From creating a strong buttonhole to finding the perfect button for your project, we cover all the details when it comes to buttons and buttonholes! We discuss hand-sewing and machine sewing button techniques, and some helpful tips to ensure you have well-sewn buttons on all your garments!
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- Helen’s Closet’s recent pattern launch: The Pona Jacket!
- Blackbird Fabrics New Arrivals!
- Shirtmaking: Developing Skills for Fine Sewing by David Page Coffin
- For fine thread for your shirt making, uses cotton embroidery thread or silk thread.
- Button shopping in Vancouver:
- Button shopping options online:
- For handmade buttons, shop Etsy!
- For variety:
Each To Own – Classic Round Sew-Through Button
Arrow Mountain – Shanked Bamboo Chevron Button
- Coat your thread in beeswax and iron it to set before sewing on your buttons for a stronger thread.
- Or use Thread Heaven / Thread Magic!
- Thread shank tutorial – How to Sew on Buttons by Pixie Faire
- Sewing a thread shank will create a gap between the fabric and the button, preventing puckering and indenting in the fabric.
Photo Credit: Pixie Faire
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- You can use a toothpick, a match, or even your seam gauge if it has the ‘U’-shaped thread shank on it!
Photo credit to Listener Megan Tuffley
- Use Fray Check for a seam sealant for your buttonholes. Caroline likes to use Fray Check before and after cutting open a buttonhole. Helen also uses it when sewing on buttons!
- Different buttonhole types:
From left to right: Standard square buttonhole, rounded buttonhole, and keyhole buttonhole. Photo credit www.nationalsewingcircle.com
Bound Buttonhole
- Threads Magazine ‘How to Sew a Bound Buttonhole’ Article
- Vintage Singer Buttonhole Attachment
- Professor Pincushion’s video on how to do a corded buttonhole
- Professor Pincushion’s video on how to do a button loop
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Hi!
On the button episode, I think I heard you talk about “boiled wool”. It sounded really lovely. But when I searched that term on Blackbird Fabrics, I just got all the wools! Did I mis-hear or can you offer some guidance of what I should be looking for!
Thanks!
Sylvia, boiled wool is lovely!😍 It just dropped in the shop at Blackbird Fabrics, which you can find here: https://www.blackbirdfabrics.com/wool/
Okay, a little late (I just discovered this podcast so I’m working through the back catalogue now), but AddVintage on Etsy is a US-based shop with a huge selection of vintage buttons. It’s like the sewing equivalent of a candy shop.
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing, Claire!
Hi Ladies!
I can’t believe it’s been this long since I listened to this episode when it first came out! Did you mention a Button Hole Chisel of some kind on this episode? I thought I remembered that so I came here looking for a rec in the show notes. Any suggestions? I definitely just sliced through a button hole with my seam ripper and it was very sad. Looking for a better tool! Thanks!!!
Hi Lisagrace! We like the Clover Buttonhole Cutter. Happy sewing!