How to hand sew a button hole

The first buttons were made in the Stone Age, but they were merely decorative and not functional at all. Buttons became functional in ancient Greece and Rome, but the button hole did not appear until 1200 AD in Europe. At first, fashion demanded plenty of buttons, with button holes, on clothing. By 1600 and 1700, the number of buttons decreased to more modern standards. Knowing how to hand sew a button hole can help you when you sew your own clothes. The article below guides you through the steps of hand sewing a button hole.

- Mark the position of the button holes with tailor's chalk. - Carefully cut the holes (basically slits )with scissors. - Cut a small piece of fabric that is a little larger than the button hole.This fabric will become the facing for the button hole. - Using four straight pins, pin it in place on the back of fabric where you will make the button hole. Make sure that the pinned fabric is as flat as possible. - Pick out the thread which you wish to use for the button hole. Unless you wish the button hole to be decorative, it should be the same colour as the fabric. - Draw the position of the button hole on the facing fabric. - Start sewing on one of the corners of the button hole and work your way across, using small, even stitches. - Continue sewing around the button hole until you have the entire of the button hole sewn.
Author's sewing tip One method of further finishing the button hole is passing the needle through the stitch, which offers a better finish to the edges of the button hole.