Reason's why I think buttons are good.

- There is a vast array of shapes and sizes

- They can make any outfit

- Super practical, I hate velcro.

- Very easy to replace if lost

- Cardigans wouldn't be the same without them

- It almost feels like you've found a pound when you find one under the sofa

- So useful!

-They can be collected, and make a fine collection at that!

- Can be use in arts and crafts

- Can be used for decoration on clothing rather than practicality

- They never break

- Some can be eaten; chocolate buttons

- They make a nice sound when they hit the floor

- Some can be animal shaped, these are called my favourites.

- Belly buttons!

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Facts about Buttons:

- Buttons are a small fastener in clothing

- They are most likely to be made of plastic

- They can be made from a vast array of materials, including shell

- Buttons made from seashell were used in the Indus Valley Civilization for ornamental purposes by 2000 BCE

- Functional buttons with buttonholes for fastening or closing clothes appeared first in Germany in the 13th century.

- Buttons can be individually crafted by artisans, craftspeople or artists from raw materials or found objects (for example fossils), or a combination of both.

- Nowadays, hard plastic, seashell and wood are the most common materials used in button-making.

- Covered buttons are fabric-covered forms with a separate back piece that secures the fabric over the knob.

- Mandarin buttons or Frogs are knobs made of intricately knotted strings. Mandarin buttons are a key element in Mandarin dress (Qi Pao and cheongsam in Chinese), where they are closed with loops. Pairs of mandarin buttons worn as cuff linksare called silk knots.

-Worked or cloth buttons are created by embroidering or crocheting tight stitches (usually with linen thread) over a knob or ring called a form.

- Between about 1840 and 1916, clothing buttons were used in American political campaigns, and still exist in collections today.

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Opinions about buttons

- Ian McNeil (1990) holds that: "The button, in fact, was originally used more as an ornament than as a fastening, the earliest known being found at Mohenjo-daro in the Indus Valley. It is made of a curved shell and about 5000 years old."

On yahoo answers:

"How many buttons are you supposed to do up on a polo shirt?"

Answers:
- " it depends how high your buttons go up. i usually button up 2 buttons but if that looks too high, then one is ok too. i think all buttoned up looks funny so stick to 1 or 2 "
- " I think 1 is casual, 2 is a little less casual, 3 looks weird and nerdy."

On yahoo answers:
- " Anyone know where I can buy cute buttons that you pin on stuff? Not custom buttons, but ones with cute sayings and stuff. "
Answers:
- " A lot of "kitschy" and cute shops have them, and I even saw some in Wal Mart and Target. Craft Stores have them and Fabric Stores have them. You can also buy the empty ones and then print off your own messages and make your own!!! Good luck!! "
- " check at michaels.com "

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Images of buttons: