The Art of the Buttonhole
An online class to teach you how to make beautiful, historically-accurate buttonholes.
An online class to teach you how to make beautiful, historically-accurate buttonholes.
Have you ever gotten to that point on a sewing project where it was time to work on the buttonholes, but just the thought filled you with anxiety or dread? I know that used to happen a lot to me!
Buttonholes are at the same time one of the smallest parts of tailoring, yet one of the most important. A buttonhole must be strong enough to take years of stress from buttoning and unbuttoning. And a good buttonhole makes the outfit, while a poorly-made buttonhole can ruin an entire coat.
I’m offering this masterclass here on my website on how to sew your own buttonholes using traditional tailoring techniques that go back hundreds of years. It's a great opportunity whether you’re learning from scratch, or just want to improve your existing buttonhole skills.
James Williams has been historical tailoring professionally for over 16 years, having gotten his start in American Civil War reenacting and wanting to learn to make his own clothing. He began teaching the craft in 2011 and since then has helped hundreds of people to improve their skills in historical tailoring. In 2020, James was honored to write a feature article for Threads Magazine on buttonhole making, much of the material having been taken from this course and condensed for print.
James also enjoys cooking, hiking, gardening, hand tool woodworking, and playing classical music (he may have too many hobbies!).
The following material is covered in this four-part class, both in written form with photographs, and with high-definition video:
Buttonhole Layout
Cutting the Buttonholes
Preventing Fraying
Buttonhole Gimp or Four-Cord
The Buttonhole Stitch
You'll also be able to post photos of your own work so that I can give you personalized tips on improving your buttonholes. Or just to show off!
The class begins right after you sign up, but you can take things at your own pace, especially if you have to order supplies.
Here are the necessary supplies you'll need for the class. I've provided links to some of the rarer items, but you can probably find other sources with a Google search.
Tape Measure or Quilting Ruler
Seam Gauge
Beeswax
Small embroidery-type scissors
Tailor's Chalk
1/8″ Hollow Hole Punch (usually available at hardware stores).
1/2″ Chisel (sewing stores usually sell these).
Flat Board (scraps are fine, you could go as small as a couple of inches square, used to punch open the buttonholes).
**Buttonhole Punch (As an alternative to the hollow punch and chisel. Only worth it if you are making hundreds of buttonholes on a professional basis).
Gutermann Silk Buttonhole Twist (available in 10 yard and 437 yard spools depending on the shop. Estimate 2 to 3 yards per buttonhole).
Sewing Thread (Something on the thin/fine side, I like silk thread but cotton will work too).
Two equally sized pieces of fabric, approximately 4 – 6″ by 10 – 12″. These will be sewn together to mimic a coat front for practice. Wool, linen, and silk are all good options.
Linen (One piece to match the size of your fabric to act as a canvas).
**Optional
When you register for a class at Historical Tailoring Masterclasses you are fully protected by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you don’t feel like you’ve received value or you decide you want to cancel any time within the next 30 days, just let us know and you'll be sent a prompt refund.