Spinning and Yorkshire buttons

Our spinning guild is my favourite place to go and relax and spend a whole "me" day. So I try to take along something that has nothing to do with DT Crafts but is just me spoiling myself. This is usually when my spinning wheel is dusted off and dragged out of the back of the spare bedroom and I can enjoy a few hours of peaceful spinning. However, it's also a fab place to learn new things (and re-learn things I've forgotten!).

At the last meeting we had a talk and hands-on session on Yorkshire buttons. Being a good Yorkshire lass I was surprised I'd never heard of these and a quick canvass of my Yorkshire relatives produced only blank looks and shrugs. So I was intrigued.....

The talk was most interesting and it transpires that Yorkshire had a thriving button industry, alongside Dorset and Leek. Buttons were handmade and a sign of prosperity and wealth. This, apparently, is why many old garments have buttons which are purely decorative - they were essentially a status symbol, the "bling" of its day!

Making the buttons was really fun if a bit fiddly. It's hard to believe that people spent all day making these things, they are so intricate. I made just one and here it is....


Although they take a little while, I can see myself making these for special pieces, dyeing the thread to match the yarn/fabric. They'd be great on bags and coats. Oh rats, back to DT Crafts again....