Button Necklace Tutorial

Hello.  Tomorrow night I am going to be teaching crochet at Hope and Elvis at their Knit and Crochet night.  I am really looking forward to it (I am also a little nervous).  I have been crocheting for about 4 years now and am self taught so to teach others is a little scary.  I know that I can pass on my crocheting knowledge though as I have taught the girl's and I did intend to teach K but I sort of ran out of time.  Anyhow I took over some samples of some crocheted bits and bobs and Louise asked if I could write some patterns.  Eeeeek.  I have never written a pattern before so I have been avoiding it - you know the head in sand , lalala, type of stuff.  Anyhow I have indeed written a pattern for a very simple crochet necklace.  This is not my very own unique idea I have seen these around on the net but this is how I do mine.  I have written the pattern down in rough note form and I thought it would be a grand idea to take some photos and blog about it here.  After all it's kind to share and I thought the photos might help.  Here goes. 

Crochet Button Necklace

Take some crochet thread/embroidery thread or similar then select an appropriate hook.  Think skinny thread, skinny tiny hook or thicker thread/wool thicker hook.  It's not got to be precise, its going to be worn around your neck so tension etc doesn't matter - this is a necklace not rocket science.

I am presuming one very minor fact here, that is you can crochet a chain.  You can't -  Oh, have a look on You Tube or go to Google and ask them very nicely if they would mind showing/telling you how to make a chain or go to the library or book onto the next Knitting and Crochet night at hopeandelvis.com.  

FYI I am using fine crochet thread - I don't know more than that it was out of a workbox I bought on the car boot the hook I am using with it is a 1.25 mm.

skinny hook, skinny thread

Ok lets begin.  Take your yarn, chain about 12 chains.

Make a button loop by popping your hook through the first chain stitch you made and making a further chain stitch.

You made a loop.

Then chain 25 more chains - more or less if you wish. 

Now it's time to make some choices, don't say 'Arrgh' it just means that you can now add on your buttons where you like when you like.  I personally like to space mine out quite evenly but you might choose to put two close together then leave a big gap.  It's up to you.  It's the fun bit.  When choosing the buttons I just dig into my button tin and pick what I fancy, I don't have a pattern or style in my head I just do as I damn well pleasy.  Of course you can line your buttons up all ready to be added to your necklace in a pretty pattern if you wish.  It's your necklace so it's up to you.  Ok.

 This is how I do it.

 Poke the hook through the hole in your chosen button.

wrap your thread around the hook and pull through the button hole pull this through the first loop on your hook

your button is attached - do a dance - are you happy - yarn and hook and button - all together doing a happy crochet dance. 

Carry on and chain approximately 20 more then add another button - carry on until the necklace is as long as you like.  When you have your desired length choose your final button.  I like to use a button with a shank for this part. 

Its the button that will fasten your necklace.  Very Important Point (VIP) make sure the button you choose goes through the button loop you made or there will be tears.  Join in this very last button in the same way  the others. 

Tie a few knots around the base of the button very tightly.  For extra security finish with a tiny blob of clear nail varnish just so it doesn't take it into its head to come undone you can even do this at the other end too, just to be super safe after all your hard work you don't want a crochet disaster.

Button loop and button - yeah.

A buttony, crochetty necklace.  (a pants photo sorry).

Look you can even wrap it round your little wristy - oh my goodness look at my wrinkles.  Yuk.

Hopefully this will make sense and you might end up with a useable item.  Would you let me know if you have a bash?  Thanks.

Good night.

Ps.  just watching Location, Location and one couples request is a flat to make their friends jealous.  WHAT.  Never heard anything so ridiculous in all my born days.  How about a flat you like, that you can make your home, thats cosy and welcoming.  Bah Humbug. 





 

Just for Jane

Phew long time no blog.  Just to let you know I am still here and having a quick look around blogland.  I have been a busy bee.  I have worked more hours doing my supply Nursery Nursing since I started in September.  I really thought it would have gone quiet towards the end of the school year but it hasn't.  Good for the old bank balance but not leaving much time to do blogging, crafting, meeting friends, going to the studio etc.  I have also struggled as we have laptop failure in the house.  Betty's is in need of repair and so is Nell's.  K has his work one so I can only get online in the evening when he has finished his 'busy jobs'.  Camera leads are hiding hence the lack of photos.  Phew.  K cannot wait until next Friday and I hear him going downstairs in the morning doing a big 'out loud' countdown to himself - six to do was his countdown this morning.  He loves being a teacher but has been so busy he is really ready for his break.  Belle is off on summer camp with her school the day after she breaks up so we have also been to meetings, getting together all the requirements of a teenage girl who is off on a great two week trip.  She is really excited.  She will be travelling down to the coast, then driving through France with an overnight stop then on to the Italian coast.  She will visit Venice during the week and will be camping right next to the beach.  After a week she is moving on to Interlaken, Switzerland for a further week before the long drive back.  It is her second time on the trip so she is really looking forward to it.  She cannot wait for the bread, cheese and milk in Switzerland and the clean fresh air as she says it is AMAZING.  Lucky girl.   Wish I could go.  We did give her a fright one day when we said we were going.  That her Head Teacher had been in touch as they needed extra help and with her Dad being a teacher and me being a NN, CRB checked and First Aid qualified we had been asked to support.  Ha Ha.  How mean. 

I have not been able to settle into doing very much making.  I started to knit a cardi then got bored, have done a little tapestry from CK Stitch book and haven't made them into brooches, a little hand quilting and a little crocheting but nothing much and nothing that is really catching my attention.  Hopefully I will regain my crafting mojo over the next 6 weeks and settle down to something productive.  Well I am going to go now am already in bed tucked up well - I haven't told it I love it yet - but I will. 

Just so you know this post is Just for Jane (and everyone else too).  Jane is a dear friend of mine and she likes to take a peek at my blog and she commented on my last post that I hadn't blogged for over a week - so here you are Janey this one is for you.  Hope you had a good holiday will catch up next week. 

Good night.

Anybody had any trouble leaving comments?  I seem to be struggling at the moment it keeps asking me to sign into blogger, which I am, then it doesn't let me comment.  Also my followers have been missing for a while and I can't find them any which way.  Maybe Blogger is mardy because I haven't been very productive. 

Good night - for sure this time.

Colourful

As it has been a little dreary - weather wise - I thought I would share a little colour.  Here are some of my latest crochet makes.  Simple granny square cushions in various sizes backed with vintage/vintage style fabric and fastened with vintage buttons.  Very simple but very colourful.

Rico Cotton Aran Weight was used from Cucumber Patch 

Target squares and granny squares

Vintage buttons 

Vintage feedsack and barkcloth

Co-ordinated spotty ribbon trim

Feather cushion pad

Very bright and cheerful

Cath inspired colour scheme

Seaside blues and lemons

Ice cream shades

Bright tangerine, yellow and blues

All lined up

After making the Cornwall bags I made another with vintage images of Scarborough on it. Its made from canvas, old cloth, vintage and re purposed fabrics.

Oh Mrs Jones - look what I got from the tip - it was in the front of someone's car and I was brave enough to ask if it was going in the skip. Not if you would like it was the reply.  It is working but has no foot pedal at the moment so i'm hoping Louise at hopeandelvis.com has one for me to test it would then I will source a new one.

Hope you all have a good weekend, we are having a girly one as K has trotted off to London to visit a friend so we will be eating sweets, ice cream, popcorn and watching chic flicks to our hearts desire and we may indulge in a little light shopping also.  Ahh bliss.

My Very First Bloggy Swop

Look what I received today in the post.  My very first bloggy swop parcel.  I swopped with Jacey from CoffeenCrochet blog.  She has done me proud.  I got beautifully fragranced soap and a bath bomb.  Some stickers, paper chains,  a delightful tin heart, pretty tissues, tiny heart pegs, CHOCOLATE heart, spotty ribbon with crochet trim (did you do that Jacey) and a lovely set of crochet heart bunting.  

I'm a lucky girl and loved receiving the parcels.  They were wrapped in the most beautiful birdy tissue paper.

Thank you so very very much.

Here is what I sent.

I had to have a chuckle when I opened one of the parcels - the one with the crochet heart bunting - because as you can see I sent Jacey some that was almost identical.  Well great crocheters think alike.  Different colour palettes though (and Jacey's was firmer - did you starch it Jacey?)  The pattern I used was from  Julia Crossland although I did tweak it a bit.  TTFN. May be visiting Saltaire tomorrow will try and remember to take my camera.