The reason I do so many things by hand is because I trust that I can do it right. I don’t always trust my sewing machine, or my ability to operate it perfectly, so sometimes, I make button holes by hand. I have an old Singer from the 1970’s that does zig zag so I use that most of the time, but I am not opposed to doing them by hand. It’s relaxing to sit and watch a movie while making handmade buttonholes. The feeling is a lot like doing embroidery.
Don’t slice your fabric until AFTER you’ve made the buttonholes. Hold the button up to the fabric, so you can tell how long to make the buttonhole. Make it just a tad longer than the button. Check which side of the blouse is the correct side. Although it’s silly, for some reason, it’s different for men than it is for women. Basically, your reinforcing the fabric so that it won’t rip when you button and unbutton repeatedly. Look at a ready-made blouse as a guide.
Use what’s called a buttonhole stitch. Look at your computer keyboard. Strike the key for zero. See what that looks like? Don’t make your stitches any further apart than that. An even smaller hole is preferable. After you’ve made the buttonhole, use a seam ripper to splice it open. After you’ve slit it, slide your button in and out of the hole a few times to loosen it up. You’re good to go. Don’t forget to tie your knots so the thread doesn’t come loose.
When she’s not sewing, she’s writing. Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era romance, Rose Thorn. Available here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X1GN58T
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