Beaker Button Blog

I'm making my first New Years resolution early this year.  I feel very much that I neglect my blog, and having been told by several people that they do actually read it (Hi Y'all) I've been examining why I don't write more.  I went through all the usual excuses, like lack of time, too much to do etc. and decided that they were all bumpkin.  What is really going on is that I've got no interest in it.  So to combat this apathy I'm making it a seasonally themed blog with a new entry every week.  There will be patterns, including knitting, crochet, button and lots of other crafty stuff, recipes, poems, stories, in fact anything I can include within the seasonal theme.  Starting with winter obviously.  So Happy New Year everyone and hope you enjoy this weeks free hat pattern.  I've included a free PDF download for this hat on the Beaker Button Designs Ravelry page here . Remember Me Hat www.beakerbutton.co.uk  ©Jen Best 2014   ...

Right.  I realise it's been awhile.  I've been designing, going to shows and writing a book.  So this blog post is a shameless plug for said book. It's called......................(that was a drum roll in case you missed it) Dorset Buttons with a Twist.          Ta Da! For more information on the book have a look here It has 10 designs inspired by button brooches made in the 1930s and 1940s.  Each design is a piece of wearable art.  There is a brooch, hair grip, scarf ring, bracelet, shawl pin, pendant, key ring and a button.  I've posted photos below of each project.  It's available as an instantly downloadable PDF for £9  here   (Beaker Button's Etsy shop). I'm also running a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to do a print run.  There are some great rewards on offer so if you'd like a hard copy or you simply want to support us (and thank you so much) have a look here (kickstarter page). Button ey...

It was Yarn Shop Day today, and in true Spitfire Knitters fashion I decided that we'd celebrate by yarn bombing my car.  Let's face it, that particular yarn bomb has just been begging to happen.  So, for those of you who are also that way inclined I've complied a little photographic guide for covering your car with woolly stuff. You will need: One car with plenty of space around it. This is Katy Best by the way. A whole pile of woolly stuff to play with Scissors, string and coffee.  Well, fancy fruit tea for me... A big pile of blankets Willing helpers/minions (not that I have delusions of grandeur or anything)   First: Cover the back of the car with the blankets.  We tied ours on  Then: Using some of your woolly stuff arm knit nets to drape over the front and top of the car More draping and blanket tying At this point it's useful to press gang more minions.  Coffee and cake helps persuade t...

I've been meaning to post this tutorial for a while, and this morning as I was lazing in bed I thought 'Ah ha, I could post that Ring tutorial for Mother's Day!'  So here it is.  Plus I get to use it as a blatant plug for our spankingly brand new button yarn, hand painted in my kitchen!   P.S. we have rings on our website if you can't find any ;-)  Thank you to Noelle for modelling the finished ring.   Flower button ring tutorial. Materials 1 brass ring about 1.5cm across, approximately 2m of Beaker Button hand painted button yarn , blunt ended needle, scissors. Materials There are four stages to making a Dorset Button on a ring.  Casting, Slicking, Laying and Rounding.  Change the amount of petals by varying the amount of spokes.  Remember that you must have an even number of spokes. Casting Have a length of yarn approximately 2m long. Tie the yarn round the ring in a single knot, leavin...