How to Sew a Hand Stitched Buttonhole

Last Updated: June 7, 2022

When you're making homemade clothes or repairing your existing garments, you may need to create your own buttonholes. Hand-stitching your button holes creates strong holes that won't tear from removing buttons and also adds a touch of professionalism to your finished project. We're to walk you through everything you need to know, so you can stitch your own buttonholes in no time.

1

Decide where to place the buttonhole.

Mark your fabric with a common pin.^{[1]
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2

Measure the size of your button.

Using a ruler, measure the widest diameter of your button.^{[2]
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3

Cut a tiny slit in your fabric.

For a snug fit, make the slit slightly smaller than the diameter of your button. Stitching will slightly increase the size of the buttonhole.

4

Stitch around the opening of the buttonhole.

Using double thread, stitch a tight blanket stitch. Place one stitch next to another. Place a second row of blanket stitch over the first row of stitching, if needed.^{[3]
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Community Q&A

Question

How do I make a hole for button?

Killerkitana

Community Answer

Cut your fabric to align with the button directly underneath. Make your initial cut with a exacto knife. making the slide the same size as the diameter of your button. Starting at the top of one side of the incision and working your way to the bottom, and back up the opposite side of hole to make your button hole seam. use small over stitching to make the seam finished up with a witchs' stitch knot.
Question

Do I have to do a blanket stitch, or will an overcast stitch work?

Community Answer

You can't use an overcast stitch on a raw edge. Not meaning that it is a bad idea, I mean that it is actually impossible.