03/04/2026
Class 7: How to sew a buttonhole with an automatic foot.
Before we begin, I think we all need to take a collective deep breath in & out.
Sewing buttonholes can be… stressful! But practice makes perfect - and let me tell you, I have had LOTS of practice.
My first jumpsuit - The Sisterhood - has FOURTEEN (yes, 14!) buttonholes. And I have made a lot of these jumpsuits. I’ve lost count of how many buttonholes I’ve sewn over the years!
A few things that make sewing buttonholes easier:
- the fabric you’re using - if you’re using a slippy fabric, you’re going to need more patience when sewing the buttonholes. I recommend a medium weight interfacing between the layers!
- use stabiliser (sometimes called ‘tearaway’) between the fabric and the feed dogs. This gives the feed dogs something to hold onto, particularly if you’re sewing somwhere with different thicknesses (eg a waistband)
- practice on your fabric beforehand - you don’t want to ruin a lovely fabric, right at the end of your project!
- buttonholes tend to come at the end of a project. So if you’ve been sewing for a long time, have a rest. Get a drink and have a stretch. You need to come to them relaxed and without the pressure of desperately trying to finish!
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If you’re new here: This is my new series, where I teach you how to sew, right from the very beginning. I am Hetty and I make bathroom-friendly jumpsuits, bespoke wedding jumpsuits, sell pdf sewing patterns and hold workshops where I teach beginners how to sew my jumpsuits! In this new ‘learn to sew’ series, we will be learning sewing machine basics, how to sew stretch fabrics and woven fabrics, different seam finishes and more. My goal if to build up your sewing confidence so you will approach any sewing pattern with a ‘let’s give it a go’ attitude, no matter what the skill level says. Follow along for a daily dose of sewing education and thank you for being here!