Book Review: Button and Stitch by Kristen Rask

Seattle’s Schmancy crafter Kristen Rask has an adorable new book that just came out, called Button and Stitch: Supercute Ways to Use Your Button Stash. Supercute, indeed! Kristen’s love and appreciation for the humble button comes through on each page, as she shares 24 button-infused projects that are as approachable as they are clever.
The book begins with with a 2-page spread of the basic materials you need to get started and a brief description of a few varieties of buttons (like Bakelite, antique glass, wood). Then the book is divided into three sections: Gifts, Style, and Bling. The instructions are clear and simple, the step-by-step pictures are helpful and illustrative, and the layout is clean and attractive. The projects themselves range from classics, like the Pearly Buttons Frame and the Easy Button Ring to heart-melting originals like the Boombox Pin, designed by Kristen Garland (polymer clay with buttons for speakers):

I also adore the Camera Camera Case designed by Hine Mizushima (fabric and felt with buttons for the buttons):

The Vintage Button Bouquet designed by Lisa Jordan (buttons, leather, and floral wire) would make the sweetest little gift:

There’s plenty more cuteness where these came from, and many of the projects would be perfect to do with the bambinos. If you have a collection of buttons just looking for projects to be a part of, pick up Button and Stitch and get inspired.