Embroidered Antique Buttons

I was so pleased with the finished look of the buttons on my granddaughter’s shadow smocked Easter dress.  It was a stroke of luck that they surfaced  as I pillaged through my bag of pearl buttons.  I had forgotten all about them.

Purchased many years ago at an antique mall with an extensive needlework/notions booth, I had no plan for these interesting buttons.  There is no shank, just threads wrapped from side to side, as if the fibers were stitched over a ring.  But the ivory color seemed to work for this dress with the ivory lace, entredeux and featherstitching.

As I was sewing one to the dress, it occurred to me that they could be embroidered.  Though they appear to be soft crochet, the buttons are actually quite dense.   The apparent single hole has a second tiny one, though it is so close that it is hardly useful for regular button sewing.

Two strands of floss were used to create a loose lazy daisy leaf.  A silk ribbon French knot was worked over the leaf.

The embroidery between the two rows of feather stitching was already finished when I thought about embroidering the buttons.  I worried a little that their embellishment would be too busy for the quiet look I had in mind.   But I am satisfied with them.

Have you ever embellished or embroidered buttons?  If so, please tell us about it.

This was posted in Elizabeth & Co. Linky Party.  Check it out!

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