Acorn buttons

A very cute idea from The Brownie Annual, 1960 - how to make buttons for your cardigan using acorns glued into their cups, or small conkers.

1960 was clearly a bit of a low point for British women, who were deemed incapable of boring two holes in an acorn or conker. Brownies were warned that "you must ask Daddy to bore two holes in each to take the sewing thread".

Mummies were most likely to start crying or sever a limb or two if asked to do anything as taxing as poking a darning needle through a conker. Luckily, times have changed and these days you can ask either Mummy or Daddy to help you. Hurrah for progress!

Duffle coat button jewellery

Three reasons why you may have too many duffle coat buttons and be looking for something to do with them:

1 - That failed alchemical experiment in which you discovered the way to transmute base metal into duffle coat buttons

2 - Have been left large amount of duffle coat buttons in a will

3 - You own a duffle coat button factory

Whatever the reason, here's a way to make some duffle coat button jewellery from a 1950s Girl Annual. I think Luna Lovegood would like these a lot.

To make a choker you will need 8 or 9 wooden duffle coat buttons, twice as many 3/8 inch brass screw eyes and a No 001 bead clasp. Rub the buttons down with fine sandpaper. Pierce the end of the button and screw in two eyes. Colour with a coat of poster paint, and then varnish or enamel. Tie the screw eyes together neatly but firmly with matching thread and fasten on clasp.

Variations: 1 - Have all beads identical in colouring. 2 - Shade from light to dark and back again in one colour. 3 - Keep to two alternating colours. 4 - Paint each one a different colour. 5 - Stipple with gold or silver paint afterwards.

For ear-rings, cut one button in two and tie the screw eyes with cotton on to the tiny rings of screw-on ear-rings.