Hand sewn buttonholes and machine sewn buttonholes both serve the same purpose, but they differ quite a bit in how they are done and how they look. When using a sewing machine to sew a buttonhole, you sew the buttonhole stitches on the fabric first, and then make a cut in the middle of the frame you’ve created. The tight zigzag stitches that make up the buttonhole prevent the fraying that occurs at the cut edge from traveling too far into the rest of your fabric. In contrast, when you’re hand sewing a buttonhole, you make the cut that will form your buttonhole first, and embroider stitches around it. As you’re wrapping the thread around the cut edge, the raw edges are completely enclosed within your stitching. This makes for a sturdier and more finished looking end product. If you’re sewing with delicate fabrics or a lighter weight silk thread (or both!), be sure to reduce your tension and select a smaller needle, such as a 60 or 70 (depending on the fabric) and test on a scrap first!

Sew4Home projects. Top row, left to right: Happy Pom Pom Pillows, Round Piped Pillow with Gathered Top, Big Round Floor Cushion with Fussy Cut Wedges; middle row: Decorative Stitch Pillow Power, Tufted Multi-Color Pom Pillow; bottom row: Bundle of Box Style Floor Cushions, Outdoor Living Bolster, Hexagon Pillow with Wraparound Cording. Stitch Tufting Continue tightening until you have the depth you want for the tuft. When you have the look you want from both sides, tie a second knot.Draw a vertical line through the center of these two horizontal markings. You now have all the markings you need to cut your fabric open. Cutting the fabric open There are two techniques you can use to prepare the area where the buttonhole will go before you move on to the actual buttonhole stitching. One of them involves sewing a tiny rectangular frame around the hole (or around your markings before you’ve cut into the fabric) by hand or by using your sewing machine, about 2-33 mm (⅛”) away from the center line. The other involves overcasting the cut edges by hand to keep all the layers together and minimize the fraying of the materials. Make your covered buttons. Remember, we have an excellent tutorial on working with the Dritz® Cover Buttons Kits if you are new to the technique.

Multifilament tends to be slightly more visible than monofilament options, but it’s also easier to work with as it has more ‘grip’. |ordinary sewing thread, will match your garment, good for garments made from delicate fabrics such as lawn. Run it through some beeswax to help strengthen it first.Insert your needle about 2 mm (less than ⅛”) away from the overcast edge, going from the bottom of the fabric to the top. Put your needle through the loop that is formed, and pull it through. Make sure to maintain the same orientation each time you’re going through the loop with your needle for even results.