$5 First Fridays: March 7 - Dorset Buttons

Name: $5 First Fridays: March 7 - Dorset Buttons
Start: 2025-03-07T17:30:00-05:00
End: 2025-03-07T19:00:00-05:00
Location: 323 N. Lee St., South Salisbury, NC

Schedule

Fri Mar 07 2025 at 05:30 pm to 07:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

323 N. Lee St., South Salisbury, NC | Salisbury, NC

The first Dorset Buttons were made in the 1600s. Dorset buttons developed in materials and style over many years until they became what we know as Dorset buttons today. By the early 18th century they became a cottage industry in England providing additional income to farming families. Dorset buttons remained popular and a common home industry until the early 19th century when machine made buttons began to replace handmade buttons. By the end of the 19th century the industry mostly died out. But these buttons remain popular in craft circles because of their versatility. the basic techniques are now used to make jewelry and decorative items. Examples of these are found in the comments.
Our Friday workshop will cover the basic materials and techniques for making these buttons. Where you go from there is up to you.