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Buttons made for knitwear — shanked styles that sit proud of chunky knits, in leather-look, wood, pearl and warm metals for cardigans and hand-knits.
Cardigan & Sweater Buttons from the Archive
Knitwear needs buttons that can stand up from the fabric — which is why shank buttons dominate this collection. Leather-look footballs, warm woods, pearlescent rounds and soft metals: the styles hand-knitters and cardigan-menders reach for.
If you knit, you know the last step is the hardest: finding buttons worthy of forty hours of work. These are matched vintage sets with exact millimetre sizing, so you can size buttonholes before you cast off — or match the band you've already knitted. Sets of 6 suit most cardigans; 12 covers coats and spares.
Cardigan & Sweater Buttons — Questions, Answered
What buttons are best for hand-knitted cardigans?
Shank buttons — the loop back keeps them proud of thick knit fabric and spares your yarn. Light materials like wood and nylon also stop button bands sagging.
What size for a cardigan?
Most cardigans take 15–20 mm; chunky knits can carry 23 mm+. If you've knitted buttonholes already, measure them and size the button 1–2 mm smaller.
How many buttons does a cardigan need?
Usually 5–7. Most sets here are 6 or 12, which covers a cardigan with spares for the inevitable lost one.
Will these hold up to wool washing?
Yes — wash knitwear cold and flat-dry as usual. Wood and leather-look buttons prefer gentle detergent; metal and nylon are effectively indestructible in a wool cycle.
