How to Make a Buttonhole on a Sewing Machine

Press play on the video below to watch Angel walk you through the process of sewing a buttonhole on a sewing machine. She explains the details so that you can replicate this on any sewing machine with buttonhole capabilities.

More importantly, you'll be able to see the machine in action, which is great if you're a visual learner! Scroll down for our written tutorial.
 

Materials Needed

1. Fabric/garment/sewing piece
2. Buttons
3. Fabric marking pencil
4. Seam ripper
5. Sewing ruler
6. Long pins
7. Sewing machine (with buttonhole capabilities)
8. Strong thread

If you've never sewn a buttonhole on a machine before, it's important to practice! Take your machine for a test run on scrap fabric before making the hole on your garment/sewing piece.

Because you only get one chance, it's worth taking the time to understand the process and your machine.

Read through your sewing machine owner's manual. If it has buttonhole feature, there will be instructions on how to proceed.

Keep in mind that your machine could have a manual buttonhole stitching feature or an automatic stitching feature. The process is similar for both but, when it's manual, you'll be doing more of the adjustments as it goes.

1. Place the button of your choice on the fabric where you want the buttonhole to be. With a ruler, measure the area to assure the button is evenly or correctly spaced on the item.

2. With your marking pencil, draw a horizontal line at both the top and bottom of the button. Remove the button.
   
   Note: If your button is a unique shape, measure and mark at the widest part of the button so that the buttonhole will be large enough to fit the button.

3. With a ruler or straight edge, connect the two horizontal lines with a vertical line, centered. Again, measure if needed so that your button will be in the correct place.

4. Read through your machine's manual if needed and prep your machine for sewing the buttonhole. Attach your buttonhole foot. Also, make sure the tension is at the right level and your thread is correct for your project.

5. Sew the buttonhole using your machine's buttonhole feature (manual or automatic).
   
   Note: Depending on the type of fabric you are using, a stabilizer might be helpful to keep the buttonhole straight and in the correct place.

6. Remove the fabric with the sewn buttonhole from the machine. Place a long pin at each end of the "opening" of the buttonhole (bar tacks). This will help keep you from ripping past the bar tacks.

7. Using a seam ripper or similar sewing notion, rip open the stitches to open the buttonhole.

8. If you haven't, it's time to sew your button on the other side and test out your new buttonhole!