Beaker Button Blog

 Another of the patterns from the Ideas Gallery of Dorset Button Inspirations. Crinkle head band   4ply, 3.5mm hook, 3 x 18mm buttons Tension Fdc for the circumference of your head (my head is ..... cm and I made 80 fdc) 1 ch, dc into bl only of each st Repeat last row 19 times in total (20 rows including foundation row). Do not break yarn. Turn the work 90 degrees Button band is continued from the end of the headband 1 ch, 21 dc across the end of the headband. 1 ch, 21 dc into bl only Repeat last row 1ch, 2 dc, [1 ch, miss next st, 3 dc into bl only] x 4, 1 ch, miss next st, 2 dc into bl only 1 ch, 2 dc into bl only, [1 dc into ch sp, 3 dc into bl only] x 4, 1 dc into ch sp, 2 dc into bl only. 1 ch, 21 dc into bl only Repeat last row Fasten off and weave in tails Stitch buttons opposite gaps between button band and headband.

This was one of the ideas in the Ideas Gallery of my new book Dorset Button Inspirations . It works up very quickly and would make fabulous Christmas presents. Just saying. I-cord Anklet 4ply yarn, 2 x 3mm double pointed needles, 25mm Dorset button, safety pin. Cast on 4 stitchess Slide the stitches to the opposite end of the needle and knit the row. Repeat the last row until the I-cord wraps around your ankle twice. Put 2 stitches onto a safety pin and work the other 2 stitches as a tiny I-cord until it's 4cm long.  Graft the stitches together with the 2 stitches on the safety pin Stitch the Dorset button onto the opposite end of the I-cord Wrap the I-cord around your ankle (or around your neck if your prefer) and do up with the loop over the button. 

 I've been writing my fifth Dorset button book, Dorset Button Inspirations, and I thought it might be useful to share my process for writing a new book. First I get a brainwave idea. The one for this book was 'I wonder how many things I can come up with to use Dorset buttons for. 101 uses for Dorset buttons!' By the morning I had 104 and the beginnings of a new book.  There is usually a gap of 2 years between books because that's how long a new book takes from conception to printing. The first stage is mainly played out in my head, with samples being made where I'm exploring a new technique or something I'm not sure of. I do most of my best thinking when I'm walking. It gives me time to play with ideas and new projects without having to make something over and over again. A project will normally spend at least a week being constantly made in my head, working over possible problems. I also write a lot of lists on my phone. Project ideas, to do lists, contents...