How to Sew a Bound Buttonhole

Whether you’re making a denim and chambray jacket, burlap shoulder bag, a suede skirt, or a cover for a pillow out of upholstery fabric, a backstay for your drapery, or any other hand-stitch garment that’s going to feature buttons, a bound buttonhole is definitely something that you should consider including.

Bound buttonholes instantly transform any garment, giving it a polished, professional look. The trouble with bound buttonholes, however, is that they can be a bit intimidating; especially if you are just getting comfortable with your sewing machine. While it is true that bound buttonholes do involve a bit of work, with the right sewing tools, patience, practice, and the following sewing help tips, you’ll be able to give any garment a finished look.

Table of Contents

1 Making the Markings
2 Beginning the Buttholes
3 Cut the Bound Buttonholes
4 Bound Buttonhole Edges
5 Sewing and Lining the Buttonhole
6 Tips to Remember

Making the Markings

Start by making the markings where you want the button hole to be placed. You can use chalk, pencil, or a running stitch on the interfacing to mark the:

Middle of the garment
The placements for the buttonholes
Buttonhole ends

Beginning the Buttholes

Make the interior of the button hole with a piece of sewing fabric; it should measure about 2 inches wider and 1 inch longer than the buttonhole. Center the piece over the buttonhole and use a hand sewing needle to baste around the edges of the patch.

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Cut the Bound Buttonholes

Cut a slit in the center of the fabric where you have marked out the buttonholes. Pull out any basting stitches that were being used to secure the piece of fabric in place and then turn the piece of fabric into the inside of the buttonhole.

Bound Buttonhole Edges

Use the initial line for the buttonhole as a guide and fold the long ends of the piece of fabric so that they meet in the middle of the hole that you created. Make sure to keep both ends equal and hand baste the edges of the buttonholes.

Sewing and Lining the Buttonhole

Position the material so that it is right side up and fold it back so that you can see the slit and stitches. Sew directly into the stitches on all sides of the buttonhole. Next, sew a rectangle in the lining that’s the same size of the rectangle that you marked in the fabric. Slit this rectangle, the same was as you slit the buttonhole in the fabric. Once slit, fold back the fabric to expose all of the stitches. Lastly, you’re going to want to hand stitch the lining around the buttonhole so that it is secured in place.

Tips to Remember

Keep in mind that a bound buttonhole is rectangular in shape and shouldn’t be any wider than ¼ inch
Work on one buttonhole at a time. Make sure to complete the buttonhole you are working on before you move onto the next one.
When you’re sewing with your machine, avoid back stitching, as it doing so can throw off the shape of the rectangle.