Dorset Buttons Trivia Quiz

Answer: England

Dorset buttons were first created in Shaftesbury, Dorset, England. When they first started to be used, Dorsett buttons were created by a number of families who made them and traded them before an industry developed to support their making.

Answer: 17th

Dorset buttons started to be created in the 17th century. There is evidence that they were being manufactured as early as 1622. The original Dorset buttons were created to be used on both ladies' dresses and men's waistcoats.

Answer: Buttony

"Buttony" is a term that was developed by Alexander Case, the first manufacturer of Dorset buttons. He felt that, given the nature of fashions at the time, the Buttony industry would become very important when he set up the first button business in Dorset in 1622.

Answer: Slices of rams' horns

The first Dorset buttons were made using the hollow slices of rams' horns. Pieces of cloth were sewn onto the ring that resulted. Apparently, cloth in its natural colour was used, although it could be dyed to match the clothing if desired. The first Dorset buttons were known as "high tops" because they were designed to be high enough to keep the button from slipping through the many buttonholes on the front of men's clothing where they were initially used.

Answer: Yes

Early in the 18th century, wire was imported for the Dorset buttons. Children were employed as "twisters" to turn pieces of wire into circular shapes. Children also soldered the rings closed. The solderers were called "dippers". Other children, known as "stringers" were hired to string the rings together for export to button manufacturers around Dorset.

Answer: Wrap your ring with yarn

Once you have chosen your ring, the first thing that you need to do when making a Dorset button is to wrap the disc with yarn. Yarn that matches the garment upon which the button will be used should be chosen for the button. In order to make a strong foundation for your button, a half-knot is made on each round.

Answer: Stringing yarn across the ring in equally-spaced distances

These spoke-like legs of the yarn should be wrapped quite tightly. They form the foundation for the centre of the button that will be sewn onto the garment, so need to be pulled tight.

Answer: Wrap your yarn across the existing cross-spokes and sew in loose ends

After you have made a series of cross spokes, your button can be beautifully made by wrapping yarn around the spokes. You can wrap every spoke as shown here, fill up the entire space from centre to the ring, or wrap them in spoke pairs with blank areas between. You can also wrap with different colours of yarn to create striped buttons.

The possibilities are endless and depend on a variety of things, including the look desired for the final garment.

Answer: False

Dorset buttons look nice from either side. They are fully reversible. The side that faces out is a matter of preference - do you like a smoother look, or something a little more textured? Your answer to that question will determine the way that you sew the buttons on your clothing.

Answer: No

Dorset buttons are a great way to enhance handmade articles of clothing such as hand knit sweaters, or hand crocheted vests. The basic technique can be used for other things, though. I've seen Dorset buttons used on drapery tie backs, on wind mobiles, on bird feeders, on Christmas decorations, and even as a large yard decoration where the crafter had removed all of the spokes from a bicycle wheel and used that as the foundation.