Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Opinions, please!


The tiny cotton Trellis cardigan is finished and blocking. In fact, it's been blocking for three days -- I was starting to worry that moss was going to start growing on it, but after a full afternoon of through-the-window sunshine yesterday, it's almost dry. So it's time to choose the buttons! I'm going to be coy with photos so as not to reveal the whole sweater yet; hopefully you can see enough to get the idea. The sweater takes four buttons.


1. Orange plastic. These are the easiest to do up and undo, but perhaps a contrasting colour would be nicer/more interesting?


2. Multicoloured. Gender-neutral colours, with a little sparkle. These are fun, but maybe not the right choice for a "classic" sweater style?


3. Flat and pearly. These, on the other hand, seem like a classic choice. They don't actually look as translucent as they do here -- more creamy and pearly. This pairing is probably the safest. The sweater is already bright orange, so subtle buttons might be best, right?


4. White plastic. The more I look at these, the more I think nah. But I took the picture, so here it is; I could be wrong.


5. Metal-backed flowers. These are great little buttons, but are they right for Trellis? Too busy? Too ladies'-cowboy-shirt for a cabled baby sweater?

The best shot of the buttons themselves is the very top one, which you can click to make really big. Help me choose, and I'll be back soon with the first FO of 2007. Thanks!

73 comments:

Ann-Marie MacKay said...

i like both the orange plastic and the metal flower ones.
i LOVE orange, so that's my strongest vote, but the flower ones will give some contrast.
g'luck!!!

Cari said...

numbah three

miss ewe said...

Number 2... I love the multi-colour!

Jenn and Adam said...

I like the clear and flat with a second choice pick of the orange.

Anonymous said...

i like flat and pearly, but i also like the metal-backed flowers.

Anonymous said...

i vote #3, followed by #2.

Eatsruns said...

orange!

Anonymous said...

#1 fits the style and look of the sweater

Anonymous said...

I love the flowery ones, but I think #3 is the right choice. That sweater is so much about the pretty knitting that I don't think you want the buttons to pull focus.

Megan said...

Number 3 with number 1 being a close second.

Nadia said...

I vote for little wooden ones! I know, I know, that's not a choice, but it's my vote and I'm standing by it!

Anonymous said...

I vote for #1. Ease of use is a big deal, and they're pretty.

spajonas said...

i'm really digging the orange plastic ones :)

Anonyknits said...

#1!

cheekiemary said...

Orange plastic, no question.

Meg said...

Either #1 or #5, but if I had to choose, #1.

Anonymous said...

#1 Orange plastic. Or number 5, the metal ones. But definitely not the whilte ones. I'm not crazy aobut those.

Jillian said...

I like #1 and #3. I love the orange.

Mia said...

My vote is for #2. I like the look better.

Anonymous said...

number one is my first favourite and number two is next in line. I really like the orange on orange. . . i like the colours of number 2 as well. . and i like the idea of putting snazzy buttons on a classic sweater. it mixes things up without being totally off the hook.

LaurieM said...

I think it depends on the style tastes of your recipient. I like the pearly ones, but I think the flowers are really funky and the white makes me think of go-go boots.

I don't think you can go wrong!

Robin said...

Love the orange ones! Second would be the multicoloured set.

Veronique said...

Number one! They are translucent, no?

Anonymous said...

It's a close call for me between 2 and 3, with 1 being the runner up. And although not a choice, I like Nadia's suggestion of wooden buttons.

Anonymous said...

I like the ones with all the flowers, 5 I think :)

knittingphilistine said...

Close call between 5 and 3. 5 is my first choice, though. It's a good contrast between the orange and the bluish buttons.

Great buttons all around!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE the metal-backed flower buttons (!!!), but would probably opt for the flat/pearly with the cabled sweater. Definitely not the orange plastic or multi-colored!

Chris said...

I like the first ones, the little roundish orange buttons. I'm not sure why, because I usually go nuts with kids' sweaters and buttons...

Thinks too much said...

Definitely no.1 for me. I love the buttons in 5, but speaking as someone who spent a lot of time helping a little guy dress, ease of use is huge. Plus the buttons blend nicely and don't take the focus from the knittiness.

I like the concept of the mismatched, but I can just hear all the comments about having lost buttons and not bothered to find matching ones...

Anonymous said...

Number 5! I love the fact that they have little orange flowers in them, so they complement the orange sweater without blending in.
And, really, can you ever be too ladies'-cowboy-shirt?

Lola and Ava said...

I was all set to say #5, until I saw #2. Adds a fresh look to a traditional sweater. Love #2 & the color.

Anonymous said...

I like 2 and 3. I would use 3 if the recipient might be a little upset by "mismatched" buttons.

Anonymous said...

One - 1 - definitely one...

Unknown said...

Another vote for #1, the orange ones.

Pru said...

From what I can see, the sweater's going to be gorgeous. I like the subtlety of #1, but agree that #3 is most appropriate for a classic sweater. I wish I had those flowered buttons for my own; they're awesome!

brunhilda said...

i think i'm the only person who likes number four....

Anne said...

I'd go with number 1 myself, although the metal flower ones are really cute too.

Anonymous said...

I like the orange ones! I did something similar on my baby shrug (http://www.flickr.com/photos/crankyisgood/378793868/in/photostream/)

Balkan Style Bloggers said...

The orange plastic buttons allow the Trellis to shine! However, the multicoloured add a nice twist.

jodi said...

Definitely the orange plastic.

Carrie said...

I love the flower buttons but they may be better suited for another project, I vote #1.

jennie said...

i vote flat and pearly... it's classic, and i think that's ok (despite my penchant for things a little wild).

Anonymous said...

I like the orange buttons but the scale is wrong -- too little and maybe just a little anaemic. My first choice would be #2, the sparkly and mismatched buttons. I like the way their smooth texture contrasts with the sweater.

grace

Lori in Michigan said...

I'd vote for the metal ones - or yet a different option. The other choices just don't set off the beauty - but I'm a button snob...and it's always an arduous process for me to get it just right! Have fun!

GinaB said...

#1

Anonymous said...

love the flower buttons but i think flat and pearly are best for your beautiful trellis. good luck choosing!

amanda said...

#2 works best for me (mismatched buttons are such fun! classic sweater or not!). followed by #1.

Anonymous said...

Cute's nice, but when it comes to munchkin fashion, I'm for safety and ease of use. Which set handles the best and is least likely to be pulled off and swallowed?

For looks, I vote for #1, but I'd never put them on a kiddie cardi.

Anonymous said...

I like the mish-mash #2. beeyootiffull buttons by the by.

Anonymous said...

i vote number two!!

Anonymous said...

One!

maryse said...

number 3 although i do like the multicolored buttons too.

Anonymous said...

i actually like number one the best. with a cable-y patterned sweater, i don't want the buttons drawing my eye away from the knitting goodness. :)

bio_knit_kitty said...

I like the little orange buttons. They look like gumdrops on the sweater.

Anonymous said...

Number 1!!!

Stacey said...

orange!!

Meghan said...

I'd go with number one... but number 5 are fun too (although perhaps for another project).

Love your blog!

Anonymous said...

Here's my 2 cents: I vote for the orange plastic buttons. They suite the sweater well without distracting from the gorgeous cable I see on the left side of the photo. Most of the others are distracting. I do like the floral metal buttons, but not for this project.

shannon said...

I like the orange plastic as well. Which, scrolling up, it seems is the choice of many. :)

Anonymous said...

Have you made a decision yet? My feeling is that the orange buttons are very sweet, and they definitely don't distract from the cables...but they also get lost because of the color on color. The flat & pearly buttons are my choice because they don't get lost, but they don't take away from the cables, either.

Leslie said...

I like number 1 best, followed by number 3. Can't wait to see the entire little sweater!

Anonymous said...

Me, I'd prefer the sweater to be the star and not the buttons, with this said I choose #1 the orange buttons.

Anonymous said...

I like #2 and #3 the best! I think #2 has a wee leg up on #3....

mariko said...

63 comments. Geez. I like #1 and #3, and of course I like #5, but they might pop more on a darker background. That sweater looks really great already, though. Can't wait to see the finished object!

Anonymous said...

I think number 3 would look the best because it won't detract from the cables but the pearly effect will make it prettier. I love the metal backed flower buttons but I'd put those on a little white plain sweater

Kitty Kitty said...

2 and 5 would be my vote. Love the orange

Anonymous said...

Flat and pearly.
And WTF? I switched to google reader instead of bloglines, and it hasn't been keeping me updated! Must now go read all your other posts, but I MISSED YOU.
that is all.
xo

Anonymous said...

I like the multi-colored buttons, they give an added snap.

Anonymous said...

My vote's for option #1.

Can't wait to see the whole sweater!

Anonymous said...

i vote for the multi

Suzie said...

Oh I like 3, then 1, and 5!

Anonymous said...

Numbah One! Why detract from your gorgeous knitting? And that part about "easy to do up and undo" is really important for the Mom.

Mona Schmidt said...

I have to agree with the person who said that the No 1 buttons are too small. I like them best, too, but I'd go for No 5 instead. (The contrast of the orange and white/creme is just too much and the fun different colour ones are better saved for a less traditional project.)