Crochet Heart Buttons

For the last two or three months I've been working on the playful hooded cardi from Redheart.com (http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/hooded-playful-cardi is the URL if the listed link at the bottom doesn't work). After improvising to make up for my mistakes, running out of pink yarn, and having small stitches in general, I realized I didn't have buttons or money to buy buttons for it... so I made some.

I used an F sized hook with worsted weight yarn.

Make a magic circle (I'm not sure how well it works with the chain 2 method, but it may).

For a heart shape:

Work 4 SC, 1 HDC, 4 SC in ring. Finish off, but do not join. Pull the first end from tightening the magic circle to the bottom of the heart, right through the middle of the HDC. Pull the finishing end through the exposed loop of the magic circle (you may need to pull the first and last SC apart a little to see it).

That's it! Round buttons are as easy as working an even number of SC or HDC into a magic ring and joining before finishing off. I've also used DC and linked DC as well for a more interesting look.

When crocheting buttons, consider the size buttonhole you are working with. If your buttonhole is only one chain wide, or is very small, making your own buttons may not be a viable option for you, but different sized buttons can be achieved with different hooks and even by pulling apart 4 ply yarn to make 1 or 2 ply yarn.

Happy hooking, and be safe during the holidays!

Hooded Playful Cardi from Redheart