Buttons By Laura

This is my first ever lampwork button. It's not perfectly round - more ovalish, but it's a totally usable button nonetheless. I enjoyed making it and I'm going to make more.

Why buttons?

Well, once upon a time, way back (a whole five-and-a-bit years ago) when I was just starting out on this whole beadmaking adventure, my Mum was flicking through one of my bead books. Her eyes lit up when she saw that it was possible to make glass buttons. She said 'Does this mean that if you start making beads and get good at it then you can make me glass buttons for my knitting to match my wool?' and I said 'Yes, but let me have a go at making a bead first, Mum!'

I always meant to have a go at making buttons for Mum but I never got around to it.

I've since followed in Mum's footsteps and have become an avid knitter like she was and I can now see the appeal of handmade, unique glass buttons for embellishing knitted projects. So today, for some reason, I got the urge to have a go at making a button. I wanted to make a nice two-hole button. I didn't want to make one with a loop on the back because lampworked buttons are just not dainty things and I was worried that a button with a loop would droop down too much and be way too bulky for affixing to knitted fabric.

Trouble was, I didn't have a button mandrel. So I had a think and a ponder and then I fashioned a button tool of my own and it did the job! I then set about creating this turquoise and chocolate spotty button and I'm pretty pleased with it. I'll definitely be making more. Each button will be unique but they'd be great for chunky cardigans and bag closures. Lovely knitting deserves lovely buttons!

Sadly, seeing as she died three years ago, I'm a little tiny bit late with the whole making-buttons-for-Mum thing! But hey, maybe I'll knit something and use the button myself.