Reluctantly Bound Buttonholes
What you *must* do, you can do, I guess. These fat orange buttons were too big for my automatic buttonhole attachment so I had to make my first-ever bound buttonholes. If I had known this was coming I would not have attached my facings first, but at this point? Water under the bridge.
The surprise was how good-looking they are from the front side. I looked at some tutorials online but they freaked me out. Organza windowpane? Drawing rectangles and basting to the 1/16th of an inch? Yikes! Instead I followed the two lines of instructions in my vintage pattern.
Yes, and next time I'll see what can be done about the back side!
This dress, by the way, is a gorgeous 1940s pattern for Bella, in a sweet, energetic cotton. Big collar, kimono sleeves--the pictures will tell all, very soon.
13 comments:
I think that only the front counts. It looks lovely, I can't imagine how you did it!
Wow, those button holes look nice. I can honestly say this is something I have never tried before.
Oh, it looks lovely, Anna! I can't wait to see the whole dress. Your daughters are so fortunate to have such pretty dresses and to have a mom who teaches them all the wonderful things you do.
Looks mighty good from the front!
Lisateresa
It sounds like you did them entirely by hand. Whenever I have a buttonhole that is too big, I resort to the way I learned to make buttonholes as a kid on my mom's machine...with zigzag stitches. You start out with the largest zigzag (adjusting your stitch length to very small, so that the zigs and zags are close together), then switch to the small zigzag and go down one side. When you get to the end, return to the large zigzag stitch and make the other end of the buttonhole. Then pivot with your needle down, so you can return to where you started and go down the other side of the buttonhole with the small zigzag stitch again. When you meet your original stitches, set your stitch length to (0) and send your needle up and down about three times to knot your thread. Voila! A buttonhole! Honestly, I think they look better (once you get the hang of it) than ones made with my automatic buttonhole attachment.
Happy sewing!
-Kate
Would you post a picture of the entire dress? I'd love to see it!!
Lovely! Can't wait to see how beautiful Bella makes her new dress.
N.e.v.e.r. bound a buttonhole. Someday.
I had this dilemma recently when sewing the 6 buttons on my vintage sailor trousers. Let's just say I learned a new technique,lol. Yours look great. The dress is lovely.
I have wanted to try these for years, but have always been too frightened. They look wonderful. Maybe I'll take the plunge, one of these days.
And that fabric is gorgeous!
This reminds me of Laura Ingalls' first paid job in town when she sewed shirts and impressed her (cranky) boss with how fast she could whip up buttonholes by hand.
When she had cut the buttonholes Laura whipped the cut edges swiftly, and swiftly covered them with the small, knotted stitches, all precisely the same length and closely set together. She so hated making buttonholes that she had learned to make them quickly, and get it over with. Mrs White noticed her work, and said, 'You can beat me making buttonholes.'
Little Town on the Prairie, Chapter 5
Bella is so beautiful - she could make a dish towel look like an evening gown! LOL :)
I used to make a lot of dresses and did bound button holes on them. That has been years ago and I can't imagine now I ever did it!!! Guess it is time to brush up again...they sure add to the classic tailoring and beauty. Sarah
love that fabric.. and the orange buttons are just perfect fot it. Cant wait to see pictures of Bella in it.. I know it will be beautiful.. Happy sewing. Judy
Post a Comment