The daily Alaskan., 1915-12-24
B DTmt for
 tt12 !. NeedIcWorRGr

Crochcted buttons are extensively used this season, and those that are handmade have distinctive charm all their own. When you are clever enough to make these buttons yourself you solve the difficulty of shopping for unusual shades to match gowns and coats, for twisted silk or skeins of silk come in almost every color, as do wool and merceriZed cotton.
 The crochetmg is put over wooden molds, and these molds come in various shapes and Sizcs-sQu0re, round, ob' long or oval-and silk, wool or mer cerlzed cotton can be employed with equal success, the material used de- pending upon the use to which tine but tons are to be put. Those that are coY-
 cred with silk can be used for orna- mentation. as well as for pure utility, but handmade sweaters this season are showing buttons covered with the
 same material of which the sweater
 itself is made either wool or silk. But | tons covered with merceriZed cotton have infinite possibilities, for they can
 be used on all wash fabrics, as they laundcr beautifully. These buttons are
 quite simple to make, the main secret being to crochet tightly, so there will
 be no spaces between the stitches, re-
 vealing the wooden mold beneath.
 Start with chain of three stitches, join. and into this ring put eight single
 crochet. Into every second stitch Of
 these eight stitches put three single crochet This will start the four cor ners. On the next row put three sin gle crochet Into every fourth stitch, which will bring it to tue middle stitch of the three stitches in the row be- low. Continue around, increasing two stitches on each side, until you have made a square large enough to cover 1 the top of the mold Then crochet two rows without increasing at the cor ners. Put In the mold and begin to decrease by skipping every fourth stitch. Do this for several rows. Then
 skip every third stitch, then every sec ond onc, until you reach the center. \
 row of single crochet around the cen 1 tral stitch forms a fine shank and
 makes it easier to sew on, as well as | to button.
 For round buttons start with Q
 chain of three stitches, join, and into
 the ring put eight single crochet Into each of these eight stitches put two
 single crochet On the next row put ! two single crochet into every second stitch, then into every third stitch, reg ulating this by keeping tue circle per fectly flat When you have CrOcheted | enough to cover the top of the mold
 crochet two rows plain without adding any stitches. Fit this on the mold and begin to take UT, skipping first every
 fourth, then every third and then every
 second stitch until you reach the cen ter. The covering should fit the mold
 very closely, so this may have to be | modified somewhat
 To make oval buttons start with chain of four stitches turn and work a single crochet Into each stitch Of the
 chain. In the last stitch put three
 single crochet and continue on around on the other side of the chain, working three single crochet into the middle stitch on the other end. Work on
 around, putting three single crochet
 Into the middle stitch of each end. If
 It does not Iie smooth put in four
 stitches instead of three on each end
 When you have worked enough to cov-
 CT the top of the mold make two plain
 rows all around. Insert mold and be-
 sin to take off by skipping every fourth
 stitch. then every third and every sec
 ond stitch until it is finished. Then 1 work one row aroand thc middle stitch