Buttonholes are a breeze with today’s modern sewing machines, especially if they come with the niſty long buttonhole foot which holds the button in the back so the hole you stitch is made to fit perfectly.
The key to successful buttonholes is the right mix of a new sharp needle, fabric, and support such as interfacing. Any fabric can have buttonholes made in it, from fine chiffons to stretchy knits, but the area must be stabilised with interfacing or similar.
All buttonholes should have some sort of stabiliser included. This may be the interfacing between facing and main fabric, a special waist banding stiffener or a layer of tear-away or soluble stabiliser. This prevents puckering or pulling when stitching and helps keep the area stable when buttoned up.
For very fine fabrics, place an additional layer of soluble stabiliser underneath the fabric to prevent it from being pulled down into the feed dogs
Make sure your needle is sharp as buttonholes are made with lots of compact zig zag stitches (satin stitch) worked closely together, and pierce through three or more layers.
Give extra shape to frocks and tops with this handy sleeve enhancement. You can easily add interest to the head…
Guarantee flowing hemlines that hang like a dream. Keen dressmaker Sarah Greeff has colourful memories of her first attempts at…
Get to grips with the best overlocking finishes for everyday stitching. The overlocker has a different feel to a regular…
Get to grips with a clever seam favourite for a continental finish! French seams are common in clothes for children,…
A quick fashion fix with Amanda Bowden's classic miracle mend. The dread of torn stitching can be traumatic. Pockets are…
