In this post, I’m going to walk you through how to sew a buttonhole with a sewing machine. All sewing machines have different types of automation when it comes to making buttonholes, and some are easier than others. However, as long as your sewing machine can do a zigzag stitch, you should be able to make a buttonhole.

Before we had the buttonhole foot in our store and I made a manual page for this brand new presser foot — which is something we do for most of our products —- I didn’t know much about buttonholes in general. I just knew how to sew a regular buttonhole with my Brother sewing machine, following the instructions in the manual, but that was it. But I did the research for this new product, so why not share it with you all? I think learning how to make buttonholes is an important skill for all sewists.

I’ll try to demystify the different buttonhole settings, explain different types of buttonhole attachments, buttonhole stitches, and the presser feet that you can use. I’ll also give you some tips and tricks on how to get the best results possible; talk about vertical and horizontal positions of a buttonhole; go over some different shapes and types of buttonholes; touch on the advantages of using a specific presser foot; and give you the best way to open a buttonhole after it is sewn.

As you probably know, sewing machine models vary - a lot - , so it is possible that your machine is different from what I explain here. If you have any questions, your sewing machine's manual is always the best reference for the settings and the use of a specific attachment, but don’t hesitate to send me a message in the comments below or email me at an@madamsew.com if you feel stuck!

A buttonhole is usually made up of two rows of dense stitches. A regular buttonhole consists of two parallel “beads” that are secured by bartacks at both ends.  

The buttonhole’s size, shape, and placement always depends on the button—no matter the button type or size. Always purchase the buttons for your project before stitching the button holes.

Buttons are sized according to their diameter, but for a buttonhole you need the diameter plus the height to determine how large the buttonhole opening should be. Also, a flat button requires a smaller buttonhole than a thick or shank button of the same size. You can use a sliding measuring gauge to measure the diameter and the height of your button and add ⅛ of an inch. If you have a buttonhole attachment with a sliding gauge on the back, you can place your button in it to automatically choose your buttonhole size. However, if you are making buttonholes for very thick buttons, I would still recommend adding some extra length, as the attachment doesn’t measure the height.

A machine-made buttonhole is usually sewn with dense zigzag stitches with the two ends finished in a bartack, created using a broader zig-zag stitch.  

When you dial down the stitch length on a zigzag stitch, a dense set of stitches is created that makes a solid looking line, also known as the satin stitch. These stitches are also used for embroidery and applique.

If you are using a pattern, follow the guidelines of your pattern to place your buttonholes.

Buttonholes on a fabric band on the front of a shirt or a blouse are usually sewn vertically. Vertical buttonholes take up less space on the garment and are easier and faster to sew for the industry. Where there is more stress on the buttonholes, like on the top collar button and the buttonholes on cuffs, buttonholes are sewn horizontally. Buttonholes on jackets, coats, and heavy weight garments are also sewn horizontally. Horizontal buttonholes also allow a little more expansion and stay buttoned more securely. The button can slide along the horizontal opening without distorting the buttonhole as much as a vertical one.

So, actually, the direction of the buttonhole doesn’t matter that much. You can create them however you like, as long as it works for you and your garment.

Some newer machines have a fully automated buttonhole setting, meaning that you just need to tell your machine what size of button you need the hole for. Then, you position your fabric under the needle and it will sew the buttonhole in no time. Repeat this for other buttonholes on your project of the same size. These are often referred to as 1-step-buttonhole settings. They often have a lever that you need to pull down and a specific attachment that works with that lever. The buttonhole lever is usually positioned behind the bracket on the buttonhole foot.

If you read in your machine's manual that you have a 4-step buttonhole setting, it means that there is some automation, but it’s not as advanced as the 1 step setting. This type of machine will have steps for sewing the four sides of the buttonhole without you needing to change the stitch size, width, or direction, but you need to change from one step to the next step manually, and depending on your machine and the presser foot you are using, it will indicate when to go to the next step. On some machines, you need to mark the size of the buttonhole on your fabric and keep an eye on the marks to go to the next step. Some presser feet help you with this, like MadamSew's Buttonhole Foot.

If you have no buttonhole setting at all, you can still sew a beautiful buttonhole, no worries! You can get there with a narrow zigzag stitch or a satin stitch. It takes some practice, so be sure to start on a piece of scrap fabric. You will have to change the stitch lengths, widths, and direction manually after each step to get there, but it is very doable!

If you have a buttonhole setting, you probably received a buttonhole foot with your machine. Some types and brands of machines only work with the foot that came with the machine. Check this first before you consider buying a buttonhole presser foot.

Depending on the type of buttonhole foot, the advantages are:

• It helps to determine the size of your button accurately, indicating how big your buttonhole needs to be when you are sewing. This means no measuring and marking the buttonhole on your fabric.
• After you have set the size manually, it remembers the size of the buttonhole so you can sew several perfectly identical buttonholes, on a shirt for example.
• You can see clearly where you are sewing.
• The large cutout allows the buttonhole (the dense stitching) to pass easily under the foot as it is being created.
• It starts sewing in place when you reach the length of the buttonhole.

My Brother sewing machine has a 4-step buttonhole setting and comes with a foot that measures the size of the button. The foot has a little bracket that bumps into the buttonhole lever of the machine. Because of this, the machine stops moving forward when it reaches the length that is needed for the buttonhole.

I also wrote a manual with a YouTube video about how to use the MadamSew buttonhole foot. I explain how to use it with a 4-step buttonhole setting.

I have some more tips to share as you learn how to make a buttonhole with a sewing machine.

Just like machine embroidery, a buttonhole has a lot of dense stitching, and not all fabric can handle that without reinforcement. If you don't strengthen the fabric a little, it can get distorted and curl up. On top of that, a buttonhole gets a lot of wear and tear, so strengthening it is always a good idea.

You can use some small fusible interfacing scraps for buttonholes or reinforce the whole strip where your buttonholes will be sewn. You can also add an extra layer of cotton organdy for a long lasting stabilizer.

Using a water soluble stabilizer on both sides of the fabric when sewing a buttonhole can help to evenly feed your fabric when creating a buttonhole and prevent stitches from sinking. You can tear this stabilizer away easily and wash it out. However, it doesn’t replace the interfacing or extra layer of cotton needed for strengthening the buttonhole. It acts as a temporary lubricant, not a permanent stabilizer.

Check your machine's manual to find out what direction your machine will start to sew the buttonhole. This will help you line up your fabric properly. In most cases, your machine will start at the bottom of your buttonhole and sew in reverse first.

I recommend that you always sew a few test buttonholes before doing it on your project. To do this, duplicate your project exactly—this might mean you have to stitch a test waistband to get the same amount of layers. While this seems time consuming, it’s totally worth it. Buttonholes can be difficult to remove after they’re stitched, so text, test, test.

You can open a buttonhole with a seam ripper, little sharp precision scissors, or a buttonhole tool (third image). When you use a seam ripper, cut the slit from both ends toward the center.

If you are worried about cutting too far, place a pin in the fabric across either end of the button hole. Your seam ripper will stop when it hits the pin.

Use the buttonhole cutter with a piece of wood. The wooden block is placed under the buttonhole, while the chisel is pressed against the block from above. I haven’t tested this tool yet, but it looks like a good investment, if you have to open a lot of buttonholes.

I hope you learned something new about buttonholes and are more confident about sewing them in the future. What projects do you see yourself using a buttonhole foot on? Comment below and let me know!

Any Questions? an@madamsew.com

Happy sewing!
An
Blogging for MadamSew.com

Madam Sew is an online sewing and quilting store. It carries Tools, Notions, Presser Feet, Essentials, Handy Helpers, Organization and Storage Items, and more for sewers and quilters. Plus, it has many manuals and free tutorial blogs to help increase your skills.

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Bound to Buttonhole Tutorial