The scariest, in my opinion, of all Sewing Machine Feet is the Buttonhole Foot. The sewing machine foot that strikes fear into the hearts of both novice and experienced sewists.
I am here to tell you there is nothing to fear. On most machines, the buttonhole foot is easy to use and somewhat idiot proof. The real secret to getting great buttonholes isn’t in the buttonhole foot, it’s in the way you prepare your fabric.
In my sewing history, I have used a variety of buttonhole attachments. For years I sewed on a Kenmore machine and it had this antiquated buttonhole system that had a plastic cog and gear plus a couple of cams. I calculate I made well over 200 buttonholes with this attachment. I was sewing dresses and school uniforms for my two daughters. Many of the dresses buttoned at the shoulder or down the back. Some of the teeth that move the attachment were a little worn down, but the last time I used it I had great buttonholes.
Then, I purchased a Babylock Ellure which used this type of buttonhole attachment. This was a giant leap in buttonhole making and I could have stopped here and been a happy buttonhole maker. I have not done a scientific counting, but I think that this is the most common type of buttonhole attachment. I see something like it included in almost all new machines.
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Simply insert the button in a slot on the foot and then attach the foot to your sewing machine. There is a stop-bar that drops down; when you are sewing the buttonhole, the machine can stop (or be stopped by you) and reverse to sew the other side of the buttonhole. Some machines will even memorize the buttonhole size, making all of your buttonholes the same.
Older machines will have something that can only be called a contraption which will require some sort of manual to operate. After a lengthy search, I gave up on trying to find a photo to show you. If you learned sewing from a grandmother, you probably have some memory of this devise. These were not very consistent and are likely the source of most cases of buttonhole-a-phobia.
Both of my Bernina’s use this foot. I tell my machine what size buttonhole I want it to make {15 mm, 17.5 mm, etc.) and the machine programs the correct size and then remembers it with a memory chip. Once programmed, it will make the exact same size buttonhole until reprogrammed.
However, at its core the foot still has a cog, gears, and teeth to move the buttonhole foot while making a buttonhole. This is common on almost all buttonhole feet ~ even scary, antique contraptions.
The real secret to making a great buttonhole does not rely on fancy equipment or the latest technology. While these simplify the process of making a buttonhole and are nice to have, the key to buttonhole success is found in how you prepare your fabric before making the buttonhole.
Yep, you don’t need a fancy~schmancy machine to make beautiful buttonholes. All you need to do is properly prepare the fabric before making a buttonhole.
I’ve made a short video to see it all in action. {Sorry about my hand blocking some of the view.}
For those of you who like photos and written instructions, I’ve included them below.
Step #1: Interface Fabric
Interface your fabric prior to making a buttonhole. Use a woven interfacing for woven fabrics or a stretchy tricot interfacing for knits. {I’m working with a woven, here}.
Step #2: Mark Buttonhole(s)
Using a removable marker, create a mark at the top, bottom, and center of the buttonhole location(s).
Step #3: Set Up Machine for Buttonholes
Attach the buttonhole foot and set the size for your buttonhole.
My machine has an electronic setting ~ I tell it the correct size and it sets it. If your machine doesn’t have this feature you can easily find the size by measuring the button and then following guidelines on your buttonhole foot.
Step #4: Stabilizing the Fabric
Cut a piece of Tear Away Stabilizer (affiliate) large enough to cover the buttonhole area and place it on the back of the fabric.
Cut a piece of Wash Away Stabilizer (affiliate) large enough to cover the buttonhole area and place it on top of the fabric.
Step #5: Making the Buttonhole
Following your manual, set the sewing machine to the buttonhole setting. {Always make a test buttonhole on a piece of scrap fabric.} Line up the markings on the fabric with the guideline markings on the buttonhole foot.
Begin making the buttonhole. My machine will start with a zigzag down the left side of the buttonhole. It stops and straight stitches back to the top, makes a bar tack, and zigzags back down the right side. It ends with a bar tack at the bottom of the buttonhole.
Step #6: Finishing the Buttonhole
Remove the Tear Away Stabilizer from the back by tearing it away. Remove the Wash-Away Stabilizer on the front by tearing away. Remove any markings {mine will disappear with heat from the iron}. Any remaining stabilizer residue will dissolve with the first washing.
Step #7: Cutting Open the Buttonhole
I had to learn this step the hard way. To avoid cutting through the buttonhole(s) you’ve just made, slide a pin through the top and bottom covering both of the bar tacks. You do not want to cut into the bar tack when opening the buttonhole.
To cut open buttonholes, I use an inexpensive buttonhole cutter (affiliate), but sharp scissors or a seam ripper will work, too. The key is patience.
It’s really that easy.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for a complete listing of this series on Sewing Machine Feet.
Search here for a buttonhole foot (affiliate) that works with your machine.
Linda says
July 1, 2013 at 1:23 amLove this series of blogs. Have bought the clear sole all purpose foot and agree it makes sewing around corners accurately very easy. Thanks for the hard work.
Leslie says
July 1, 2013 at 7:14 amAwesome. Send photos of what you’ve made. I love pictures 🙂
kelly says
July 1, 2013 at 10:01 pmI’m self teaching how to use my sewing machine so this is helpful information for me. Thank you! I just came across your blog from a link party and I’m so glad I did. Thanks again.
Leslie says
July 1, 2013 at 10:06 pmSo glad this helps.
Randi - Dukes and Duchesses says
July 2, 2013 at 7:18 amGreat tutorial. The right foot makes all the difference. I love my buttonhole foot. Can you believe I’ve NEVER seen a buttonhole cutter? I want one!
Millie says
July 7, 2013 at 11:24 amAwesome! I have tried several times to do buttons and fail. This makes so much sense and I can follow along! thank you thank you! Off to follow these instructions and start sewing button holes!!
Crystal & Co says
July 7, 2013 at 10:47 pmI remember as a kid when my mom would sew and make dresses and clothes for me, she hated and dreaded the buttonholes. Great tutorial!
Leslie says
July 8, 2013 at 7:02 amThanks for sharing ~
Donna says
July 10, 2013 at 4:22 pmOh my goodness, I have had the Bernina buttonholer for thirteen years and I never knew that you could measure the buttons on the foot! I also did not know that the little orange pointer on the foot would tell you where the end of the button is for sewing! Thank you so much for sharing!
ketty adan says
December 26, 2014 at 4:07 pmPlease could someone tell me where I could buy a detachable buttonhole machine online? Thank you and Merry Christmas
Leslie says
December 26, 2014 at 4:17 pmThis will depend on what type of sewing machine you own. Check online for a local dealer for your specific machine. They will be able to help you find the correct buttonhole attachment.
christy says
March 8, 2015 at 9:37 pmI have a domestic buttonholer for low shank machine I bought on ebay .and I also have a slant shank professional buttonholer for my singer slant o matic I also bought that on ebay .I think they are so easy to use and make a very nice button hole so I dont feel Ill ever buy a new plastic machine.
Kath says
November 11, 2015 at 5:01 pmHi great tutorial! Buttonholes can be fearsome but practice helps a lot. My machine bernina 1230 requires me to thread the bobbin thread through the arm in the bobbin casing as well for a great looking buttonhole. Amazing what you find out when you read the instruction book!
Leslie says
November 11, 2015 at 6:00 pmMy Bernini 240 has the same detail on the bobbin case. This really helps create a better tension for buttonholes.
Sally says
June 25, 2016 at 9:58 amThank you for this tutorial. I plan to refer to it often when making buttonholes. You are right , they can be intimidating.
Christine says
August 6, 2016 at 6:23 pmThanks for your tutorial. I like the idea of the disappearing stabiliser on the top side, but I have tried using tear away on the back of buttonholes down the front of a cardigan in a dark colour. I couldn’t get all of the tear away off and it looks unsightly when the cardigan hangs open.
Cheryl says
September 11, 2016 at 4:27 pmWhen making buttonholes on thicker fabrics like denim, my Babylock always gets gets stuck on one spot. Will the stabilizers help this problem?
Leslie says
September 11, 2016 at 5:29 pmI suggest changing the presser foot pressure (you’ll need to experiment) and use a stabilizer topper in addition to the stabilizer on the back.
Nancy says
January 24, 2017 at 12:22 pmThank you for a great tutorial, how to make PJ!
One question, does twill tape go all around The waist?
Leslie says
January 25, 2017 at 7:16 amYes, I put in two buttonholes and thread through. That way the elastic can be loose and the ties can help cinch the pants.
Linda says
March 20, 2017 at 2:10 amI’ve used the four step buttonhole stitch on older machines and the first buttonhole foot pictured – you can put a button in the back and it will then make the correct one – but NOTHING will ever surpass the buttonholes made by the trusty old buttonholer marketed by Singer that grandma sewed with.
But the tips you have here will certainly help the modern sewist.
Tina says
March 20, 2017 at 3:34 amGlad I managed to do button holing with my trusty Elna 6003. So easy if you follow instructions carefully. Women tend to attach the foot and rush in, guilty of that myself. Husband usually reads instructions first. There is the difference hahaha
Cheryl says
March 20, 2017 at 8:14 amI’m always nervous about buttonholes. This way makes perfect sense. I made a cardigan for my grand daughter and had to make 4 buttonholes, the pattern didn’t call for interfacing and this was my first time, I had so much trouble. I did get them done but the material is puckered.
Thanks for the video, I’ll follow these instructions for all future buttonholes.
cynthia lindsley says
March 21, 2017 at 7:57 amRemember the button holes that you sew zig zag on one side, turn, lock stitch, turn again zig zag back up the other side and lock stitch at the top. I hated those! Then my parents got me a Kenmore with the buttonhole maker like you mentioned-EUREKA! I was in heaven. That was a great old machine.
Dana moore says
March 21, 2017 at 10:56 pmBeen sewing for most of my life but the dreaded button hole still gave me the creeps. Can’t wait to try this. Thank you so much. Dana
Alice Holland says
March 25, 2017 at 10:26 amThis is a very good instruction for making strong and consistent strongholds! I have been sewing for about 65 years and I have learned something new! Thanks!!
sara meucci says
October 8, 2017 at 6:11 amThanks for the tutorial!! I have a Bernina too and the same buttonhole foot; but sometimes, expecially with heavy fabrics, the sewing machine doesnt’go on !!!! Now i’d like to use the stabilizers. Could you tell me the commercial name of the water stabilizer and of paper stabilizer? Thanks!!!
Brenda says
October 22, 2017 at 8:29 amPlease help me. My Bernina buttonholes come unraveled. What am I doing wrong?
Thank you,
Brenda
Leslie says
October 23, 2017 at 9:51 amI recommend you contact your local Bernina dealer. They should have someone who can diagnose problems.
Stacey says
December 17, 2017 at 9:50 amThank you so much for this article! I’m a sewing newbie and was a little nervous about trying buttonholes, but this worked so well! Beautiful buttonholes on the first try. The stabilization gave such a neat and tidy result. Thanks again!