[NFB-Blind-Crafters] Dorset buttons

[hosbornejr at gmail.com]

Good Morning Tracy, thank you for sharing this with us. Is there any origin
like England where these buttons were first made?

 

From: NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf
Of Tracy Carcione via NFB-Blind-Crafters
Sent: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 8:28 AM
To: 'List for Blind Crafters and Artists' <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org>
Cc: carcione at access.net
Subject: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] Dorset buttons

 

Last night I learned the basics of making Dorset buttons.  Amazingly, a
member of the local knitters' guild is the world-wide expert on these
buttons.  

I never heard of these buttons before, or really of making buttons, so it
was very interesting.

Basically, you need a ring and a skein of pearl-cotton thread or fingering
yarn.  You make half-hitches with the yarn to cover the ring, then make
spokes by wrapping the yarn from 1 side to the other, like a clock, then
weave the yarn through the spokes to fill in the center.  

Pretty simple, once I got it.  Children used to make them, as well as
adults, to make money for the family.

Of course, there are fancier variations, but that's the basic.

And now I know, roughly, how to make my own buttons!  Though she said it's
much harder than it used to be to get inexpensive rings of decent quality.

Tracy

 

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