The button countdown begins....

It is official - I will be appearing live on the Create & Craft channel on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 8am, during one of the sewing shows. I will be demonstrating some of the techniques in my Making Buttons DVD, and hopefully not making a fool of myself with shaking hands - or even worse, freezing! (I can see it now, Mad Button Lady Comes Loose).

So, you can watch it on the following channels - Sky 671 | Freeview 36 | Freesat 813 or watch live online -

Seriously though, I am looking forward to it. I have been really busy working on various samples showing the thread wrapped buttons being used for other purposes than just historical costuming. Now, I am one who already changes coat buttons to passementerie ones and actually uses passementerie generally more than most - I guess I am bound to! But it can be a little bit of a challenge to try to ensure that I am showing examples suitable for all levels of ability.

I wanted to share this lovely picture sent to me by a client. It is so nice to see a finished garment with the trimmings (in this case the buttons) that I have supplied - it looks so much better than a picture of just some buttons! (And I do love the shape of that cuff - always have)

Recently I was asked if I knew anything about a Yorkshire button industry. There is a passementerie worked button which is being called a Yorkshire Button. This button is worked with back stitch in the same way as a Dorset button, only this is worked on a 'loom' or form and then used to cover a button mould. It seems that the info relating to this only states that Yorkshire had a button industry like Dorset or Leek - but with no further information, and it does seem as though all of this info is coming from the same source (but I can't pinpoint what that source is).

I certainly cannot find anything in any of my books, although it does seem that Sheffield Plate was first used for buttons. I wonder if this is the industry actually being referred to - not this thread type. (And the vast amount of different types of buttons which are not cloth, thread or passementerie is a subject I have only touched the surface of). I have also never seen any tools which I would say were actually these 'looms' - though certain thread winders might work. I have emailed a few places, but haven't had any replies.

Perhaps this is simply being called a Yorkshire button because the person who originally worked out how to make it used a button on a garment in a museum in Yorkshire as a guide. This is what happens with the chevron buttons I made for Ninya Mikhaila / Perth Museum & Art Gallery -

Most of my costumier friends and people in re-enactment tend to refer to these as 'Perth Buttons', simply because the original suit is in Parth Museum. If someone else was teaching how to make these, would they also refer to them as Perth Buttons? It's possible.

It is a real mystery, but if anyone has any information on a passementerie-specific button industry inYorkshire I'd love to know.

Buttons, timelines and screen tests....

It really has been all about buttons again recently - well almost (I have worked on some weaving and braids, but that'll be another post!). It is wedding season, and quite a few dressmakers want pretty buttons for wedding dresses - I've done about 40 different types already in the last week. That's the great thing about being able to make passementerie buttons - they can be made to compliment an outfit so easily, be it something modern or historically accurate.

The buttons shown here are a Victorian style -more commonly worked on a flatter mould as a sample for a client. (These more complicated buttons and many more will be on a future DVD).

An embroiderer who's work I really admire, Bjarne Drews, has been working buttons from my Making More Buttons DVD and I think I have another convert to the world of button-making! Of course, it is quite easy to convert those who are already interested in historical clothing - now we just have to get everyone else interested too! ...see below...


My apologies to not being able to get the tablet weaving cards into the shop yet - Camera and lighting has not been going well this week, and there's not much point having something in the shop that you can't see a picture of. Today should be the day, I've got a proper photography area set up now.

What is now in the shop however, are two research papers which are available as a free download - Passementerie Buttons Timeline and Passementerie Button Types. Both really are works-in-progress, but hopefully the information in them will help others who are looking to find the right general type of button for a period. One day I'd love to be able to include sizing information, but unfortunately that's not likely to happen! If you know of unusual buttons - especially those which might change the timeline, do please let me know!

And the third part of the title of this post - screentests....

Last week I had a screen test for the Create & Craft Channel. It seems I did ok - it's pencilled in now for me to be on air live in September to show the Making Buttons DVD, along with some great kits. I am however, irritate that my hands were shaking. Not really good when you are demo-ing a button being made! It seems that I have a choice - either the voice shakes (as it always does when I begin talks and papers) or the hands shake. Thing I am going to have to practice that one!

Still, considering it was the hottest day of the summer, I think I did ok, and I did enjoy the experience! So, when things are confirmed, I'll be sure to let you know, you can all send me good vibes on the day (and tune in!)