I love shawls. I love that they add a little extra warmth, you can even wear them bandit-style under a jacket, and they can be small enough to scrunch together when you’re not wearing them (or hung on a hanger in your closet). Bring them to a chilly restaurant, leave one in your office for when it (inevitably) gets cool, or use one like a blanket when you have a bit of a chill at home. It’s a great way to dress up your outfit or add another layer when you need it.
But sometimes, they can be hard to keep on your shoulders. I end up futzing with them a lot and pulling them back up. Or knotting them to try and keep them in place.
Enter JUL Designs‘ Pedestal Buttons and Shawl Pins. There’s so much to love.
Pedestal Buttons
I love that these look like buttons but don’t require a button hole. They give me flexibility to grab the shawl how I want that day, but I can remove the button(s) and place them in a totally different place next time!
I treat these like jewelry when I’m not using them so I (try) not to lose the backs. Honestly, the biggest challenge for me is that I remember to take them off before taking the shawl off and don’t just leave them on after I’m done wearing it. I like to create folds and gathers and they’re not great for a shawl when they’re being stored (ask me how I know).
And a word of advice – screw them in well but not so tightly that it’s hard to unscrew. Or like me, you might need to ask your husband for help.
Shawl Pins
These are another way to affix a shawl without needing to pre-plan buttonholes. They work great because they allow you to place them in different spots as your mood changes, your outfit changes or your weight changes (that never happens, right?).
Either of these give you a way to add a little something extra to your outfit. And the best part – they’re not permanent so you can choose the right one for your mood or your outfit.
My Favorite Ways to Use JUL Buttons and Pins
There are lots of ways to use them, and I keep coming up with new ways and new styles too. I never thought I was a rectangular shawl person, but with JUL Buttons I think they can make a real statement.
Since I have a TON of triangular shawls, I’ll show you a few of my favorite ways to use them.
This is such a great way to wear a cowl. You know how you need to make a cowl wide enough to go over your head without messing up your hair? But then it ends up being too loose around your neck? Well, Pedestal Buttons are the answer. I often thought about using a shawl pin for this but decided against impaling myself in the process 😉
This is better.
More Ideas
JUL created a few videos to show you how to style with their pedestal buttons.
And here’s another one that shows both the pedestal buttons and their no-sew closures.
Win a Pedestal Button or Shawl Pin
Would you like one of your very own? Leave us a comment on this post: tell us which you would prefer – one of the shawl pins or the screw-in pedestal button styling tack – why you would choose the one over the others, and what you would use it on.
The fine print: One entry per email address. Leaving a comment here gives you one entry into the contest and also signs you up for both the Knotions and JUL Designs Newsletters. You can unsubscribe from either at any point and we never sell or rent your email address. It’s safe with us. The contest ends at 12 Midnight EDT on Sunday, October 8th, 2017.
Good luck!
Second Entry
A second way to win!
Post an image on Instagram of where you’d place the buttons/pin (Don’t have any yet? Use paper and removable stitch markers to indicate the placement) and use the hashtag #knotionsJULdesigns.
The fine print: This is a second entry so you need to comment here first. This is part of the same contest, so the contest ends at 12 Midnight EDT on Sunday, October 8th, 2017.
10% Off Now
Don’t want to wait? Laura from JUL gave me a coupon code just for Knotions readers. Pick any of the designs featured here from their website and use the code knotions10 at checkout for 10% off your purchase.
It’s great to have a video, thanks. I would love a pedestal button because it’s seems more versatile and I have a few shawl pins already.
Hm, I have several shawl pins (okay, I have a small collection), but I don’t have any of the pedestal buttons. Thanx to your tip, I now know how to cinch up a cowl in a decorative fashion. Therefore, I would have to say that I would luv to win one of those.
Wow. Where have I been that the pedestal buttons are new to me? I would love to use these.
I think that I would prefer the shawl pin. Although the buttons are intreguing, I prefer lacy shawls and I fear that the buttons will work their way through the holes in the lace as if it were a button hole
I’d like a pedestal button. I’ve been known to stab myself with pointy shawl pins. 🙂 I’ve got lots of shawls to use it on and I’ve avoided cowls because I don’t like the way many of them puddle uselessly; I think a pedestal button would be a perfect way to gather them around my neck to keep warm.
The Pedestal Button is my fave! It’s a versatile design that I would use on both shawls and open sweaters. Thanks for the generous giveaway!
love the mod leather shawl pin….but really, I should try a pedestal button as I’m a mama with active small boys and I’m always afraid of poking someone with shawl pins or having my shawl end up in a mud puddle. The button would solve all that!
Pedestal button as I think you could be more active in your knitwear then. 🙂
I would love to try a pedestal button. I have a nice shawl pin but have poked myself a number of times with it while wearing the shawl at work and without something holding it, I spend all day fussing with the shawl.
Love them both. I can see the pedestal buttons being a great way to close a cardigan. But given a choice between the two pieces, I would choose the shawl pin because I love the idea of having my jewelry be a functional piece as well. So shawl pins are a staple of my wardrobe. And I am a sucker for a beautifully worked piece of metal.