Playing Matchmaker

Do you like to knit or crochet? Maybe you just appreciate all things handmade. Here are some great selections of yarn for all the DIYers out there.

I have played matchmaker by pairing these beautiful yarn selections with some of my handmade tree branch buttons that complement each other perfectly. I have also included patterns that can be purchased from some great etsy sellers.

I hope you see something you like and are able to incorporate some of these finds into your own designs.

A true luxury yarn from Black Sheep Dyeworks (http://www.blacksheepdyeworks.etsy.com/). This Chestnut Mulit lace weight silk/Merino wool yarn is lightweight and lustrous, with a beautiful shimmer. It is hand dyed with color-fast acid dyes, in variegated shades of chocolate, chestnut, cinnamon and a little khaki. Knitted fabric is very soft with great drape. This would make a luxurious shawl or wrap.

The spalted red bud tree branch buttons from A Remark You Made (http://www.aremarkyoumade.etsy.com/) are handmade from the branch of a down tree. The wood is gorgeous and has slight spalting and wonderful dark and light espresso-brown centers with blonde sap wood. These buttons are approximately 2-1/2 inches x 2-3/8 inches in diameter and are 3/8 inch thick.

This set of buttons has been cut, drilled with 2 large holes, bark removed and sanded smooth on all sides with the edges slightly rounded. Each button is finished with 100% pure tung oil and buffed with a light coat of carnauba wax for a super smooth finish and added durability.

This gorgeous plum-colored yarn from My Mommy Made This (http://www.mymommymadethis.etsy.com/) is stunning!

It is a DK weight yarn, 100% merino superwash. Kettle dyed for color richness and variegation. Not the color for you? This shop has a wide selection of colors.

Pair this yarn with these sweet cedar tree branch buttons by A Remark You Made.

These 5 sweet cedar beauties were hand crafted from a tree branch from a down cedar tree in hopes of giving it a second chance at life. The buttons have coloring in golden hues of honey with merlot-colored centers and a prominant grain pattern.

Light Beige. Pure Alpaca Yarn by Alpaca Avenue (http://www.alpacaavenue.etsy.com/).

This yarn is amazingly soft to the touch. Alpaca yarn simply at it's best. It is spun fairly even, although with handspun you always will have some variation in size, which, I think makes hanspun yarn so special. It is two-ply, 5.4 ounces, and a light beige color. Worsted weight overall.

This yarn would make anything gorgeous that is to be worn next to the skin. Alpaca fibers have hollow spaces in them that give alpaca its loft and warmth. Alpaca contains no lanolin, so it's hypollergenic for most people, and these yarns are not dyed.

Treat yourself or someone you love to a luxuriosly soft and warm item make from handspun alpaca. A little bit of luxury is good for the soul!

I love these buttons with their prominant grain, and being green with your next project is easy with this Button Bundle™ handmade from a reclaimed tree branch!

These 4 naturally beautiful buttons were hand crafted from a tree branch from a down locust tree. The wood is gorgeous with its color variations in brown and green and circular grain pattern. These buttons are approximately 2-1/4 inches x 2-1/8 inches in diameter and are a 3/8 inch thick.

To order, please visit http://www.aRemarkYouMade.etsy.com/

This Cotton/Linen Mix in soft blue-green and yellow from Woolly Gathering (http://www.woollygathering.etsy.com/) is gorgeous!
An unevenly spun yarn, beautiful, rustic and ideal for the summer.

Weight: 2 ply
meter: 100gr/220m
Unit weight: 100 grams
Needle size:4 mm/US 6/UK 8
Fibers: 70% Cotton & 30% Linen

Pair this yarn with my magnificent mulberry tree branch buttons. These 5 charming buttons were hand crafted from a tree branch from a down mulberry tree. The wood is gorgeous with its prominant circular grain pattern and coloring in golden hues of honey. These buttons are approximately 1-3/4 inches x 1-1/2 inches and are a 1/4 inch thick.

This set of buttons has been cut, drilled with 2 holes, bark removed and sanded smooth on all sides with the edges slightly rounded. Each button is finished with 100% pure tung oil and buffed with a light coat of carnauba wax for a super smooth, glass-like finish and added durability.

Dreamland Sock Yarn in Charcoal by Evermore Studios (http://www.evermorestudios.etsy.com/).

This yarn is a super soft, superwash/nylon, tightly twisted, 2-ply yarn. This yarn has strength and softness. Just look at how the 2 plys plump against each out when dyed. Gorgeous, soft and durable.

This is a great yarn for socks, shawls, baby items, etc. Iy is hand painted using low-impact, professional, colorfast acid dyes. All yarns are hand-dyed with great care, and though dyed in lots, this yarn color can be reproduced.

Pair this yarn with my marvelous maple tree branch buttons. These 3 stunning buttons were hand crafted from a tree branch from a down maple tree. The wood is gorgeous with its coloring in light golden hues of honey and creamy white with spalting patterns. These buttons are approximately 2-1/4 inches x 2-1/8 inches in diameter and a 3/8 inch thick.

This set of buttons has been cut, drilled with 4 holes, bark removed and sanded smooth on all sides with the edges slightly rounded. Each button is finished with 100% pure tung oil and buffed with a light coat of carnauba wax for a super smooth, glass-like finish and added durability.

Handspun BFL Superwash Yarn from Shunklies (http://www.shunklies.etsy.com/).

The fiber was hand dyed in gorgeous warm cream and brown tones prior to spinning and will knit up similar to a Double Knit/worsted weight yarn. Love it!

Pair this yarn with my sweet handmade wooden house buttons.

These 6 sweet wooden house buttons were hand crafted from exotic wood scraps leftover from a job in my husband's workshop. The buttons have beautiful grain patterns and color variations.

These buttons are slightly over 1 inch wide x 1-3/4 inches tall and are a 1/4 inch thick. Each button has been sanded smooth and the edges slightly rounded. They are finished with 100% pure tung oil and buffed with a light coat of carnauba wax for a super smooth finish.

SMOKE ON THE WATER Handspun Yarn /Superwash Merino Cashmere Nylon from Sheeping Beauty (http://www.SheepingBeauty.etsy.com/).

This 2 ply yarn was spun from Superwash Merino, Cashmere and Nylon Serenity Roving, 80/10/10, that was hand dyed by Zen Yarn Garden.

This yarn is beyond lusciously soft and silky. This combined with the deep and intense colors...truly luxurious, a treat for the senses!



Of course, this yarn screams to be paired with my spruce tree branch buttons. These buttons would look gorgeous on this color!

These 5 spruce buttons were hand crafted from a tree branch from a down tree. The buttons have a gorgeous swirling grain pattern in a cocoa-brown color with blonde sap wood. The bark is still intact lending to their rustic charm.

This set of buttons has been drilled with 2 large holes and sanded smooth. These buttons range in size from approximately 1-3/4 inches down to 1-5/8 inches and a 1/4 inch thick. These buttons are finished with pure tung oil then buffed with a light coat of carnauba wax for a super smooth, glass-like finish and added durability.

Check out this Country Roads handspun yarn from Gregory Road (http://www.gregoryroad.etsy.com/).

It reminds me of fields at harvest time. This yarn has lovely golds and yellows and greens. It was plied with a solid natural moorit colored wool and the artist was instantly reminded of the dirt roads the family would sometimes drive down on their vacations.

The dyed wool is Falkland that was purchased here from FatCatKnits on etsy and the natural colored wool was from this seller's stash.

These 5 lovely buttons were hand crafted from a tree branch of a willow tree. I was fortunate enough to get a call about some wood from the down tree. The wonderful chunky bark is still intact, too, which lends to their rustic charm.

Each button is approximately 2-1/2 inches in diameter and a 3/8 inch thick. This set of buttons has been drilled, sanded smooth and finished with pure tung oil then buffed with a light coat of carnauba wax for sheen and added durability.

Rusted - BFL Handspun Yarn by Springtree Road (http://www.springtreeroad.etsy.com/).

Shades of rust
228 yards/208 meters
4.00 ounces/114 grams
100% Bluefaced Leicester wool
Single ply
12 wpi/averages sport weight
Needle size: US 3-6/3.25-3.75mm
Hook size: E-4 to 7/3.5-4.5mm

Pair this yarn with my half-circle toggle buttons.

These naturally beautiful buttons were hand crafted from a tree branch from a down tree. The branch was splitting due to the drying process. To save this beautiful wood, I cut the branch in half to create half-circle buttons that are very charming. The wood is gorgeous and has a little bit of everything. Pale green-colored centers with streaks of dark purple, honey-colored sap wood, spalting, and circular grain pattern.






This thick and thin single ply yarn from Sheeping Beauty (http://www.sheepingbeauty.etsy.com/) was spun from Corriedale top and hand dyed by Christinamariepotter on etsy. It's another in her "Firefly" inspired series. This one for the character Mal. It has subtle shades of cream, café au lait and taffy browns. Soft and bouncy, this would make a terrific scarf, neckwarmer or maybe a hat.

This set of 5 buttons from A Remark You Made was hand crafted from a reclaimed branch of an oak tree. Each button has light golden rays running through it with a delicious dark chocolate brown center, blonde sap wood, and slight spalting lending to their rustic charm and character. Gorgeous with this yarn!











Knitting Pattern by Phydeaux Designs - Asterisque Cowl Shoulder Warmer (PDF DIGITAL DELIVERY)
The Asterisque Cowl is oversized, rustic, chunky, elegant. And multifunctional: wear as a cowl, neckwarmer, capelet or shoulder warmer. This is a fun to knit project, perfect for advanced beginning knitters and up! Asterisque looks so rich and complex – don’t tell anyone how easy it was for you to knit.

http://www.phydeauxdesigns.etsy.com/

This cup cozy pattern from natalya1905 is so sweet.

Skill Level: Easy+
Craft: Knit.

If you know the knitting basics, you can make this cute and stylish cozy for your cup, mug, or travel cup. It will be a trendy accessory or a truly unique gift. All you need is a set of knitting needles, a cable needle, some yarn, and a button of your choice.

She'll e-mail the pattern after your payment is received. (http://natalya1905.etsy.com/).

Toasted Toffee Toes Room Shoes PDF Pattern by Francine Toukou (http://www.francinetoukou.etsy.com/).

Learn to crochet your very own "Simply Slippers" using this colorful, photo-ful, easy-to-follow crochet pattern. These soft simple slippers are comfy, cozy, and earthy. These forgiving room shoes comfortably fit women's size 6-10.