|
There are two main
types of button hole used in knitting:
horizontal and eyelet.
A horizontal button
hole is the most useful for larger sweaters,
cardigans and jackets. However, if you
are using small buttons or making fastenings
for baby’s clothes, use an eyelet
button hole: an open eyelet button hole
is used for tiny buttons, while the
bold eyelet button hole can take bigger
buttons. A row of eyelets can also be
used as slotting for ribbon.
Whatever type of button
hole you are going to use, you should
calculate the position of all the button
holes before beginning to knit. Also
it is a good idea to knit up a sample
button hole before you start in order
to check that your buttons will fit.
Horizontal button hole
 |
|
|
1 To make the button hole,
knit up to the marked position
(about three to four stitches
in from the main fabric or button
band), and cast off two or more
stitches according to the size
of the button. Continue in pattern
to the end of the row.
2 On the following row work
up to the cast off stitches
and replace them by casting
on the same number of new stitches.
Complete the row in pattern.
|
|
|
Open eyelet button
hole
K2, yfwd, sl the next kwise onto your
right hand needle, k1, psso. The yfwd
increase replaces the stitch which was
decreased by slipping.
 |
|
Bold eyelet
button hole
Row 1: K3, k2tog,
yfwd2, sl 1, k1, psso, k3.
Row 2: P3, p2tog
(one st is first yo), k2tog (one
is second yo), p3.
Row 3: K4, yfwd2,
k to end.
Row 4: P3, P2tog
(one st is first yo) and at the
same time through the strand below
k1, p1into second yo and, at the
same time, knit and purl through
the strand below. Purl to the
end of the row.
|
Button bands
Patterns often call
for button bands which can either be
knitted in two separate pieces or in
one long piece which goes right up the
front openings and around the neck.
They can be knitted to match the garment’s
colour or on contrasting shades and
may be worked in either Garter or Moss
stitch which gives a flatter surface.
If you are knitting
your button bands in two parts (one
to hold the buttons and one in which
to place the button holes), knit them
together using separate balls of yarn
as this will ensure they are equal in
length. In addition, when you work the
button hole on one band you can mark
the position for the button on the other.
You will have to sew
the button band onto the finished garment
when making up at the end.
Button Stand
 |
|
|
Sometimes
when the knitting divides to form
the opening of a garment, you
will have to knit in an extra
piece of fabric, a button stand,
in order to hold a button. |
|
Working
button stands
To work in a button stand, cast
on an extra number of stitches
at the end of a row (in this case
four), and work these stitches
until the fabric is large enough
to support your button. Cast off
the extra stitches. |
Stitch
Gauge |
Casting
On |
Casting
Off |
Holding
the needle & yarn |
Basic Stitches
|
Increasing
Stitches |
Decreasing
Stitches |
Cables
|
Knitting
in the Round |
Working
with More Than One Yarn Colour
|
Button
Holes |
Edges
|
Seams
|
Finishing
Techniques |
Abbreviations
|
