A pattern for lonely buttons
If you are a crafter, chances are you have a button jar. Through the clear glass, the jar is filled with all types of plain, fancy, vintage, pearl, and plastic buttons. Some are inherited, some rescued, and some you are saving for that perfect project you have yet to make. However these buttons came to be settled together, I think it is true that buttons can stir up memories and tell little stories about where they
came from. The simple activity of pouring out the button jar and sorting, and choosing buttons is a joyous act shared by generations of crafters. I designed the Button Jar Tank Top as a way to finally use some of my odd and lonely buttons and I hope you will have some fun and cheerful reminiscence while going through your button jars!

SIZES
Finished Bust Circumference:
71 (81, 91.5, 101.5, 112)(122, 132, 142, 152.5) cm /
28 (32, 36, 40, 44)(48, 52, 56, 60) inches

Finished Body Length:
35.5 cm / 14 inches
Intended to be worn fitted at bust, with 0-5 cm / 0-2 inches of negative ease (Shown in second size on model with 33” bust)

YARN
You will need approximately:
285 (325, 365, 410, 445)(490, 530, 570, 610) metres /
315 (355, 400, 445, 490)(535, 580, 625, 670) yards of Fingering weight yarn

Optional: 285 (325, 365, 410, 445)(490, 530, 570, 610) metres /
315 (355, 400, 445, 490)(535, 580, 625, 670) yards of Lace weight mohair yarn

AND a small amount of contrasting colour fingering weight yarn, for the cast on

I used:
Dark purple version - Akara Yarns Tweed Fingering - discontinued - (80% wool, 20% nylon; 389 metres / 420 yards per 115 grams)
Light purple version - 1 strand of Lichen and Lace 80/20 Sock (80% wool, 20% nylon; 334 metres / 365 yards per 100 grams) AND 1 strand of Lichen and Lace Marsh Mohair (64% mohair, 36% silk; 420 metres / 459 yards per 50 grams) held together
I knit size 81 cm / 32 inches bust and used less than 1 skein of each yarn

NEEDLES & HOOKS
~ 3.5 mm / US 4 circular needles, 60 cm / 24 inches long AND double pointed needles (DPNs)
~ 4mm/US 6 circular needles, 60cm/ 24 inches long
~ 0.8 mm - 2 mm crochet hook or sizes small enough to fit through holes in your button (You may need a variety of hook sizes)

NOTIONS
Buttons needed:
42 (48, 54, 60, 66)(72, 78, 84, 90) buttons
Removable stitch markers
Tapestry needle

GAUGE
20 stitches x 28 rows to 10 cm / 4 inches square over stocking stitch using 4 mm / US 6 needle, blocked and slightly stretched.

Pattern skill level: Easy, with a few challenging techniques such as foldover hem, i-cord and placing buttons.

NOTES

~ Tank top is knit in the round from the top down and in one piece.

~ When selecting buttons, any assortment of shank style or holed buttons can be used. Choose buttons that are not too heavy and don’t have holes that are really small. I recommended using buttons that are no bigger than 25 mm / 1 inch in diameter. I used buttons measuring minimum 1 cm / 1⁄3 inch to maximum 2 cm / 3⁄4 inch in diameter.

~ Ensure the holes of the buttons you choose are not too small and that your crochet hook can pass through easily without a lot of force. It is recommended to have a selection of hook sizes available. I needed a 0.8 mm hook, a 1 mm hook and a 1.75 mm hook.

~ You can choose to knit this top with or without holding a strand of mohair together with the fingering weight yarn. Placing the buttons will be slightly more tricky with the mohair, however keep in mind that there are only 6 rounds in the pattern with buttons so the extra effort will be worth it! The mohair will create a slightly denser fabric.