Gina Barrett is back on Hochanda TV tomorrow with more buttons

Gina Barrett is back on Hochanda TV tomorrow at 10am (Freeview Channel 85 or watch live via their website www.hochanda.com) bringing more of her marvellous button kits, book and DVDs.

Here is a sneaky peek of my button display. I used Tonic Kaleidoscope Box dies to create the box and adapted the sides to drop down and display the buttons. I used a variety of Gina’s instructions for the buttons (Macclefield & Leek Button Journal Kit, Button Workshop Manual and Making Buttons DVDs). There are brilliant Hochanda Freedom member prices on the show!

The mannequin die is from La Blanche.

I used a variety of papers to decorate (Crafters Companion).

I used plenty of glitter glue to enhance the flowers (got to have some sparkle – tee hee) and PVA pearls for texture.

The sentiment die was quite appropriate (Tonic Kaleidoscope Box set).

When the lid is removed 5 of the 8 sides drop down to display my selection of thread wrapped buttons. I used a honeycomb die (Tattered Lace) and various button dies (mixed source from my die stash). Lettering was cut using a font die set from Tim Holtz.

The mini flower dies are from the Susan’s Garden Hydrangea set (Elizabeth Craft Designs).

Death’s Head is the name of the historical wrapped button – name used here (England) and the USA in the 18^th Century.

Death’s Head buttons using a variety of threads.

More Death’s Head buttons using a variety of threads and different shapes of button mould.

The buttons on the right are my variants of Gina’s Union Jack Button (Button Workshop Manual). The far left shows an over wrapped fabric covered button (Open Square with Soutache Braid). The pink and blue buttons are my interpretation of a 17^th Century button that I saw on Pinterest (Death’s Head base overwrapped with cord and bound with silky thread).

 

More of Gina’s yummy buttons (Peace and Maze).

 

Various square wrap buttons (Silver, Decorative and Gimp Squares).

Square wraps and Leek Square.

Spiral and Wide Wraps.

I have had so much fun learning how to create all these but have barely scratched the surface of the huge variety that Gina covers in her books and DVD’s. It is also wonderful to contribute towards keeping knowledge of these techniques alive. Especially as many of these Passementerie techniques are now in danger of being lost completely.

Happy crafting,

Anne xxx.

More Thread Wrapped Button Experiments

Good evening. I have been working on some thread wrapped buttons following the new online Basic Button Making Course from Gina B Silkworks.

I have just completed the first modules showing us how to make the historic Death’s Head Button and the Peace Wrap button. The video instructions from Gina are really easy to follow. There is a free introductory course covering the Death’s Head Button if you would like to give Gina’s button course a try out.

I used a variety of threads and worked the wraps over MDF button moulds.

I am going to put all my buttons into a little sample journal alongside details of the threads used and number of wraps needed to fill the buttons etc. This will then give me a good reference when creating and designing future buttons, e.g. choosing threads and calculating wraps for designing new colour combinations and patterns, designing weave or embroidery patterns to embellish the basic Deaths Head.

Extra tools that I found invaluable were the new Circle Gauge Set (for marking out accurate divisions on the mould) and the Button Makers Third Hand and Tool Tin (great for holding buttons while threading the needle to finish).

 

Here are some Square Wrapped buttons. The plain green buttons were using 25mm moulds and Perle 8 cotton. The others were worked on 20mm moulds, the green and blue using Perle 8 cotton, the pink and silver using Perle 12 and metallic knitting yarn (Anchor Artiste).

 

Next I had a play with the square wrap over square shaped moulds (20 and 15mm). The online course covers wrapping on round moulds. I referred to Gina’s Buttons: A Passementerie Workshop Manual for additional info on how to work these.

I used Perle 5 cotton for the larger buttons in mid and light blues. When changing colour I added a row of weaving over and under wrapped threads to create a frame effect. The smaller buttons were worked in Perle 12 cotton. Again I experimented a bit and when changing to the blue wraps I wove them under the pink threads in each round. Nice effect.

I next worked a few more buttons from Gina’s Passementerie Workshop Manual.

These are my first try at the Leek Square worked on 20mm domed buttons using Perle 8 cotton. Love these.

 

Next I tried out the Oval Chequerboard from Gina’s Workshop Manual. I really struggle with the oval shapes but I was fairly pleased with these. The buttons on the left are Death’s Head for comparison.

 

Then I had a try at the Decorative Square from Gina’s Workshop Manual. Loving these and they are really easy to work too. The first set were using Soutache Braid and 25mm round moulds. The two sets in the middle were worked with Perle 5. Love the effect when using 2 colours. The small square buttons were worked in Rayon thread (15mm square mould).

 

Next I tried a few Over Wrapping variations from Gina’s Workshop Manual. Here I worked a Crossed Net using metallic knitting yarn over a Deaths Head worked in Rayon thread. Really shimmery.

 

These are wrapped with an Open Square pattern and Soutache Braid over fabric covered buttons.

 

I also tried the Union Jack Button in a different colourway using Perle 8 cotton (also from Gina’s Workshop Manual) and accidentally created my favourite button yet. The buttons on the right are part worked Union Jack and I love them.

 

I decided to work a larger button (original was 25mm) using a 40mm MDF Circle Mould. I also painted (metallic Starlights paint) and part wrapped a 60mm MDF stack ring (from Gina’s stacker button mould sets). Think that I will be making a pendant from this one.

 

This is how it stacks up. Woohooo.

Well I have really enjoyed making these. Off to do the next module of Gina’s online course soon – so more thread wrapped button variations to come – think that I am addicted – tee hee xxx.

More Death’s Head Buttons for my Reference Journal

Good evening. I have been working on some thread wrapped buttons following the new online Basic Button Making Course from Gina B Silkworks. There is also a free introductory course covering the Death’s Head Button if you would like to give it a try.

I have just completed the first modules showing us how to make the historic Death’s Head Button. The video instructions from Gina are really easy to follow. I used a variety of threads and worked the wraps mainly over MDF button moulds.

I am going to put all my buttons into a little sample journal alongside details of the threads used and number of wraps needed to fill the buttons etc. This will then give me a good reference when creating and designing future buttons, e.g. choosing threads and calculating wraps for designing new colour combinations and patterns, designing weave or embroidery patterns to embellish the basic Deaths Head.

Here are more experiments for my reference journal, using Soutache Braid and fine slinky Rayon (single strand from 5 stranded skein). I added a little felt pad under the rayon thread which gave them a better finish than working straight onto the MDF, with a nice slightly bevelled edge. Both were wrapped over 25mm Moulds.

 

 

These were wrapped with Anchor Tapisserie Wool.

 

Extra tools that I found invaluable were the new Circle Gauge Set (for marking out accurate divisions on the mould) and the Button Makers Third Hand and Tool Tin (great for holding buttons while threading the needle to finish).

Well I am really hooked on making these. More thread wrapped buttons coming soon x.

Death’s Head Thread Wrapped Buttons

Good evening. I have been working on some thread wrapped buttons following the new online Basic Button Making Course from Gina B Silkworks. There is also a free introductory course covering the Death’s Head Button if you would like to give it a try.

I have just completed the first modules showing us how to make the historic Death’s Head Button. The video instructions from Gina are really easy to follow. I used a variety of threads and worked the wraps mainly over MDF button moulds.

I am going to put all my buttons into a little sample journal alongside details of the threads used and number of wraps needed to fill the buttons etc. This will then give me a good reference when creating and designing future buttons, e.g. choosing threads and calculating wraps for designing new colour combinations and patterns, designing weave or embroidery patterns to embellish the basic Deaths Head.

Here I have tried various sized MDF Button Moulds (25, 20 and 15mm) wrapping with turquoise Cotton Perle 8 thread (Coats).

 

Next I tried several different threads wrapped over 25mm Moulds; Cotton Perle 5 (DMC), Cotton Perle 8 (Coats), Crochet Cotton 20 (Coats) and a metallic knitting/crochet cord (Anchor Artiste Metallic). The metallic yarn was worked over a 25mm domed wooden mould (from my stash).

The tight twisted crochet yarn was quite tricky to work direct from the spool as the yarn kept twisting up on itself. I found it easier to cut a long length off the spool for working this one. I wrapped twice before each turn to produce the ‘stepped’ effect.

The domed mould was also quite tricky to work. My mould does not have a central hole so it is not possible to use a stick to help prevent slippage. It was not designed for button making but for model makers (plain domed top and flat back). Gina does stock nice domed moulds which would make it easier. To help anchor the threads and stop them slipping I used a needle and sewing thread to hold threads down on the back as I worked.

 

Next I tried some colour variations using 25 or 20mm Moulds. The top set was worked with blue Perle 5 and a shiny rayon variegated tape. The middle set was made with 2 colours of variegated Perle 5 (blue/purple mix and green mix). The bottom set was worked with another variegated Perle 5. The smaller buttons were worked in a finer Perle 8 in turquoise and lilac.

 

I then had a bit more play, trying out different colour combinations. The top set was worked on a 25mm mould in pink and navy Perle 12 (Algodon). I used 2 wraps per round to create a stepped effect.

The middle set was worked on my domed wooden moulds using 3 colours of Perle 5. When I was wrapping the centre I made a wider band of 5 wraps rather than continuing the Deaths Head wrap which was tricky to work on my domed moulds.

The smaller buttons (15mm Moulds) were worked with green and white Coton A Broder 25 (DMC).

 

Next I had a play with different shaped moulds, square and oval. I referred to Gina’s Buttons: A Passementerie  Workshop Manual for additional info on how to work these.

The first set was worked on 25mm Square Moulds using Perle 12 in pink and navy. I wrapped 3 ends per round to create a stepped effect. I think that some weaving would work nicely over these.

I used the metallic knitting cord on the next set. The square moulds are really easy to work.

The small square buttons were worked on 15mm Square Moulds. Again I used the fine Perle 12 and 3 wraps per round.

Finally I tried wrapping on Oval Moulds (30 X 20mm). OMG! These were really fiddly so quite a bit of swearing involved here – tee hee. I found that a thicker Perle 5 was easier to work than finer threads. I wove threads under at the back as I worked to try and stop them from slipping. I also cheated with a little clear drying fabric glue (High Tack Fabric Glue) to finish and hold the threads around the edges on the back. I think that I need a little practice with these.

 

Extra tools that I found invaluable were the new Circle Gauge Set (for marking out accurate divisions on the mould) and the Button Makers Third Hand and Tool Tin (great for holding buttons while threading the needle to finish).

Well I have really enjoyed making these. Off to do the next module and work some of Gina’s Peace wrapped buttons next xxx.