How to Pin a Bound Buttonhole

When making a bound buttonhole, there is a fair amount of work you must do before the actual sewing begins. A very important step involves pinning the bound buttonhole. If you do this step correctly, the end result will be a beautifully finished buttonhole.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Turn your bound buttonhole "inside out" by passing the facing through the buttonhole, and working it with your fingers so that it lies flat as you prepare to pin a bound buttonhole.

2. Work on making the fabric as flat as you can manage, then gently push the facing so that the opening along the length is narrower. Once you have the opening to the width you like, move on to the next step of pinning a bound button hole.

3. Press the back side of the buttonhole with your iron until it is flatter still.

4. Pin the top and bottom of the buttonhole with two straight pins, keeping the edges along the length flat. Turn the fabric over and examine the front of the bound button hole. If the buttonhole looks how you wish, then continue. If not, keep working on making the edges of the buttonhole's length meet in the manner you like before continuing.

5. Move the pins from the back of the garment to the front of the garment as you pin a bound buttonhole, making sure that what you have pinned remains flat. Press it again with your iron.