TGIF Nutty Button Edition September 9, 2011

Almost at the new threads stage with my retro cardi! And for some reason, I’m all sentimental today. Maybe it’s the weather (j’adore this time of year!). Maybe it’s the economy (crying in my cuppa!). Or maybe it’s just because I’m in Love with BUTTONS.

And the fact of the matter is, when you are a stash-prone type of person, or in impolite company, a pack rat, you will have the opportunity to deal some chips, so to speak. I truly resemble this remark and it was no trouble at all to pull out four different types of buttons to play with on my cardi.

It has new and improved buttonbands with my favorite buttonholes. In fact, this sweater, simple as it is, has probably been re-knit more than any other I’ve made in the past few years. I just was determined to get it right; it’s my wardrobe. But having no fear of frogging is perhaps a minus in this case. Perhaps I should set myself a limit of do-overs! Nay. For something that doesn’t have a deadline, it could go on to infinity (and beyond) if needed.

But my lust for clothes has actually put me back on track and all I have to do now is choose which buttons I will go with. (click for bigger pix).

Here we have what I’ll call the Uniform Edition vs. Northside Hip.

In the foreground, my go-to tortoise shell colored, simple and heh, typical choice; so predictable. Behind these are my favorites: some ochre colored buttons acquired a few years ago from my first Stitches Midwest. They are lovely, but methinks they are slightly too big for the band. (Are they too Big?)

But this is so my neighborhood, so me walking to the store, so accidentally adding some chic to the landscape. They pick up the slightest hint of umber in the heather of the grey yarn. They curve ever so slightly. They are lovely. I know these would be stared at in the check-out lane, when we’re 25 deep buying groceries. Depending on who’s waiting with me, that could be a good thing. Or not.

Two is never enough in the Studio Chic playlist and we find some more lovely contenders after a little digging.

At left: beautifully proportioned copper-colored metal buttons. They also work with variegated tonality of the yarn in a magic way. Check out the way the center of the button matches the color of the yarn as well. But they are a little heavy. Hmm. To the right, my attempt to extract a grellow moment from this project. And, bonus, I extract chartruese, (which is really no surprise). And now I get really sentimental because these are from one of my last trips to Tender Buttons, who used to be in Chicago, but is now only in New York. This, more than anything, has surely cemented our position as the Second City beyond anything else I can think of. Really.

I actually had to make a trip to NYC to buy buttons (and, truth be told, see a broadway show!).

But where am I going to find something with such sweet buttonholes in the button? Not here. Anymore. sniff.

Here’s the whole kit-n-kaboodle in a bunch.

Which would you use?

…DRUMROLL PLEASE! :) The winner of the KnitSimple KNITTING WORKSHOPS book is: Mary P from beautiful California! THANK YOU everyone for your wonderful comments – lot’s to learn and enjoy in your POV! Happy Knitting!