasheries sell self-cover buttons in a wide range of sizes. They have two parts: the face, which you cover with the fabric of your choice, and the back plate, which snaps on to hold the fabric tightly in place. Here are two methods to try – one for fabric-covered buttons, and a knitted option.
To cover your own buttons with fabric, simply cut out a circle of fabric around 5mm larger than the face, fold it over the face and catch it on the row of ‘teeth’ around the inside edge of the face. Then simply snap on the back to secure the fabric in place.
Self-cover buttons can also be covered with knitted fabric. With this method, it’s best to use needles slightly smaller than those recommended for your yarn to make a tight, firm fabric – our image below shows a 4ply yarn worked on 2.5mm needles.
To make a simple hexagon, cast on four stitches, then knit in the stitch pattern of your choice, increasing one stitch on each row until the piece is slightly wider than the diameter of your chosen button face. Work two rows straight, then decrease one stitch per row until you reach your original cast-on number. Cast off, leaving a long yarn tail.
Place the knitted fabric piece over your button face, catch the edges on the teeth, and use the cast-on tail to work a row of running stitches all around the edge. Draw it tight and secure with a few stitches. Now it’s time to fit on the backing plate – this can be tricky if your knitted fabric is too thick, so try using a pair of pliers to press it on. If necessary, you can leave the backing plate off, and simply sew the button onto your garment. In our example below, we’ve used stocking stitch, but moss stitch, coloured stripes and mini cables are incredibly effective too. Rachael