Aran Island Mittens from Folk Mittens by Marcia Lewandowski. My last completed knitting project!  They only took me about a month, but before you get disgusted, you should know that I was pregnant and seriously milking it.  They're my first attempt at mittens (uuugh, thumbs suck!) and my second attempt at cabling.  If you can't tell, I like the deep end.  Oh, and I chose green (lamb's pride worsted) instead of natural white because I touch filthy things in the winter time.  And I'm a nonconformist.  And I like things to match my eyes. 

OK, so this is a bit of a no-brainer, but I just joined and figured I'd contribute something.  So there!

Here comes the tutorial, ready?

You need:

Silk flower(s)
Coordinating fabric(s)
Dritz covered button kit in size of your choice (I got this 3/4" in Joann)
Needle nosed pliars
Hot glue gun + glue
Skissers
Fabric pen/pencil for tracing
Clip of your choice (spring, bendy, bobby pin, etc)


And helpful (albeit thoroughly confused) assistant, of course


Step 1: Ruin the flowers (this is my favorite part)


Step 2: Glue leaf to the underside of the bottom petal set


Step 3: Glue clip to leaf


Step 4: Start gluing petal sets one at a time, making sure the center holes match up


Step 5: Trace and cut out some fabric petal sets (I did 2 for this one)



Step 6: Continue adding petal sets until you're reasonably happy





Step 7: Complain about all the glue on your thumb ("#%$@&!!!")


Step 8: Cut out a circle of fabric for your center button (I used minky, but you can use whatever.  Don't worry, the kits come with a template on the back.)


Step 9: Place the fabric over the white plastic mold, and stuff the button dome into the center


Step 10: Remove the hook from the button back


Step 11: Tuck the fabric into the button, put the back in place, and pop it into place with the blue plastic button back popper thing.  (If you're using minky and are a wuss like me, you'll have to put the whole ensemble under a couch leg and jump on the couch.)



Step 12: Glue the button to the center of the flower...


...Tada!  I even frayed the edges of the fabric for some extra funk after taking that last pic.  Oh, and please excuse my finger toes!

Hey everybody!  I'm Mandi, 25 (26 next week, blegh), in Maine.  I'm originally from Long Island, NY and my DH Ross, an organic farmer, is from London.  We have two daughters in diapers, Zoe and Lucy, and as a result, I'm home, bored, and surrounded by glue guns, sewing machines, and knitting needles.  Oh, and lye.  And, as of next month, dairy goats!  Yup, I'm a craft whore.  I'm also trying to get as much photoshop practice in as I can right now, so if anyone needs a pseudo-decent etsy banner for cheap (free), I'm your girl!