knappkrok

Knappkrok is a historical hand tool used to fasten buttons by guiding them through buttonholes. The device typically consists of a slender metal shaft with a small hooked end, though some designs employ a flattened jaw or ring grip. The hook captures the button and allows the user to pull it through the hole with a controlled motion.

Originating in the 19th century, knappkrok spread as part of domestic sewing sets and professional tailoring kits. It was especially useful for buttons that were difficult to manipulate with bare fingers, such as tiny shirt buttons, glove buttons, and buttons on boots and high collars. Its use is frequently associated with Victorian and Edwardian apparel, though it remained in circulation into the early 20th century.

In modern times, knappkrok is typically discussed in historical or museum contexts. The tool is rarely used in contemporary sewing, having largely been supplanted by alternative fasteners and by modern buttonhole machines; however, it remains a common example of pre-modern garment technology. The Swedish term knappkrok is commonly translated as "buttonhook" in English-language sources.