Dorset Buttons Joanna Henson February Meeting

I must apologise to all of you for the poor quality of the photographs. When I got home the camera was on the wrong settings leaving the photos out of focus and not doing justice to your work. I am afraid it was a "senior moment."

 Joanna ,one of our own members, arrived with boxes full of rings, coloured threads and a pile of completed Dorset Buttons to show us that the type and colours of the buttons we could make was infinite.

Members were itching to have a go, so Joanna demonstrated covering the ring with blanket stitch and when complete to then turn the  blanket stitch so the ridge was now on the inside of the ring.

Once the ring was covered, the spokes were made by wrapping the thread around the ring to make 6 -8 spokes. The centre was stabilised with a cross stitch.

Back stitch was worked around the spokes in turn gradually filling up the centre.

Joanna showed us how to make some pretty variations of the button by winding the spokes across the ring to make a tree or flowers.

Other members experimented with different types of thread.

At the end of the meeting we displayed our buttons and the range was incredible from basic woven buttons to trees and flowers and buttons decorated with beads.

Most members took home 2/3 completed buttons and were very pleased with what they had made but Joanna had one more surprise for us. During the day she had made a Singleton Dorset button by covering a ring with fabric, holding it in place with stab stitch and finally embroidering the centre,

A big thank you to Joanna for showing us how to make Dorset Buttons, preparation for the workshop and supporting us when needed. We all enjoyed the day and went home pleased with what we had made.

Thank you Joanna. We will all be thinking of different ways to use Dorset Buttons in our embroidery,