Tuesday, November 11, 2014

My goodness, what a lot of buttonholes!

That's a total of 10.  Six up the front, two on the collar, and one on each pocket flap.
Only six more to go (there are three on each cuff).

I made bound buttonholes because no machine I own could make nice enough sewn buttonholes through all the layers of wool melton.

The technique I use is well presented here

  • I found I was able to make a pretty narrow buttonhole by stitching 5 clicks to the right and then the same to the left of the centre guide line.  My finished buttonholes are 7mm wide.
  • I backstitch at each end of this line of stitches (none of that knotting the thread and weaving it in for me).  
  • After clipping I press the tiny seam allowances open so that half the bulk is inside and half outside.  This prevents an obvious difference in height around the buttonhole.  With a thinner fabric I wouldn't bother to do this.  
  • I found with my thick and forgiving fabric I did not need to do any hand stitching to secure the welts.  I just spoke to them sternly and manhandled them until they were pretty even.
  • I agree with Sherry - don't press them until they are all sewn.  

Pockets - topstitched and ready to be sewn by hand
on the coat fronts.
Once the remaining ones are done, the rest of the coat will come together REALLY fast, right?

9 comments:

  1. Having made my share of bound buttonholes I am duly impressed with the narrowness and evenness of your buttonholes, and impressed with your fortitude.

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  2. They are so consistently made, wonderful. It will be easy once this is done, I'm sure.

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  3. nice job! I have a vintage pattern that buttons from top top bottom, I figure if I can't make a good buttonhole I should be able to by the time I get to the bottom lol!

    Helen

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  4. Wow! They look great and you have great buttonhole fortitude. :) That IS a lot of buttonholes.

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  5. Couture finishes are always worth the effort. Looking forward to seeing more of this garment.

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