Dorsett Buttons

Dorsett Buttons or Cross wheel buttons are a great way to embellish any craft project. Depending on the thread or yarn you use they can add an elegant touch or a chunky feature.

You will need: some plastic curtain rings. metal washers also work well. The finished button is a little heavier though.
Thread or yarn
Tapestry needle.

Covering the ring is refered to as Casting. Take a long piece of thread. Thread needs to be long enough to cover button with one length.

1.Hold Tail of thread and work a few blanket stitches over the ring, make sure that you catch the tail of the thread securely.

2.Continue to work blanket stitches until the ring is completely covered. Stitches should be even, close together. I find that it is easier to work half a dozen stitches at a time, push them close together, work six more. Keep doing this until the ring is covered.

3.When the ring is covered, slip the thread through a few of the stitches to secure.

Before creating the spokes, make sure that the blanket stitches are all on the inside of the ring.

Making the spokes is called Laying. This can be a little tricky however, I promise that it does become easier with practice.

4.From the last blanket stitch take the thread to the back of the ring.

5.Bring thread down to the bottom of the ring then up the front. It is important that this first spoke is in the exact centre.

6.Turn the ring approx 1/6th and make another spoke.

7.Continue making spokes in this way until you have six.

The spokes on the bottom will be out of line with the top. Do not stress! The next step will fix this.

8.In the exact centre of the top spokes make a cross stitch. Take care to catch all the bottom spokes into this cross stitch. This will bring the bottom spokes into line with the top.

When I started doing these types of buttons, I found it easier to make 8 spokes.

Now for the easy bit.

This step is called rounding.

I've seen instructions referring to this stage as weaving. It is more accurately described as back stitching.

9.With the needle on the top side of the button, take thread over 2 spokes.

10.Take needle to underside.

11.Take needle back 1 spoke before returning needle to top side of button.

12.Repeat until spokes completely covered.

Different Threads will use differing amounts. Buttons were 25mm. From top to bottom I used;

Candlewicking thread - 2.6 m

Pure Spun Silk - 3.6m
Stranded Cotton - 3.2m

Rayon thread - 4.35m

4 Ply Cotton - 3m

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