Sally from Sew Sally breaks down the basics of creating buttonholes in a simple, approachable manner that anyone can follow. For her Sew, Mama, Sew! article, she starts by emphasizing the importance of measuring your button first, as this will determine the size of your buttonhole. She recommends using a ruler and marking the fabric lightly with a pencil to ensure accuracy.
Once you’ve measured, Sally explains three methods for sewing buttonholes: using the automatic buttonhole stitch on your sewing machine, freehand stitching, and sewing by hand. She suggests that beginners start with the machine’s automatic feature, which produces consistent results, but for those without this option, the freehand method works just as well, as long as you practice first on scrap fabric.
From my own experience, I can’t stress enough the importance of stabilizing your fabric. I like to add interfacing or even a layer of lightweight fusible tape where the buttonhole will be stitched. This extra step ensures that your buttonhole doesn’t warp or stretch, giving a clean, professional finish. Also, don’t forget to always use sharp scissors or a seam ripper to open your buttonhole. There’s nothing worse than accidentally snipping your stitches!
