Local Gringos: Postmodern Pioneers: Vintage Inspiration: Button-Embellished Cardi

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Vintage Inspiration: Button-Embellished Cardi

I was thrilled to find this button-embellished cardigan at an Albuquerque estate sale!

Sad to say, I don't know who the original maker was, or when it was made.

It’s a commercially-knit cotton cardigan in luscious grape purple, with dozens and dozens and dozens of purple, black and deep blue buttons hand-sewn up and down both button bands, and all around the collar and cuffs.

In the close-up photo, you can see that the seamstress simply attached each button through the fabric of the sweater with a long running stitch.

Then she used heavy-duty snaps for the actual closure of the cardi.

(Had it been me, I might have used a heavier thread, and tried to bury the long floats inside the button band.)

As it is, a little minor repair work is in order. A few buttons are missing, but easily replaced from my own vintage button collection.

This would be a great project

for vintage button-collectors to re-create!

Buttons, Buttons ...

Have You Got Some Buttons?

Do you have a wondrous box of vintage buttons stashed away in your sewing room or studio? Then you'll want a copy of Susan Beal's inspiring new project book, Button It Up: 80 Amazing Vintage Button Projects for Necklaces, Bracelets, Embellishments, Housewares & More.

Dive into your treasured button collection and come up with one of her 80 crafty projects for vintage-button-embellished clothing, handbags, hairclips, jewelry or home decor!