Button opinions, quick!
 Update: Gah, you guys aren’t making this any easier! Such well-reasoned advocacy for both buttons, and people whose taste I admire–nay, covet–on both sides! Even some votes for white buttons, which I hadn’t considered at all. I realized that EZ placed her black buttons on the black stripe, except for the top and bottom buttons, which does something visually different than what I’ve presented here. But my sweater has less ease, so placing them on the white band is more practical. I’m going to have to take both sets on the plane tonight and ask the flight attendants to parade them through the aisles and keep a tally of the responses! Seriously, I think I’ll sew on the small buttons (because I have to have some way to hold the jacket closed for now, but keep the large ones so I can change them if I want. And maybe I’ll look at some white buttons, too. Thank you all for your opinions!
Rorschach is still damp, but I need to act speedily and get some buttons sewn on if I want to take her to New York. And I need your opinions, my friends. Let’s meet the contenders:
Button #1 is the lower, smaller button. It’s shinier, and has a square shape within the circle that pleasingly echoes Rorschach’s mitres.
Button #2 is the larger button. It’s got a geometric design, too, although it doesn’t remind me of any of the sweater’s visual elements. Button #2 is also closer to a matte black.
Now let’s see them in situ:
As always, click for big. The closure in either case is an EZ button tab: a loop of i-cord with both ends hitched to a short tab of garter stitch, attached to the edge of the cardi front. This brings me to a final question: Do you think it matters which side the buttons are on? Is that whole men’s-on-one-side, women’s-on-the-other thing relevant? I can never remember which is which anyway.
Okay, cast your votes!
Posted: April 26th, 2007 at 11:47 am
argh! I’m going to omit all the thoughts in my head and just say SMALL. okay.
re: buttons’ sides: I can never remember either and it doesn’t seem to matter much until I’m buttoning/zipping and get bothered by something being on the wrong side. I like zipper pulls on the right b/c I’m right-handed. But right now I’m not wearing anything buttoned so cannot for the life of me decide which side is better.
Posted: April 26th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
I think I like the bigger ones, actually–wasn’t expecting to. Something about the slightly larger size plays into the graphic punch for me. But I have a hard time picturing the tabs.
Which should go on whatever side is easier to button, I’d say!
Posted: April 26th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
No 2 no 2! Your cardigan is beautiful!
Posted: April 26th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
hee–so close! I would go for smaller. It doesn’t overwhelm the width of the black stripe and looks a bit classier and more garment-like (as opposed to costume-y or overly bulky)
Posted: April 26th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
i like the smaller buttons. the geometric pattern on the larger one just doesn’t seem to fit with the pattern, imo.
Posted: April 26th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
I like button one, the smaller one with the square. It looks like it belongs on the jacket, the second one is too busy. As for the right vs left side, I think it only matters if you find buttons on the man-side (right?) confusing. Sometimes I wear one of M’s shirts and I have to actually watch what I’m doing to button it up right as it feels all wrong (this makes me feel stupid).
The jacket looks fabulous!
Posted: April 26th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
To remember about buttons: Women are always Right.
I like the bigger ones. Ditto visual punch. 😀
Posted: April 26th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
I vote for the smaller buttons.
Posted: April 26th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
I like them both. [I know, not helpful at all, sorry!] Ordinarily I go with the smallest buttons I can get away with. However, with these buttons, I like the play of pattern on pattern. Is there any way you can get the busier buttons in the smaller size? *OR*, how about alternating buttons? There’s a blouse in the J Jill catalogue that’s white with all sizes and shapes of mother of pearl buttons dancing down the front. http://www.jjill.com/shopJJillDetail.asp?AreaID=OL&ColorToUse=801&SizeID=1&txtProductID=625007&offerid=O9&seldept=7&EAquest=white+blouse
Posted: April 26th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
I say #1, but it’s late, probably too late – sorry
Posted: April 26th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
bigger! it makes the coat look a bit modish and 60s. 🙂
Posted: April 26th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
I like the smaller ones and I would only use 4 and leave off the bottom one. It seems like it should be relaxed at the bottom. I see this to be more of a classic 60’s. See these items at the V & A fashion designers of the Sixties. http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion/1960s/1960s_dress_database/index.php?action=next&hits=124&page=2&pages=11&object_type=&country=&start_year=&end_year=&object=&artist= I don’t care for the geometric lines on the bigger size I like the square in the middle of the smaller ones. By the way it is a lovely coat and please let us see it on you!
Posted: April 26th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
One more idea for a very clean finish. How about blind hooks that meet in the middle and no buttons. It might even be good to not close it all the way down.
Posted: April 27th, 2007 at 4:36 am
Da big one, fo sho! OMG – I feel like I need to take you out to a fancy dinner wearing that!!!!!!!!!!!! (YOU wearing it, not me, you know)…
I can’t wait to see it!
Posted: April 27th, 2007 at 5:42 am
I think I like the bigger ones. I usually gravitate towards smaller buttons, but I think the big ones echo the style of the sweater better.
Posted: April 27th, 2007 at 6:19 am
button #1. definitely. it’s the square in the circle thing. for one, i love that kind of dichotomy, for the other, i like that it echos what is going on in the sweater. can’t wait to see what you do!
Posted: April 27th, 2007 at 6:51 am
Smaller. The larger somehow messes with the scale. It’s a powerful sweater in terms of the strong graphic, and square shapes–but for some reason the small looks better. The big ones interrupt the pattern in an awkward way. I really would have thought the big would work better–but in those pics, they don’t seem to.
Posted: April 27th, 2007 at 8:36 am
I like button #1 definitely. There is something about the geometry of #2 that is too much for my tastes. That sweater is HOT. And I love your new ‘do also, just forgot to comment and tell you that them! :o)
Posted: April 27th, 2007 at 10:24 am
I vote for the smaller, square-laden ones.
Posted: April 27th, 2007 at 11:33 am
I vote for the smaller ones. I don’t think the round button should overlap the rectangular black stripe. The smaller buttons appear to stay on the white vertical stripe only. Good luck and have a safe flight!
Posted: April 27th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
I can’t wait to see this jacket finished! So now I must add a rss feed of your blog to my watch page, and I declare myself officially fan of your blog and your knitting.
PS.: I made a master in art history, so your post about art just delighted me. Keep going! 😉
Posted: April 27th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
The smaller one. Period. I think it goes with the jacket much better. The black strips on the jacket make right angles, and the geometrical line stuff on the bigger buttons clash with the black strips because they are varied angles.
Posted: April 28th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
I’d have to go for the smaller buttons. Mainly because you seem to want the black button on the white button band, and the larger buttons seem to encroach on the black stripe. Picky, I know, but these are the silly little things I would think of were it my sweater! Plus I like the square within a circle detail and do think it echoes the mitred corners. The sad thing about it is we knitters are the only ones who will ever notice these tiny details that cause the knitter so much turmoil and distress! Good luck and love the Rorshcach!
Posted: April 28th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Here’s the trick to remembering men’s vs. women’s buttong overlaps. Imagine a guy and a girl in the car. The guy–of course–is driving. (This isn’t how I live my life, just ba mnemonic I use.) If the peek out of the corners of their eyes at one another, they each have a chance of sneaking a peek at each other-s skin if the buttons are gape-y. In other words, for women the half on the wearer’s right is on top; for men the half on the wearer’s left is on top. Just imagine teen-agers giving each other the eye and you’ll remember.
Posted: April 30th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
I like the non geometric ones. Just a personal thing.
Posted: April 30th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
i vote for smaller, bigger buttons make it look more like a kid’s sweater.
i met you in ny, maybe last time you were here?
maybe i’ll see you again if you come to the point
Posted: May 2nd, 2007 at 6:04 am
I know it’s too late and you’re here and have already sewn your buttons, but I’ll still vote for the small ones! Because I can. They are both cute, though. I’m so glad you’re in town!