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Jill Wolcott Knits logo

December 21, 2022

Button Links

I love these for joining collars, shawls, cardigans, or anything you want to “button together”.  Button links require openings to be buttoned into, such as lace stitches, dropped stitches, elongated stitches, buttonholes. These are a great solution when you are not always going to want the buttons, or if you need stability, or have a hole smaller than your decorative button.

Kormt worsted worn flat with button links
(button links)
When the button is large, but backing button allows a more manageable buttonhole size.
A vintage button sewn to a backing button, with a yarn shank between them.
Button link for Tulle Collar.

What are Button Links?

What are Button Links? Think of a cuff link or formal-wear dress shirt button links: A decorative face with functional button on a shank.

Making Button Links

Have a decorative button and a backing button. A backing button can be anything that fits through your buttonhole or opening. There are clear plastic buttons specifically for this purpose, but almost anything will work.

Sometimes the yarn won’t go into a needle that fits through the hole. I love dental floss threaders for a solution (I ask my dentist for samples). See below for photos and a needle-threading solution. I got it from Betz White.

  1. Use a small piece of fabric to anchor the yarn. If you don’t have fabric, go down through 1 hole on the backing button, then back up through another and tie a knot in the two ends to anchor.
  2. Stitch through the corresponding holes or shanks on the decorative button. Repeat until the thread or yarn between the two buttons creates a secure Button Link.
  3. Wrap the links of thread or yarn between the buttons with the thread or yarn.

Button the Backing Button through the Buttonholes.

Backing Button Needle Solutions

using a dental floss threader to thread yarn through small holes in a button
You can use the threader to stitch your buttons together.
Using a narrow strip of paper to pull yarn through needle eye
Cut a strip of paper slightly narrower than the eye of the needle. Fold the paper in half and put the yarn between the two ends. Push the open end through the eye!
showing needle that won't go through hole and yarn pulled through hole with dental floss threader
This needle won’t go through the hole in the button, but the dental floss threader went through easily.

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