Tulips buttonhole: The video (and an interview on KD)
Interweave Knits has just produced a video featuring Eunny Jang, the IK editor, demonstrating TECHknitting's NEW buttonhole: the tulips buttonhole. The name came about because the buttonhole looks like "two lips" in stockinette.
The video is quite small here, but if you click on the lower right hand corner where it says "You tube," you will get a MUCH larger version--easier to follow, by far.
The video is also featured in a "Knitting Daily" interview with TECHknitter (that's me!) about how the Tulips buttonhole was invented.
The tulips buttonhole was originally featured in Summer 2010 Interweave Knits, "Beyond the Basics" column, which could be a handy reference to maybe keep with your knitting papers: it is a fully illustrated article, and shows the same steps as the video. The video is immensely useful, however, because the tulips buttonhole has a little change-up where the working yarn originally heads off in one direction, but is then unwound to head off in another direction: a bit difficult to show with illustrations, but beautifully demonstrated on Interweave Knit's video by Eunny Jang.
--TK
The video is quite small here, but if you click on the lower right hand corner where it says "You tube," you will get a MUCH larger version--easier to follow, by far.
The video is also featured in a "Knitting Daily" interview with TECHknitter (that's me!) about how the Tulips buttonhole was invented.
The tulips buttonhole was originally featured in Summer 2010 Interweave Knits, "Beyond the Basics" column, which could be a handy reference to maybe keep with your knitting papers: it is a fully illustrated article, and shows the same steps as the video. The video is immensely useful, however, because the tulips buttonhole has a little change-up where the working yarn originally heads off in one direction, but is then unwound to head off in another direction: a bit difficult to show with illustrations, but beautifully demonstrated on Interweave Knit's video by Eunny Jang.
--TK
contents © 2006-2012 by techknitting@hotmail.com
31 Comments:
Thank you so much for sharing! I've never seen this method yet. This is the next thing I'll try!
Best. Snjezana
Fascinating idea. I marvel at your creativity. Thanks for sharing it.
Dear Techknitter:
Even though I have been knitting for more than 55 years(!) there are always new things to learn thanks to creative and generous persons such as yourself. Please continue the great work.
Love, Armida
Wow! This looks great! =)
Thanks for sharing all your smart tricks! =)
I watched the video 3 times yesterday. Brilliant! It's now firmly bookmarked.
I may have to start a project solely for the excuse to make buttonholes..
Much bowing down with honor from members of the knitting community.
I've never knit a buttonhole, and, thanks to you, I'll be jumping right to improved buttonholes, which should save me a lot of heartache.
I am slightly confused by the video, though. Why not just wrap stitches 2 and 3 together in the first place, instead of picking up the wrap and passing it over the 3rd stitch? Does it mess with the tension?
Thanks so much for the great video!
Thank you!!! I have always been unhappy with my buttonholes, and I going to use this technique on my almost-finished-except-the-buttonbands cardigan. The video is really helpful.
Thanks so much! Buttonholes have always been a problem for me. I look forward to trying this method.
Thanks for tutorial, but I'm interesting in purchasing the magazin. Thanks a lot. Loredana.
This is brilliant in a way that would have pleased Elizabeth Zimmermann. Please please please write a book.
Very interesting! By the look of it, and I'll have to try to see if I'm right, it may be possible to get the same result at the start by doing the initial wrap around two stitches, since it looks as thought that's what you end up with. I'll have to experiment, but the video was really useful and clear.
Gillian
I'm so excited try this out. Thank you again!!
Pure genius! This demonstration video is fabulous! No, fabulous is not enough really, to describe how well this presentation was done. I am loving the mind that created this buttonhole.
Thank you for being so generous in sharing your skills and time with us.
Heather
Love it!
Hi - Can you clarify how to do this great buttonhole if you are working a stitch other than a knit stitch? I have a seed stitch edging - and at the very first step where it says to bring your yarn to the front - since I have just worked a purl stitch - the yarn is already at the front - do I need to something different? Thank you TechKnitter! C
Hi Clarice--if it were mine, I'd just set off as the instructions state, and since your yarn is already at the front, you're good to go. However, if you don't care for the finished result, you could try wrapping the yarn one extra time (back, then return to the front). Maybe try this on a swatch, first.
Hello! Just thought I'd tell you why your getting a few extra hits...I just link you to my new pattern using your Tulips Buttonhole
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tabitha-mitts
Thank You!!
Congratulations, thank you, and boy, I can't wait for that zipper article!
Thank you for sharing!
I discovered this buttonhole over the weekend and have used it 3 times already. I've even added the video to my bookmark toolbar. Thank you for solving all my buttonhole issues (so far) in one fell swoop! Love the strength and symmetry (gotta have my symmetry!).
I was just wondering what you do if the buttonhole is at the start of a long row. Obviously you don't use the smaller DPN for the whole row, but how/where do you start knitting with the normal size needle again? In the video this is shown as on the next row.
Hi Gabrielle:
The smaller dpn is only for casting on the stitches above the buttonhole, then switch back to larger needles. If working the buttonhole at the end of a long row, leave the cast on stitches on the small dpn (ie: use it as a stitch holder) until you get back to that edge of the row again, then work the stitches off, using your larger needle. Best, TK
This is possibly the most beautiful buttonhole I've seen; but, I do have a question for you. What would you do if you have several buttonholes in the same row, as in a buttonhole band that is picked up along the front of a vest creating vertical buttonholes? It is a long row with 16 stitches between 5 buttonholes. How would you utilize the dpn? Would you need to have a separate dpn for each buttonhole holding the cast on stitches until the next row?
Also, I am curious why it is important to wrap the stitch clockwise and then unwrap and rewrap counter clockwise? Why not just wrap once?
Thanks!
Hi Stella's mom! For a vertical set of buttonholes, use a long-enough circular needle instead of a bunch of dpn's, keeping the needle on the buttonhole being worked and the cable to hold the stitches you WILL work, then repositioning the needle tip by pulling it forward or withdrawing it, as needed.
As far as wrapping and then unwrapping, you have to do that to keep the working yarn in the right position and not trapping it.
Best, TK
Dear TK,
Love it!! Beautiful, firm, symmetric and well embedded into the fabric. Definitely my favorite buttonhole henceforth.
However, I made some simplifications which don't seem to detract.
1) For the first wraps: starting with yarn at the back, slip 2 stitches to R needle and wrap yarn counterclockwise for one complete wrap (360 degrees) around both stitches. Continue with casting off etc.
2) For the next wrap, there is no need to unwrap, just make another (single) counterclockwise wrap and use the loop to do the crochet cast on etc.
Also I didn't use a smaller needle (none in reach) but I did pull my crochets up very snug. Seems ok.
I'm curious to know what you think.
Thanks as always for a thoughtful, analytical approach to knitting.
alli bee
Hi Ali Bee--glad you like the tulips buttonhole. I find that wrapping two stitches make a pucker, but if it works for you--way to go! Knitting is so different in different hands, isn't it? Thanks for writing. TK
Let me add my thanks for your ingenuity in developing this method! It took me many repeats of Eunny Jang's video and digging up my issue of Interweave knits plus 4 tries but I finally accomplished a better buttonhole.
do you have as set of written insturctions to do the "Tulips Buttonhole". I really do enjoy the video, but for my learning style I also need the written to go along with it. Thanks
Hi Anon--yes, I do have the written directions, and will get them up in a new post some time this year, I realize that doesn't help you now, and I apologize, but I am far, far away from the computer with the graphics stored on it right now, so...
Best regards, TK
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