Buttons and Buttonholes

Buttons and Buttonholes

Buttons are used as fasteners and also for decoration. There are different types of buttons. Each button requires a matching buttonhole. A buttonhole is a small slot or opening cut and finished in the fabric for the button to pass through. The size of the hole should just be large enough for the button.

Seeing on buttons:
1. Nark the positions of the buttons.
2. Fasten on thread at the thread where the buttons will be attached using 2 or 3 backstitches on the right side.
3. Place the centre of the button over the thread fastening.
4. Place a matchstick or pin across the top of the button.
5. Pass thread across the match stick and through the second hole of the button to the back of the fabric.
6. Repeat several times until a sufficient number of thread have been been for strength.
7. Remove the matchstick. Place the needle and thread between the button to the end of the shank.
8. Wind thread under the button about three times to make the shank. Fasten off securely in the wrong side. Buttons with shanks (like a short stem under the button) do not require match stick.

Buttonholes
These can be seen vertically like straight up and down or horizontally like straight across.

To make:
1. Mark the button holes.
2. Place a pin at either end and slash along exactly centre line. Remove the pins.
3. Insert the needle into slash from the right side.
4. Bring it out a little outside the stitching line.
5. Bring the thread around under point from eye of needle. Keep stitches close together and even.
6. Draw the needle through fabric to form a knot at the edge of the slash.
7. Continue until end of side. Make a fan shape round the end.
8. Cringe with buttonholes stitch along the other side of slit.
9. To finish up make several stitches across the end just covering the last stitches to form a bar.