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We've all seen these funny little tools. What are they for, even? We no longer wear button-up shoes these days, but back in the 1920s and prior, this was an essential tool for putting on your shoes!
It's a great illustration of how common button shoes and boots were by the shear volume of button hooks that survive today. This example I found on eBay - it's a steel shank with a hollow handle. I have no idea of the age, but thought the design quite pretty.
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| Fancy buttoning these babies up by hand? I don't think so. |
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When will you start offering these boots?!?
ReplyDeleteTenatively September for pre-order, and delivery by end of November. That is the goal, at least!
DeleteI feel sort of dumb asking this, but I've always wondered about how you actually -use- the hooks! Do you hold the button with one hand and then hook the buttonhole with the hook and loop the flap/buttonhole over? Or do you hook a button with the hook to hold it up/out, and wrestle the buttonholes over the button with your free hand? Is it tough? I think I'm overthinking this. ;D
ReplyDeleteI've always assumed you would shove the hook through the buttonhole, loop it around the button, and pull it through the hole.
Deletehttp://www.thebuttonhooksociety.com/collecting.html
DeleteI decent heft crochet hook is absolutely wonderful for buttoning and unbuttoning the backs of dresses with all the teeny buttons - same principle I guess. I used to give a crochet hook to every bride I made a dress for. :)
ReplyDeleteBRILLIANT idea!
DeleteMrsC What size crochet hook did you use? That is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI think I want the hook more than I want the boots! :-)
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ReplyDeleteI remember seeing a hook in action when watching Disney's Pollyanna as a child. Love that they are still available today
ReplyDeleteooo! it's been so long since I've seen Pollyanna, but it was one of my faves as a kid too. Time to watch it again, methinks :-)
DeleteI was going through stuff at my grandparents' house and found a button hook - wood handle about 5 inches long. I think my grandma used it on her shoes when she was girl...or it was her mother's, which might be more likely. But it was an awesome find!
ReplyDeleteGreat find!
DeleteSo when can we expect Victorian buttoned boots and button hook to be available in your store?
ReplyDeleteThey're tenatively planned for pre-ordering in September, and delivery by end of November, in time for the Christmas shopping season. The button hooks will be available with the boots, or separately to buy in the shop.
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