Vintage Button Mushrooms : A Tutorial

Here is the tutorial I promised on how to make a crochet mushroom with a button cap. They are really quick to make . The materials you will need are buttons ( vintage ones are preferred and I think shank buttons look the best), crochet cotton, a suitable crochet hook for the cotton thread you have chosen ( you might have noticed I don't get caught up in recommending specific sizes, I use what ever works) , a needle and scissors. Pick a button and then crochet a chain a suitable length to circle the mushroom a few millimeters inside the outer circumference. Join your chain into a circle and make sure it is slightly smaller than the button or you will be unable to enclose the button. Make one circle single crocheting in each loop of the chain. Now make two single crochet in each stitch for the next round. Then make a round of single crochet in each stitch. This next step is a little tricky. Place the button in your circle making sure the shank side is up. Now you have to make a single crochet stitch in each second stitch while holding the button and making sure this row is really tight . If your button slips out just try to replace it before the round it completed and it gets too tight. Repeat this row crocheting in every second stitch until you have about 10 or 12 stitches left . This completes the undersurface of the cap and you can start on the stalk. To make the stalk just continue on your 10 or 12 stitches crocheting rounds of single crochet until you have reached about half of your desired stalk length . At this point increase by making two single crochet in every 4th stitch to increase the number of stitches to 12 to 15. Then continue as before until your stalk if as long as you please, Mine is about 3 cm tall and is about 12 rows total. Cut your thread and pull it through the last loop. Thread it on a needle and sew it into the stalk to hide the loose thread. So the same for the starting thread . I pulled it through the initial chain and in doing so snugged it up a little so the button would be held very firmly. These little button mushrooms stand on their own but if you wanted to you could stuff something in the stalk to make it firmer. Now you are ready to choose a button for your next one. So many buttons just waiting to become little mushrooms. After making mushrooms it is time to catch up on some reading and have a nap. I will turn to knitting for the next few tutorials with some very easy, small projects just right for the fall season .

Comments

[Melissa]

What a delight! Your writing, images, ideas and crafts are a joy. Thanks for sharing!
Melissa

[Patricia]

I never would have thought of those buttons as mushroom tops until you put them together on your crafting "board" (equally as inspiring as your crafting suitcase!). Thank you for the beautiful tutorial. I acutally understand all of the steps! Yay!

[Céline]

Thanks Margie for all these excellent tutorials. I love your photos. Your blog is so inspiring.

[Gayle]

What a beautiful idea!

[rebekah]

those buttons are amazing and look like they were made for this!

[Keyka]

Cute idea! Thanks for sharing.

[Kristin La Flamme]

These are so whimsical and wonderful. i envy your button collection.

[lilfairy]

Thank you, for both the idea and the tutorial, they are really great !

[Sonya]

Those buttons just take the cake - they are in and of themselves, the perfect essence of mushroom-ness.

[Camille]

Thank you so much for the tutorial. Your mushrooms are lovely.

[beccajo]

so exciting! now i just have to learn to crochet!!!

[Malinda]

such a CUTE idea! will blog this!

[sarah]

I just found your blog and I"m in love with your handwork! Now I want to learn to crochet so I can make these mushrooms. Perhaps I can get my girls to teach me!