Button, Button…who’s got the Dorset Button

weaving

May 31

I collect buttons! And who doesn’t love buttons? They are useful and pretty and have served for art inspiration over the years. And my parents generation played the game “Button, button, who’s got the button?” growing up. I have some of my Grandmother’s buttons as well as my Mother’s in my button collection as well as some from my dresses my Mother made for me as a child. For a period of time, I studied the history of buttons. I always wanted to learn to make Dorset Buttons and I learned how to make a basic style at the Jay County Fiber Festival from Kate Larson. Kate is an Indiana Spinner and has many teaching resources. When I first learned to make Dorset Buttons, I was eager to use remnant warp ends dyed by Kathrin Weber of Blazing Shuttles. Hedy Lyles mentioned my Dorset Buttons in a recent publication of Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot. The photos below show some of the Dorset Buttons Hedy referred to.

There are a number of resources I have found helpful when learning about Dorset Buttons, named after it’s location of Dorset, England.

This is a book I added to my collection which gives a thorough history of Dorset Buttons and the Cottage Industry. I highly recommend it!

Gina Barrett has fabulous workshop manuals and a beautiful collection of Dorset Buttons on Pinterest.
Ring Buttons: Dorset Crosswheel, Cartwheel, Shirtlace and More

Ring supplies for Dorset Buttons can be found at various sewing and hobby stores. My favorite size is 1”-1.5”. Hollow metal rings can be purchased from Anna McDowell (Henry’s Buttons, UK). I have purchased many hollow brass rings from her. Anna has an eNewsletter that can be subscribed to as well. She is very helpful and has Dorset Button instructions. An article in her enewsletter was published showing my Dorset Button Project. See her email address and website below in an eNewsletter cover to contact Anna.