Another step in finishing many projects is choosing the right buttons, sewing in a zipper, or
attaching some other form of fastener, such as snaps or clasps. Usually, a pattern specifies the
dimensions of the buttons needed or the zipper length.
BUTTONS
Choosing buttons can be overwhelm-
ing because there are many styles
and colors. You can immediately nar-
row down your choice based on size,
but what style should you use for a
particular project? If the work is very
fine—small stitches or delicate open-
work, for example—you might want
to choose small and elegant buttons
made of pearlized plastic or shell. For
casual sweaters knit in tweeds or
hand-spuns, wood or leather buttons
can add the right touch. There are a
lot of playful buttons—animals, faces,
flowers, and insects—that work well
on children’s knits. Be sure to bring
your project with you when choosing
buttons. You will want to hold the
buttons up to the knitting to see what
looks best.
It’s important to check for care instructions on a button’s packaging. Some buttons are not washable and need to
be removed before laundering. If you don’t want to go to that trouble, be sure to choose washable buttons.