Make Buttonholes (3854 Views)

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  Step 1 of 15

  This how to demonstrates how to create regular buttonholes using automatic buttonhole features (steps 4-9 and step 14), manual buttonhole features (steps 11 through 14), and with just zig-zag and satin stitches (step 15).

  For making buttonholes, you will need the following supplies: 1 & 2- A buttonhole presser foot (Usually comes with most machines. If you don’t have one, a zig-zag foot may work.) 3- The buttons you plan on using (or at least a button of the same size) 4- A ruler 5- Sharp pointed scissors 6- A seam ripper

  Marking buttonholes on fabric is the most important step when making buttonholes with your home sewing machine. Most patterns show where the buttonhole centers should go, but do not always indicate the size of the button/buttonhole. A general rule is that the length of a buttonhole should equal the diameter of the button plus the thickness of the button. Example: a 7/8” button that is 1/8” thick should have a 1” buttonhole (a 22 mm button that is 2 mm thick should have a 2.5 cm buttonhole).

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  Step 2 of 15

  Using a ruler, mark all buttonhole marks directly on the grain. Make sure each is the exact same size.

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  Step 3 of 15

  Interfacing the buttonhole area is also very important, especially in stretchy fabrics or fabrics that fray easily. Put the interfacing on the facing if there is one; if not, put the interfacing on the back of the fabric and trim the excess away when you are finished.

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  Step 4 of 15

  For those of you who have an automatic buttonhole feature on your sewing machine, but have not yet tried to use it (my story), you won’t believe how easy it is.Place your button in the back of the automatic buttonhole foot. This tells the machine how big your button is.

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  Step 5 of 15

  Simply set your machine to the buttonhole setting. For my machine, I set the needle (stitch width) between 4 and 6, for zig-zag. (Your machine might be different.) Set the stitch length at the buttonhole setting.

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  Step 6 of 15

  Attach the foot, with the button in the back.

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  Step 7 of 15

  Pull down the buttonhole lever, which is usually located in the back and to the left of the presser foot.

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  Step 8 of 15

  The buttonhole stitches will be sewn in the order illustrated above. The automatic buttonhole is sewn clockwise from the bottom right hand corner (as the fabric is laid under the needle).

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  Step 9 of 15

  Place the fabric into the machine. Lower the needle in the fabric, at the point which would be the top, right hand corner of the button hole, if the buttonhole were complete. Press down on the pedal and let the machine do all the work.

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  Step 10 of 15

  When it is finished, you will have to switch to a different setting and then back to the buttonhole setting to reset and continue sewing the rest of your buttonholes. Gosh, its so easy it’s criminal.

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  Step 11 of 15

  To make buttonholes using your manual machine settings, you will need a buttonhole presser foot.

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  Step 12 of 15

  Simply set your machine to the buttonhole setting. Set the needle between 4 and 6. Set the stitch length at the button setting. Attach the foot. Pull down the buttonhole lever, which is usually located in the back and to the left of the presser foot. Place the fabric into the machine.

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  Step 13 of 15

  Make sure you have marked the width and length of your buttonhole. Lower the needle in the fabric, at the point which would be the top, right hand corner of the button hole, if the garment were complete. The machine will make the buttonhole in two steps. First press down on the pedal, and sew the end and left side of the buttonhole. Continue sewing the left side of the buttonhole as long as is necessary, until you are ready to sew the other end of the buttonhole, at which point you will have to pull the buttonhole lever towards you. This tells the machine that you are ready to sew the other end and side of the buttonhole, and it will do so. Remember, though, that this manual method does not know how big your buttonhole is, so you must stop it when you have reached the end again. When it is finished, you will have to switch to a different setting and then back to the buttonhole setting to reset and continue sewing the rest of your buttonholes.

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  Step 14 of 15

  To open the buttonholes, use a seam ripper. Insert the seam ripper into one end of the buttonhole and push it up through the middle, cutting the space in between the stitches. Insert again from the other side to the middle and cut. Trim with a clipper or very pointed scissors.

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  Step 15 of 15

  If you have an old machine that does not have a buttonhole feature, or for some reason this feature stopped working, you can also create a buttonhole using the zig-zag and straight satin stitches on your machine. For the sides of the buttonhole, set the machine to the smallest stitch length and sew short, small stitches, forwards and backwards. To create the length of the buttonholes, sew first a straight, tight stitch. Then, set your machine to its lowest zig-zag setting, and sew over the straight stitch. This is sometimes a neater and more desired buttonhole.