Page 23 - May1954

May, 19 5 4 NATIONAL BUTTON IIULLETITT- 2t3

THE MEANING OF THE TERM "CROCHET''
Reading trade litelatule, in this case button literature. is a lesson in
language. Dickens pointed the lesson up humorousty in his quip about
words being used either in their real sense or in their pickwickian sense.
Lervis CarroII meant the same thing when he talked .ll'himsically about words
being used to mean anything that the user wanted then to mean. The fact
could not have been morg penetratingly put, no natter hotv solemnly it
rvas stated.
To bring the lesson to buttons: an-r.one who naively assumet that the
N'ords on button cards always mean just what the ordinary dictionary says
the"v do, rvill pick up sone strangely \trong notions. Consider, as the case
in point, the rneaning of the rvord "crochet" as used on button cards.
Taking Webster's word for it, "crochet" is "a kind of knitting done with
a hooked needle." A knowiedge of the technique of crocheting, horvever,
definitely rules this meaning out when one tries to apply it to many of
the buttons on "crochet" cards.
The rvord "crochet" printed on a button card does, indeed. seem to
tnean whatever the user *'ishes it to "made .lvith or without a crochet
hook, as the case may be." Looking hard to discover rvhat common
characteristics these buttons have (since the expected one is lacking), one
reaches this trial answer: "crochet" buttons have a cover of intertwined
hard-twist thread. This answer falls short of classification needs, however,
at both ends. In the first place, not all hard-trvitt thread covers are tabeled
"crochet," and in the second place, any cover nade with a crochet hook must
be classified as "crochet" no matter how soft the thread is.
This last observation, that all buttons made with a crochet hook are
clochet buttons. seems to offer the only definition of the type acceptable for
purlloses of classification. The impractical consequence of classifying buttons
as "crociret" because they'lvere sold on cards printed with that u'ord I'ould be
that often the "correct" classification would be lost when the buttons became
sepalated frorn their cards.
The characteristics of €ienuine crochet rvork are clear and dirtinglishable
from any other kind of needlecraft. Some experience is required to recognize
the various stitches and Dattern-types, but, fortunately, most button collectors
already have this knorvledge. If it should happen that you have never
crocheted, you rvill have no difficulty in flnding a friend rvho can demonstrate
hou'it is done and rvhat effects are possible.

DEATH'S.HEAD PATTERN MISTAKEN FOR CROCHET
The death's-head pattern, with its regular, tightly-drarvn stitches
forming a four-part cap,lvas probably of all needle-rvrought co\.ers the one
most widely used. It is seen on shoe buttons the size of Deas and on cloak
buttons as big as butter plates, allvays looking neat and substantial.
This standard pattern has often been mistaken for crochet rvork, no
doubt because of the texture of the stitches which excel the best crochet
for flrmness and uniformity.
The crochet paltern for which the death's-head is mistaken consists of
row upon row of single stitches started on a ring-an explanation that
explains nothing to the uninitiated. Fortunately, though, the difference
betrveen the t$'o is there for everyone to see.
The crochet pattern, as mentioned, starts on a ring and progresses b1-
going around and around. The "rib" or "weave," so to speak, of the cover
can be traced in concentric circles. The "rib" of the needlewrousht cover