How to Sew a Buttonhole with a Sewing Machine

Have you lost the instructions for sewing a button hole on your sewing machine? Here are step-by-step instructions, with photos, to show you how to sew a button hole with your sewing machine.

Click on each photo to see the details enlarged.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• sewing machine
• thread
• scissors
• fabric

1. 

   Mark the location of the button hole on the fabric with a pencil. Place the fabric under the sewing machine foot and center the button hole mark as shown in the photo. Adjust the stitch length on your machine to between 0 and 1 (but closer to 0). (To enlarge the photos on this page, simply mouse click on the photo.)

2. 

   Adjust the stitch selector to the first buttonhole stitch (see photo). When you press down on the sewing machine pedal, the machine will sew a zig zag line along the left edge of your buttonhole. Lift up on the sewing machine pedal when you reach the bottom of the buttonhole mark.

3. 

   Adjust the stitch selector to the second buttonhole stitch (see photo). When you press down on the sewing machine pedal, the machine will sew a zig zag back and forth along the bottom edge of your buttonhole. Let the machine zig zag back and forth at least 5 times.

4. 

   Adjust the stitch selector to the third buttonhole stitch (see photo). When you press down on the sewing machine pedal, the machine will sew a zig zag line along the right edge of your buttonhole. Lift up on the sewing machine pedal when you reach the top of the buttonhole mark.

5. 

   Adjust the stitch selector to the fourth buttonhole stitch (see photo). When you press down on the sewing machine pedal, the machine will sew a zig zag back and forth along the top edge of your buttonhole. Let the machine zig zag back and forth at least 5 times.

6. 

   Remove the fabric from the sewing machine and cut the thread. Using a sharp pair of scissors or a seam ripper, carefully cut between the edges of the buttonhole. Voila -- a perfect buttonhole!

Tips & Warnings

• Do not move the fabric between each step. The sewing machine program knows which direction to sew, as long as you move the stitch selector to the correct buttonhole stitch, as instructed above.
• Before you turn the dial on your stitch selector, make sure the needle is up and out of the fabric. Otherwise, as you turn the dial on the stitch selector, the needle could bend or break.

Resources

• Joann Fabrics
• McCall's Patterns
• Butterick Patterns
• Vogue Patterns

[elyria]

on 3/7/2009 Great article and easy to follow instructions! 5*

[hoolihan0519]

on 3/5/2009 Very good details. I had forgotten how to do this. RCRR.