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Eyelets and Self-Stuffed Buttons

Eyelets and Self-Stuffed Buttons

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Taught:

  • Drachenwald: Polderslot Costume Workshop ~ September 2022
  • Ansteorra: Kingdom Collegium ~ July 2025/A.S. LX

This is the gallery for both methods of making self-stuffed buttons, as well as various methods for making hand-sewn eyelets.

I have found a shot glass to be an ideal size for making self-stuffed buttons.
3″/5cm diameter
DO NOT KNOT. Instead, do a single backstitch; this will be enough!
Stitching around the edge. The smaller the stitches, the better the results.
Drawn closed.
Stitch through the RIDGES and stay close to the edge.
Finish on the inside.
Draw closed, then stitch into the valleys to make a “star”-shaped pattern (roughly!). Use your fingers to reshape, if needed.
Method two: halfway between the center and the outer edge. Use chalk or a marker if you need guidance. Backstitch to start — again, no knots.
Running stitch. Finish on the OUTSIDE (“right” side)
Fold the outside parts into the middle. Awl is for photographic purposes, DO NOT USE AN AWL. The tip of a knitting needle will work well, though.
Pull the string until the button is formed. Again, stitch through the valleys in a star-shaped pattern.
Use an awl to make a hole. Use a marker or chalk to mark the approximate circle; you’ll be glad you did.
Do a running stitch around the edge as a guide. Stitch through the hole.
Wrap the thread around the needle once. This is a blanket stitch.
Pull needle through, tighten the thread, then repeat. You can go clockwise or anti-clockwise.
The “ridge” is formed in the middle.
Same start, but this time, put the needle through the hole first, THEN push through the fabric, THEN wrap the thread around once.
Repeat in a clockwise or counterclockwise fashion. The “ridge” will appear on the outside. I think it’s a cleaner look.
Ring-reinforced eyelet. I used a jewelry jump ring.
1) Inner ridge 2) outer ridge 3) outer ridge with jump ring for reinforcement

The handout is available here: https://hextilda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/stuffed-buttons-and-holes.pdf

Navigating by the Stars

Navigating by the Stars

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Hail and well met!

I love teaching this course and it has become a perennial favorite at Pennsic. People take it for a variety of reasons — some wish to know what their persona would have known, some are more survival/preparedness-minded, and some simply wish to be able to find their way back to their encampment from parties at War. The handout covers the highlights of the class.

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This course has been previously taught at:

  • Festival of the Flowers — May 2016, Bjornsborg, Ansteorra
  • Pennsic 45 — July/August 2016
  • War of the Rams — November 2016, Ansteorra
  • Gulf Wars — March 2017, Glenn Abhann
  • Pennsic 46 — July/August 2017
  • War of the Rams — November 2017, Ansteorra
  • Gulf Wars — March 2018, Glenn Abhann
  • Pennsic 47 — July/August 2018
  • War of the Rams — November 2018, Ansteorra
  • Gulf Wars — March 2019, Glenn Abhann

I was in a bad car wreck a week after Gulf 2019, so I did not attend Pennsic that summer.

  • War of the Rams — November 2019, Ansteorra

Then Covid kicked off, closing down Gulf as I was driving there. Literally had to turn around at the Texas border. Then I got married and moved to France, so no longer presented the class at Gulf or Rams/BAM. 

  • Pennsic 49 — July/August 2022
  • Pennsic 50 — July/August 2023

The Summer Olympics were in Paris the same two weeks as Pennsic 2024, so I stayed in France and attended some phenomenal events. 

Pennsic 2025 was just a couple of weeks after our move back to the US, so we were unable to attend (alas).

  • Gulf Wars — March 2026, Glenn Abhann

UPCOMING:

  • Pennsic 53 — July/August 2026

 

Post updated 2026.03.30