Craft Gossip

Independent craft blog since 2007

{DIY Weddings Guest Post} DIY Button Holes

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Welcome to the first ever guest post here at DIY Weddings, DIY Button Holes created by the talented Chloe of Adore by Chloe! In her own words Chloe is a “tea-loving editor who loves unique, handmade, and pretty things.”  With the motto “Eat, Craft, and be Married” Adore by Chloe is a wonderful resource for brides seeking creative wedding inspiration and so much more!

Chloe recently shared a round-up of ideas for non-floral button holes, or boutonnieres, and she created a tutorial for making your own especially for our readers! Be sure to visit Adore by Chloe for lots more ideas, inspiration, and even a handpicked shopping directory of UK suppliers!  And now for the button holes:

To make them you will need…

  • Thin crafting wire
  • Patterned paper (I used some sheet music)
  • Buttons
  • A small piece of lace
  • Burlap or hessian
  • String
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • A needle and thread

How to make them…

Step 1 ~ Make three little paper and button flowers by cutting little shapes from the paper. Place a button in the centre of the flower shape then push through some thin crafting wire from underneath, over and back through another hole in the button. Twist the wire underneath to hold in place.

Step 2 ~ Make a string flower using a small felt circle and some string. Tie a knot in the end then glue this to the centre of the felt. Now twist the string round and glue as you cover the felt. Leave a good length of spare string and attach some wire, twisting together the ends.

Step 3 ~ Make a lace flower by concertina folding a small piece of lace and securing with a few stitches at one end. Push through some crafting wire and twist to form the ‘stem’.

Step 4 ~ Cut two leaf shapes from the burlap material and thread the crafting wire up the centre to the tip then back down the back to keep sturdy. Twist the wire as above to secure and leave some spare wire to work with later.

Now you should have a selection of crafty flowers to make up the buttonhole!

Step 5 ~ Position the two burlap leaves then twist the wires together.

 

Step 6 ~ Add on the lace flower, button flowers and string flower, twisting the wires together as you go.

Step 7 ~ Tidy the twisted wires then wrap tightly with the spare string from your circular flower to cover all the wires. Secure at the back with a few stitches or glue.

For more crafty wedding ideas, DIY projects and yummy recipes visit my blog and say hello!

Happy crafting, Chloe x

 

Read These Next

Have you read?

Knit a Jacket Inspired by an Iconic Coco Chanel Look

The Coco Chanel tweed blazer is a classic look straight out of the 1950s but that still looks modern today. The original design is boxy, with slim sleeves and four pockets with buttons. Braided trim was often found on the cuffs, edges of the pockets and in place of button bands. 

Zanete Knits has taken this classic look and turned it into a great knitting pattern, called The Blazer. 

The Blazer is worked in one piece from the top down in garter stitch to mimic the tweedy look of the original. Beginning at the back neckline, you work shoulder shaping and down to the armholes, then pick up stitches to create the fronts. Below the underarms the pieces are joined and worked together in one piece.

This version uses buttons, and the buttonholes are incorporated into the design as you knit rather than being a separate band. There’s an option to add waist shaping and the bottom uses a folded hem. The sleeves are shaped with short rows and also have a folded hem at the end. 

The fringe and two faux pockets are optional additions that make the pattern’s inspiration a little more obvious. I actually like it both ways but if I were knitting it for myself I’d probably leave off the fringe thanks to my yarn-loving cats. 

The pattern comes in nine sizes with a finished bust circumference ranging from 35 to 67 inches, or 87 to 167 cm. It’s intended to be work with 4-6 inches/10-15 cm or positive ease around the chest. It calls for sport weight yarn and is rated for intermediate knitters thanks to some of the techniques involved. 

There are so many great projects on the Ravelry page (where you can buy it, or visit the Zanete Knits website) that you’ll want to go check it out to decide whether you want to knit it in a striping yarn, a solid, and with or without the extras. The pattern is available in English, Danish, Dutch, French, German and Spanish. 

[Photo: Zanete Knits]