How to sew buttons & button-holes with a sewing machine - Beginner level sewing tutorial, by Tock Custom on YouTube. 11 min 4 s.
- Video length
- 11 min 4 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Fit the buttonhole foot and select the buttonhole stitch on your machine. Check your manual for the stitch width and length settings, since these vary by model.
Mark the buttonhole on the fabric using the button's diameter plus its thickness. Fuse a small piece of interfacing behind the mark so the stitches do not pull through.
Sew a test buttonhole on a scrap of the same fabric with the same interfacing. Check that the button passes through easily, then adjust the length if needed.
Line the fabric mark up with the buttonhole foot and lower the presser foot. Sew slowly at a low speed and stop exactly at the end mark.
Place a pin across each end of the buttonhole to protect the bartacks. Push a seam ripper through the centre and cut towards each end.
For the button, mark its position through the buttonhole and drop the feed dogs. Fit the button foot or darning plate so the machine holds the button in place.
Set a zigzag stitch with the width matching the distance between the button holes. Turn the handwheel by hand for the first stitches, then sew 6 to 8 passes.
Raise the feed dogs and remove the fabric. Pull the threads to the back, tie them off and trim. Add a thread shank if the fabric is thick.
Tips and common mistakes
Always sew a test buttonhole on the same fabric and interfacing before you touch the real garment.
Keep your fingers clear of the needle and presser foot, and turn the handwheel by hand when you first position the button.
Use a pin at each end of the buttonhole so the seam ripper cannot slice through the bartack.
Match the zigzag width to the button holes exactly, or the needle will hit the button and break.
Questions
Can I sew a button on without a special foot?
Yes. Drop the feed dogs, set a zigzag stitch and hold the button in place with tape or a darning plate if your machine has one.
How big should a buttonhole be?
Make it the button's diameter plus its thickness, with a little extra for fabric bulk. A test buttonhole is the quickest way to check the fit.
Why is my buttonhole uneven?
The fabric may be stretching or the foot may not be sitting flat. Interface the back and sew slowly, guiding the fabric straight.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
