How to Sew a Buttonhole by Hand

Introduction

Knowing how to sew a buttonhole by hand is a handy skill to have if you don't own a sewing machine and don't want to pay a tailor. If you can sew a basic straight stitch, you can make a buttonhole. Pull that old favorite shirt out of the discard bag and give it a new life. Your small but mighty needle will help you keep the clothes in your closet instead of in the landfill.

What you need

Step 1 How to Sew a Buttonhole by Hand

How to Sew a Buttonhole by Hand, How to Sew a Buttonhole by Hand: step 1, image 1 of 2

How to Sew a Buttonhole by Hand, How to Sew a Buttonhole by Hand: step 1, image 2 of 2

Place your button where you want the buttonhhole.
Use a chalk marker or washable fabric marker to make a vertical line just to the right of the button.
Use your marker to make a vertical line just to the left of the button.

Edit

Step 2

Use your marker to make a horizontal line that connects the two vertical lines.

Edit

Step 3

How to Sew a Buttonhole by Hand: step 3, image 3 of 3

Sew your first stitch from the top to the bottom of the vertical chalk line on the left.
Continue by sewing a running line of small stitches underneath the horizontal chalk line, up the right side, then above the horizontal line.
This is the outline for the buttonhole.

Edit

Step 4

How to Sew a Buttonhole by Hand: step 4, image 3 of 3

Use a seam ripper to poke a hole in the fabric that is large enough for your scissors.
Use your scissors to cut a slit along the horizontal chalk line in the middle of your stitched outline.

Edit

Step 5

Slide your button into the slit to make sure it's large enough.

Edit

Step 6

How to Sew a Buttonhole by Hand: step 6, image 3 of 3

Bring your threaded needle up through the slit.
Push the needle back down through the fabric just to the outside of your first outline stitch.
Bring the needle back up through the slit and continue making a row of small, tight, vertical stitches along the bottom edge of the slit.

Edit

Step 7

When you get to the right edge of the slit, continue by making a small row of horizontal stitches around that end of the buttonhole.

Edit

Step 8

Working from right to left, continue sewing small, tight, vertical stitches along the top side of the buttonhole slit.
When you get to the left edge, make a row of small horizontal stitches around that end, until you arrive back where you began.
Push your needle through to the back and tie it off with a knot.