Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

11

Time Required

                          15 minutes

Sections

1

  • Creating a Buttonhole Using a Sewing Machine
  • 11 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Creating a Buttonhole Using a Sewing Machine
  • Select your buttonhole foot. Buttonhole feet can vary in appearance, so check you manual.
  • Thread the buttonhole foot by sliding the thread through the diagonal slit into the center hole.

Select your buttonhole foot. Buttonhole feet can vary in appearance, so check you manual.

Thread the buttonhole foot by sliding the thread through the diagonal slit into the center hole.

1024

Step 2

  • Mark where you would like the top and bottom of the buttonhole to be with tailor’s chalk.
  • You can measure your button if you aren’t sure.
  • Align the sewing machine at the upper left corner of the buttonhole.

Mark where you would like the top and bottom of the buttonhole to be with tailor’s chalk.

You can measure your button if you aren’t sure.

Align the sewing machine at the upper left corner of the buttonhole.

Step 3

  • Lower the presser foot.

Lower the presser foot.

Step 4

  • Set your stitch length dial to nearly zero, this will create a satin stitch. The usual stitch length is around the 2.5.

Set your stitch length dial to nearly zero, this will create a satin stitch. The usual stitch length is around the 2.5.

Step 5

  • Set your button hole dial to one. If you have an electronic sewing machine, refer to your manual.
  • Every time you adjust this dial, your needle will move. That’s okay; it’s supposed to do that.
  • Start sewing. Sew to your second line.

Set your button hole dial to one. If you have an electronic sewing machine, refer to your manual.

Every time you adjust this dial, your needle will move. That’s okay; it’s supposed to do that.

Start sewing. Sew to your second line.

Step 6

  • Set your button hole dial to two.
  • Sew the bar tack at the bottom of the buttonhole.
  • Setting the button hole dial to two tells your sewing machine what to do, all you need to do is sew a few stitches to create the bar tack.

Set your button hole dial to two.

Sew the bar tack at the bottom of the buttonhole.

Setting the button hole dial to two tells your sewing machine what to do, all you need to do is sew a few stitches to create the bar tack.

Step 7

  • Set your buttonhole dial to three.
  • Sew up the second side of your buttonhole, stopping at your top mark.

Set your buttonhole dial to three.

Sew up the second side of your buttonhole, stopping at your top mark.

Step 8

  • Set your buttonhole dial to four.
  • Sew the top bar tack at the top of the buttonhole.

Set your buttonhole dial to four.

Sew the top bar tack at the top of the buttonhole.

Step 9

  • Set your buttonhole dial to five.
  • This setting backstitches to hold the thread in place. Sew a few more stitches, which will finish the buttonhole.

Set your buttonhole dial to five.

This setting backstitches to hold the thread in place. Sew a few more stitches, which will finish the buttonhole.

Step 10

  • Clip the threads, freeing the fabric from the machine.
  • Clip any extra loose threads.

Clip the threads, freeing the fabric from the machine.

Clip any extra loose threads.

Step 11

  • Use a hobby knife to cut open the buttonhole.
  • Be careful not to cut through the stitching, you only want to cut the fabric between the rows of stitching.

Use a hobby knife to cut open the buttonhole.

Be careful not to cut through the stitching, you only want to cut the fabric between the rows of stitching.

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Author

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                    Brittany McCrigler

Member since: 03/05/2012

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Holly - Mar 8, 2015

Reply

I got up to position (!) 2 ok, then when I tried to go back up on position 3 it didn’t work and just chewed up my fabric. Is it supposed to go backwards, or are you supposed to turn the fabric around? Did I do something wrong?

Roszarie - Mar 31, 2018

Reply

The same thing happened to me when I first tried this too, Holly.

I discovered that I was over-stitching position 2.

Now, I do a maximum 3 stitches only, before I go on to position 3 and everything works beautifully. I don’t have to turn the fabric around - position 3 stitches in reverse, and I finish off with a couple of stitches in position 2, to top off the button-hole.

I hope this helps!