Bound Buttonholes: A Tutorial

As you probably know, I am an avid fan of the bound buttonhole.  One reason is a little embarrassing to admit, but since I am among friends, I will say it – I am absolutely terrified of machine-made buttonholes.  You would think that I had some terrible experience, but that is not the case.  I honestly cannot think where or when the phobia started.  

But enough of my issues, let’s get on with a tutorial!  I know there are quite a few of these out there, but I have had some requests, and perhaps my explanation will help convert someone to the joys of a beautifully finished buttonhole.

First off, decide what kind of look you are going for.  Bound buttonholes can be completely utilitarian or may be used as a design detail.  Obviously, color choice plays an important factor, but they can also be placed on an angle for added interest.

Any necessary interfacing should already be in place.  With stable wovens, I generally do not use any interfacing and have noticed no ill effects.  I did use an interfacing on my 1930s rayon dress because the fabric was so drapey. 

1.  Decide on your buttons and your buttonhole fabric. 

I generally create my bound buttonholes before construction of any kind begins.  This way there is less fabric to manipulate.  And if, heaven forbid, a mistake is made, you have only cut a hole in one piece of fabric and not a finished garment.

2.  Measure the diameter of the button as well as the width of the button (ignore the shank if there is one).  Add these two measurements together to calculate the width of the buttonhole you need to create.  For tutorial purposes, my button is 7/8” wide.  When it is turned to the side, the widest part is a little over ¼”.  Because it narrows at the edges, I am going to fudge the measurement and say that a 1” buttonhole should be sufficient.  Something to keep in mind is that a bound buttonhole is a lot more flexible than one made with a machine, so if they end up a bit too small, the button will still fit through the opening.

These days I ignore the pattern pieces (if any are given) and cut my squares approximately three times the width of the button.  Yes, they will sometimes overlap, however, you can always cut something away, but adding back is a challenge I have not yet mastered - please let me know if you figure it out!  

3.  Mark the placement of the buttonholes.  Part of the difficulty in creating bound buttonholes is that you are working on the right side of the fabric, and markers and chalk may leave permanent marks. 

I generally use chalk (or a fabric pen) on the WRONG side of the fabric – just make sure that the mark will not show through! 

Measure how far from the edge of the pattern piece the buttonhole markings begin.  This is normally somewhere around the 1” mark, although this is not a hard and fast rule.  Working on the WRONG side of the fabric, draw a line of chalk or fabric pen along that 1” guide.  Because the buttonhole needs to be 1” wide, draw a second line 1” from the first.  Thread a needle with a contrasting length of silk thread and sew a running stitch through each of the marked lines.  I would suggest silk thread because it is easy to remove. 

[If you are working with a light-colored fabric, make sure that the thread is a similar color or when you remove it, there may be some color transfer.]

The next step is creating perpendicular lines where the buttonholes will be sewn.  Again, mark the WRONG side of the fabric, and sew a running stitch as marked.

Your fabric should look something like this.  Give it a good press to make sure everything is laying flat.

4.  The actual buttonhole will be created with an extra piece of fabric.  I like to use a square that measures three times the width of the buttonhole.  For a 1” opening, I cut a 3” square piece of fabric for each buttonhole.

Divide the square in half both length and widthwise with a pen to find the center of the square.

(If I was a better person, I would use more thread to mark these lines, but since I rarely use white fabric for my projects, the pen marks do not show.)  From the center point, measure ½” on either side. 

5.  Use a pin to place the buttonhole on the fabric, right sides together, at the cross points of your running stitches.

Bound buttonholes are generally sewn ¼” wide.  I use my machine’s foot to eyeball the measurement, but if you are more comfortable, you can draw in the rectangular box shape.

If you are working with a fabric that is easily marred by pins, I would instead suggest using a length of silk thread with a small needle to baste the buttonhole in place during construction.

At you machine, you will want to decrease your stitch length.  Later, the fabric will be clipped close to the stitching line, and a small stitch becomes important.

6.  I like to begin sewing in the middle of a long length of the rectangle with my needle sunk into fabric.  DO NOT BACKTACK.  Begin stitching until you come to a corner, sink the needle, lift the presser foot, rotate the fabric, lower the presser foot and continue stitching until you have completed the four corners.  When you come back to the beginning of your stitch line, cover the first few stitches and then backtack.  If you backtack at the start, the lump of thread may become stuck in the machine.

7.  Remove the fabric from the machine and make sure to clip any threads from the front and back of the piece.

8.  Repeat for all of the buttonholes marked on your particular pattern.

The fabric should looks something like this.

9.  Cut the buttonhole open.  Following the blue inked lines in the following image, clipping diagonally to each corner and creating two triangular shaped flaps.  It is very important to clip as close to the corners as possible for a clean buttonhole (that's why the small stitch length is so important!).

10.  Push the buttonhole through to the wrong side of the piece.

11.  Time to iron!  

I like to start on the wrong side of the fabric.  The buttonhole is going to create two equal “lips” that will fill the ¼” wide window that you just cut open.  

The fabric will be pleated at the center.  Flip the work over to the right side.  If the lips are not equidistant, now is the time to press them the way you want the finished buttonhole to look.

[If you want the lips to have a raised appearance, you can insert a piece of cording or length of yarn inside the fold at this point.)

12.  The next step is to baste the lips closed.  You spent all that time getting them to look right, so we do not want them to shift as the construction process is completed.

13.  Now it is time to secure the square of fabric.  Push your fabric to one side to reveal that triangle that you cut.  Sew the buttonhole to that tiny bit of fabric.

14.  At this point, it is finally time to start your garment construction.

15.  You are almost there!  The only thing left to do is open the facing piece applied during garment construction directly behind your beautiful buttonholes!

You can create a second buttonhole in the facing pieces to mirror your buttonholes, except you will pull the buttonhole all the way open to create a window.  

When the facing seam is graded and pressed, the two openings should match.  Working from the facing side, catch stitch the window to the buttonhole.

The other option is to push pins through from the right side at each corner of the buttonhole.  

When you turn the piece over, you can tell exactly where your opening is.  Use a buttonhole opener (or a very sharp seam ripper) to tear a small opening in the center of the pinned area so you can use a small pair of scissors to open the facing, ending at the edge of the buttonhole.  MAKE SURE YOU ONLY CUT INTO THE FACING! 

16.  Fold and finger press the cut opening under and catch stitch.  I like to make a few extra whip stitches at both ends of the buttonhole to make sure everything is secured.

*EXTRA CREDIT*

If you are working with a heavier fabric, a contrasting fabric that is not quite as thick is always an option.  However, if you want to use self-fabric, this same technique may be used to create a window.  You will need a thin fabric in a similar color to your fabric (silk organza or a crisp batiste is a good option).  Begin your buttonhole with the thin fabric and proceed until the pressing stage.  

At this point, instead of creating two lips to fill the buttonhole, pull the fabric square tight and open a rectangular “window.”  Cut two squares out of your thick fashion fabric to create the buttonhole lips.  

Baste these squares, right sides together, at the center line.  Press them open so that basting line is in the center, right sides facing out.  

Pin the basted piece so that it is centered in the window.  Baste the lips to the organza square (they should match because you cut them the same size).

One thing I will say is that this second variation is a lot cleaner looking.  If you are using a contrasting color I would suggest going this route.  

You will avoid any corner issues, and if you are making the buttonhole a focal point, people are bound to look closer, so you want to make sure they are as close to perfect as possible!

Does this take a bit of time? . . . yes.  But in my opinion, a bound buttonhole adds an extra special touch to any garment.  

And if you made it through all of that, you have the patience of a saint.  Have fun sewing!