Buttons. They call to us as much as pretty skeins of yarn. We can’t resist their siren song, we stash them…and then can’t figure out what to use them for. Button Street was born of a need to use a set of beautiful buttons that wanted to come out to play. Set on a canvas of stockinette stitch in a hand dyed semi-solid yarn, the buttons take center stage while the fitted silhouette skims the lines of the body to flatter the figure.

The Construction
Button Street is worked from the shoulders down with set-in sleeves that are created simultaneously with the upper bodice in a technique originally described by Barbara Walker. Only a few stitches are picked up at the top of the sleeve cap, and carefully placed increases shape the sleeves and bodice. A photo tutorial is included with the pattern to help you along.

Once the underarm is reached, the sleeve stitches are placed onto waste yarn, and the construction proceeds as with all other types of top-down sweaters. Shaping to the waist and hips is accomplished along “Princess” lines to allow for maximum flexibility in modifying to suit your particular shape and fit preferences.

Instructions are included for both a hip-length (pocket-less) version, and a pocketed, tunic length that’s great to wear with leggings. While most of the garment is seamless, the inside portion (in a contrasting colorway) of the pockets is sewn to the inside of the cardigan.

Sizes: 29(32, 35, 38, 41, 44, 47, 50)” bust. Finished bust measurements: 29.3(32, 35.3, 38, 41.3, 44, 47.3, 50)”. See schematic (pg. 9) for additional measurements. (Size 32” is shown on the model).
Materials:
For the shorter version: 4(4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7) skeins Verdant Gryphon Traveller (280 yds/skein. Colorway Ruby-Tailed Wasp), or approx
890(975, 1075, 1185, 1300, 1425, 1550, 1700) yards of DK weight/light worsted weight yarn.

For the longer version: 5(5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9) skeins Tosh DK (225 yds/skein) in MC; Colorway Vermillion), and
1(1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) skein in CC (for pocket lining, colorway Charcoal) or approx
990(1075, 1190, 1305, 1435, 1580, 1710, 1900) yards of DK weight/light worsted weight yarn, and
60(65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95) yards of DK weight/light worsted weight yarn (for the pocket lining)