How to Make a Buttonhole with a Sewing Machine

Buttons are not only clasps for your products, but they are also adornments. Every time that we buy buttons, we select its size, color, shape, so that everything matches with our piece of work. The product takes on a new, interesting look with the buttons attached.

When we sew something that’s supposed to have buttons, first of all we need to make the buttonholes. Nowadays many sewing machines have automatic and semi-automatic buttonhole making functions. Buttonholes can also be sewn by hand, but it is done more quickly and more accurately on a sewing machine.

So, to do this we will need: a special foot, a button, the necessary threads, a seam ripper, pins, a disappearing ink pen, or another device for marking, and also the product itself.

To begin with, try to make a buttonhole on a piece of fabric, from which you will sew the product, with an interfacing if it is attached to the product and with the same threads. That should be done to see how the fabric behaves and whether everything goes as planned.

Let’s take a look at different types of buttonholes:

• for medium and heavy weight fabrics (104, 106,107);
• for medium and light weight fabrics (112, 109);
• for thin fabrics (104,112, 109, 113);
• for stretch fabrics (114, 115);
• for medium and heavy weight fabrics and thick buttons (105, 106, 107, 110).

I’ll show you how to create a buttonhole using a sewing machine.

Step 1. Mark the part of the buttonhole that is closer to the end of the fabric.

Step 2. Place the button in the buttonhole foot and secure it.

Step 3. Attach the buttonhole foot to the sewing machine (put the bobbin thread under the presser foot).

Step 4. Lower the buttonhole lever.

Step 5. Place the fabric under the presser foot (with the needle on the mark).

Step 6. If your sewing machine has different styles of stitches, you should decide and choose any that you need.

Step 7. Start sewing while holding the upper thread in your hand.

Step 8. When the buttonhole is made and the sewing machine has stopped by itself, you should raise the presser foot and cut the thread.

Step 9. Pin the corners of the buttonhole, so that when you make a cut, it doesn’t get damaged.

Step 10. Insert the seam ripper inside and cut the buttonhole open.

Step 11. See if the button fits. If it does, now you can sew it onto the fabric.

Thanks to a sewing machine, a buttonhole can be made easily, neatly and fast. Here, we have completed all these steps and sewed on a button with a suitable, nice buttonhole.

You’ll do great!

Author: Maryna Laas

My name is Maryna Laas. I am the muse, main author and owner of this site. As a child, I loved to sew dresses for dolls, and when I turned 16 I decided to learn sewing and design. I'm a psychologist. But my vocation through all my life has been designing clothes. I discovered a lot of secret techniques which I am eager to share with you.