A question of closure…
Thumper’s Accordion jacket is nearly done. All it needs is some way to close it around his chubby little bod.
The pattern calls for a zipper. This is the third time I’ve knit this sweater (the first two as gifts for other people’s babies) and I installed a zipper for those first two. I had assumed, when I cast on for this sweater, that I would also install a zipper this time. Something about this one, though–maybe it’s the earthy shade of green (I know, you can’t see it in this photo. I’ll take a brighter pic for the FO shot.) or the fact that I knit it without any stripes–I look at this sweater and I think it wants buttons instead of a zipper. Big wooden buttons. Don’t you think?
Here’s what I’m wondering, though. I’ve never tried to use buttons to close a ribbed garment before. Will the ribbing cause the sweater to gap between the buttons? Or will a garter button band knitted on provide enough structure to let the sweater lie nicely along the front?
The buttons would be cuter than a zipper, but not if they make the sweater pucker and pull across his tummy. Thoughts?
What if you lined the back of the button band with grosgrain ribbon? More work (especially stitching around the button holes) but it would add a little structure.
Posted by: Mandy
I hate to say it, but I would vote for a zipper. Your rib is so ribby. I can’t imagine it’ll lay flat.
Super cute photo!
Posted by: Cassie
i’m sorry, i can’t think much about buttons vs. zippers as I’m looking at Thumper’s big smile and dancing eyes–he’s like the perfect knit baby model! i’m guessing a zipper is probably the way to go, just a hunch.
Posted by: k
What if you lined the back of the button band with grosgrain ribbon? More work (especially stitching around the button holes) but it would add a little structure.
Posted by: Mandy
I hate to say it, but I would vote for a zipper. Your rib is so ribby. I can’t imagine it’ll lay flat.
Super cute photo!
Posted by: Cassie
i’m sorry, i can’t think much about buttons vs. zippers as I’m looking at Thumper’s big smile and dancing eyes–he’s like the perfect knit baby model! i’m guessing a zipper is probably the way to go, just a hunch.
Posted by: k
Um, can’t think about the zipper–just Thumper’s cute little face! What a cutie! Ok, the buttons vs. zipper? Well buttons are always a worry with busy, little hands trying to pull the buttons off. I vote for a zipper (even though I think buttons would look great).
Posted by: Brenda
Or, best of both worlds, you could always put in a zipper, and then toggle some buttons over top.
Gosh Thumper is cute! But I’m sure you’ve figured that out already. 🙂
Posted by: LaurieM
I did about 10″ of ribbing for my Scoop du Jour, and it buttons nicely. It doesn’t have to stretch too muh to fit me, though. The button band on the Scoop is chunky ribbing and I guess wide enough to avoid gaps.
Such a happy-looking baby you have, Cari!
Posted by: Nina
Oh, who cares? Look at that evil little grin!
Posted by: Cassie
uh oh. i agree with the others. go with the zipper if you’re worried about structure. it’s such a cute sweater though! on a cute kid!
Posted by: Elinor
how about both (shudder) put in the zipper then disguise it with the buttons? would be sooo cute on such a cute babe!
Posted by: liz
Um, can’t think about the zipper–just Thumper’s cute little face! What a cutie! Ok, the buttons vs. zipper? Well buttons are always a worry with busy, little hands trying to pull the buttons off. I vote for a zipper (even though I think buttons would look great).
Posted by: Brenda
Or, best of both worlds, you could always put in a zipper, and then toggle some buttons over top.
Gosh Thumper is cute! But I’m sure you’ve figured that out already. 🙂
Posted by: LaurieM
I did about 10″ of ribbing for my Scoop du Jour, and it buttons nicely. It doesn’t have to stretch too muh to fit me, though. The button band on the Scoop is chunky ribbing and I guess wide enough to avoid gaps.
Such a happy-looking baby you have, Cari!
Posted by: Nina
Oh, who cares? Look at that evil little grin!
Posted by: Cassie
uh oh. i agree with the others. go with the zipper if you’re worried about structure. it’s such a cute sweater though! on a cute kid!
Posted by: Elinor
how about both (shudder) put in the zipper then disguise it with the buttons? would be sooo cute on such a cute babe!
Posted by: liz
in my experience the buttons make the rib gappy, button band or no… i’ve ended up sticking in a zipper.
thumper is looking extremely cute and cuddly in his new knitwear!
Posted by: amisha
That is a *beautiful* sweater! 🙂 I’m not a knitter, but I’m a mom and I would vote for a zipper to avoid the choking hazard.
Posted by: Beth
Wait…this is *your* baby? I guess it’s been longer than I thought since I visited your blog! (Lost all my bookmarks some time ago and have had to recreate the list from memory.) Congratulations on your handsome little sweetie! 🙂
Posted by: Beth
Sew a grossgrain ribbon on the back side of the button bands. It stabilizes the bands and then the ribbing won’t gap and pull there so much.
Posted by: Miriam
It’s funny – there’s a total disconnect between looking at the photo and reading your writing today. What do you do to make him smile like that in all these pictures?
Posted by: Patti
maybe toggle buttons, just a couple on the top to keep it from sliding off his little shoulders. I crocheted a duster style jacked and added 2 toggle buttons, it was perfect. and they make fabulous wooden toggle buttons.
Posted by: Cambria W
I’d vote for a zipper, too…..having lived through babyhood with my daughter, and as Cassie #1 said, that’s a very ribby jacket.
What a cutie!
Posted by: Norma
in my experience the buttons make the rib gappy, button band or no… i’ve ended up sticking in a zipper.
thumper is looking extremely cute and cuddly in his new knitwear!
Posted by: amisha
That is a *beautiful* sweater! 🙂 I’m not a knitter, but I’m a mom and I would vote for a zipper to avoid the choking hazard.
Posted by: Beth
Wait…this is *your* baby? I guess it’s been longer than I thought since I visited your blog! (Lost all my bookmarks some time ago and have had to recreate the list from memory.) Congratulations on your handsome little sweetie! 🙂
Posted by: Beth
Sew a grossgrain ribbon on the back side of the button bands. It stabilizes the bands and then the ribbing won’t gap and pull there so much.
Posted by: Miriam
It’s funny – there’s a total disconnect between looking at the photo and reading your writing today. What do you do to make him smile like that in all these pictures?
Posted by: Patti
maybe toggle buttons, just a couple on the top to keep it from sliding off his little shoulders. I crocheted a duster style jacked and added 2 toggle buttons, it was perfect. and they make fabulous wooden toggle buttons.
Posted by: Cambria W
I’d vote for a zipper, too…..having lived through babyhood with my daughter, and as Cassie #1 said, that’s a very ribby jacket.
What a cutie!
Posted by: Norma
I like the zipper-disguised-by-buttons idea. Thumper has the best smile!
Posted by: Sneaksleep
my little guy is built like budda so all things ribby pucker across the tummy. My mom is telling me since he is walking now he will slim down a little. I think I would go with buttons….its talking to me.
Posted by: Ashley
Big wooden buttons fastened with nice wooly frogs . . . or toggle buttons.
He’s so precious. Sigh.
Posted by: Cynthia
I vote for a zipper.
Posted by: claudia
Maybe if you put alot of buttons ridiculously close together….Look at that smile! Cute Cute Cute!
Posted by: Julia
I’d vote for a zipper, too. But how about a cute orange one? I think it would set off the color nicely.
Posted by: Frith
Very cute picture! Thumper is a gifted model. I must add my vote that the sweater may just be too ribby. Too bad, wooden buttons would be adorable.
Posted by: Kirsten
I like the zipper-disguised-by-buttons idea. Thumper has the best smile!
Posted by: Sneaksleep
my little guy is built like budda so all things ribby pucker across the tummy. My mom is telling me since he is walking now he will slim down a little. I think I would go with buttons….its talking to me.
Posted by: Ashley
Big wooden buttons fastened with nice wooly frogs . . . or toggle buttons.
He’s so precious. Sigh.
Posted by: Cynthia
I vote for a zipper.
Posted by: claudia
Maybe if you put alot of buttons ridiculously close together….Look at that smile! Cute Cute Cute!
Posted by: Julia
I’d vote for a zipper, too. But how about a cute orange one? I think it would set off the color nicely.
Posted by: Frith
Very cute picture! Thumper is a gifted model. I must add my vote that the sweater may just be too ribby. Too bad, wooden buttons would be adorable.
Posted by: Kirsten
I think the idea of both buttons and a zip work… Wooden buttons definitely, or a contrasting colour to the green, for the buttons and the zip. For some reason, orange works in my head.. or even red.
Thumper is definitely a cutie.. and that green is one of my favourites! 🙂
Posted by: Kai
that baby’s too cute for words. And looks good in the sweater too.
Posted by: Nik
i am just finishing the button band for Twist (chicknits). I had to steam block teh button bands to get them to sit flat, and I used EZ’s buttonhole described in the shawl chapter of the knitters almanac (successfully). on the return row, you need to pick into the back of the sts for a ribbed band. re puckering, space your buttons closer together and place one button at the part of the anatomy of maximum stretch (eg bust line for woman’s garment, tummy for bub).
Hope this helps! Typing one handed, and wishing you all the best with the finishing… Nat
Posted by: nat
zipper. Maybe a button at the top? Gappy buttons are not good. However, big wooden buttons would be CUTE. I love big wooden buttons.
I still vote for the zipper.
Posted by: Steph
I think the idea of both buttons and a zip work… Wooden buttons definitely, or a contrasting colour to the green, for the buttons and the zip. For some reason, orange works in my head.. or even red.
Thumper is definitely a cutie.. and that green is one of my favourites! 🙂
Posted by: Kai
that baby’s too cute for words. And looks good in the sweater too.
Posted by: Nik
i am just finishing the button band for Twist (chicknits). I had to steam block teh button bands to get them to sit flat, and I used EZ’s buttonhole described in the shawl chapter of the knitters almanac (successfully). on the return row, you need to pick into the back of the sts for a ribbed band. re puckering, space your buttons closer together and place one button at the part of the anatomy of maximum stretch (eg bust line for woman’s garment, tummy for bub).
Hope this helps! Typing one handed, and wishing you all the best with the finishing… Nat
Posted by: nat
zipper. Maybe a button at the top? Gappy buttons are not good. However, big wooden buttons would be CUTE. I love big wooden buttons.
I still vote for the zipper.
Posted by: Steph