Button

A button is used in conjunction with a buttonhole or loop for closing of clothing, such as outerwear, underwear or shoes and containers such as bags, baskets, boxes and others.

History

The button as a decorative item without buttonhole or loop was already known in ancient times. Buttons with buttonholes (instead of loops ) were invented in the 13th century in Germany. The new method spread rapidly until the 14th century in Europe and led to a fashion with tight-fitting clothes.

Use

When closing the knob, which is firmly connected to the one half of fabric, either pulled by a resized loop on the other half or a tree cut in the fabric ( buttonhole ) out and the opening sealed so. The shape of the button, its size, the material and the attachment are subject to fashion. Nowadays one button consists mostly of plastic and / or metal; other materials such as wood, horn, glass and mother of pearl. A button can also be attached to an ornament. Predecessor of the button as utility and as a decorative item were the band and the fibula.

Traditionally found in Men's Clothing that buttons from the perspective of the support on the right, the corresponding buttonholes on the left side; one speaks of a left-right buttoning. In Women's clothing, however, it is reversed ( right-left buttoning ). There are several theories as to the reasons for this, for example, that men have their own clothing buttoned, while " the lady " was dressed by a maid, which also included the buttons. For the maid, at least if she was right-handed, it was easier to hold the buttons with the right hand and the buttonhole with the left hand than the other way around. However, is contradicted by the fact that a general right-left buttoning in women's clothing is detectable only from the middle of the 19th century.

Kinds of buttons

Buttons can be distinguished according to the material (eg, deer horn button, pearl button ), after use or as follows according to the shape and style.

Shank button

The shank button is in use since the Middle Ages. It is characterized in that it has an eyelet on the rear side, by which it is stitched to the garment. The face side of the button may be spherical, dome, domed disc-shaped or flat. The eyelet can be attached alone or together with a carrier plate on the back of the button or the button made ​​with a single piece.

A special form of Ösenknopfes is the related button. Here, a disc-shaped or curved base is upholstered in fabric or leather. The gathered together on the back of the button material overhang is used as an eye, for attachment.

Since the eye acts as a spacer between the button and carrier, shank buttons are preferably used in thick fabrics (eg coats ), so that the button is completely flush with the buttonhole. The uninterrupted surface is particularly suitable for ornaments, for example, in relief badges ( uniform buttons ), engravings, cloisonné or (with covered buttons ) embroidery.

Wherever buttons can interfere with cleaning or other treatments of garments (eg laboratory and lab coat ), shank buttons can be designed removable. For this purpose, the eye is led through a small reinforced hole in the fabric and secured on the back with a small " key ring ".

Hole button

The button hole is usually a disk shape - with or without decorative border - and is passed through the holes sewn to the fabric. It occurs most commonly as a two -or four -hole button on shirts and blouses. It can be fixed easily by machine. If it is used for thicker materials must be created under the head for the buttonhole place by first stitching on the button with extra-long loops and then several times with the sewing thread wrapped ( stick ).

Twist knob

When twisting knob linen or cotton yarn is a star shape led to a metal ring until there is a closed surface. Since twisting knobs are traditionally used ( at least since the 18th century ) for laundry, they are found almost exclusively in white.

Posamentenknopf

Posamentenknöpfe are made from the same materials as cords and tassels, ie usually made with silk ( or rayon ) wrapped strands. A Posamentenknopf may take the form of a sheet Ösenknopfes or ornament that forms a knob at a place, which is guided through the loop of a symmetrical counterpart.

Gag

Gags are a special form of elongated knob and probably the oldest precursor of today's knob. They may be provided with eyelets or holes and are usually combined with loops instead of buttonholes. See especially in coats and in the traditional fashion using. The essential characteristic of duffle coats are toggle buttons.

Push-button

A push button, a closure means of two small round pieces, one of which having a recess and the other is provided with a suitable head. They are sewn on opposite sides of the fabric, or riveted together and pressed into each other to close. So that the head snaps and the button opens only at considerable traction, the depression is formed in accordance with an open cavity or ring, then the elasticity of the material of the button allows you to snap, or it is installed an additional laterally resilient element. Push buttons are usually made of metal, rare plastic. The push button existed long before the Christian era, this is their use as attachment to the Bronze car of the famous Terracotta Army. 1885 invented Heribert Bauer from Pforzheim the first pushbutton modern times. It was intended mainly for underwear for men. 1903 came the push button in an improved form of Hans Prym on the market, with an inserted around the head part spring which facilitated the opening and closing considerably. Made of stainless metal, is the push button in this form until today and which do not usually serves as an unobtrusive, or in the closed state most visible closure of garments, bags and others.

Buttonhole

Buttonholes are made ​​usually by machine; also household sewing buttonholes can produce clean and reliable. With high quality and tailor-made clothing buttonholes are hand sewn. The tailor used a particularly twisted yarn; previously used buttonhole silk is increasingly being replaced by polyester yarns. The buttonhole is a Schlingstich, the buttonhole stitch, worked, which strengthens the buttonhole and protects against tearing.

A distinction (also called flat Buttonholes ) Paspelknopflöcher and keyhole buttonholes, flat Linen buttonholes. Linen buttonholes are common in shirts and blouses, Paspelknopflöcher are bordered by two narrow piping and used on jackets and coats. Keyhole buttonholes have a roughly hewn eye that lets the button shank space at the front tension side. This form is used for heavy fabrics in which the knob can not fit snugly against the fabric, but is sewn with a so-called stem in order that lie above one another smoothly when closing both layers of fabric.

Except for shirts and blouses buttonholes are usually mounted horizontally.

Placket

The placket is regarded as a mark of high-quality processing by the shirt and the waistband. It consists of a piece of fabric for an attached button and buttonhole. A " patch bar " has externally visible stitching, a "blind strip " an invisible stitching, for example, to dress shirts.

Until the 1950s, a placket was the preferred gear for furs. It consisted of a strip of fabric with button holes, which was sewn to the inside of the crossing leading edge, so that the part could be buttoned blind, ie without button holes in the fur. The buttons here were not visible when closed fur. The invention of the inconspicuous Klipverschlusses for furs replaced knob and button placket.