Buttons and Buttonholes

Today is Clarrisa's Corner, and she is talking about Buttons and Buttonholes!

Good Button and Buttonhole Practices:

Place buttons (that means to just find the placement) first and then buttonholes if you are setting your own placement.
Always place buttons at areas of stress such as bust, waist, hips. -Once buttons are placed, determine the total number of buttons you want. Buttons are generally 2-3 ½” apart.
To find the distance between buttons, measure the distance between the top and bottom button. Divide that by the button count minus 1. If your distance measures 18” and you want 6 buttons you will divide 18 by 5. That equals 3.6 which is 3 5/8”.
Buttons should be placed on the left side for females and right side for males.
Buttons are always stitched on the center front line.

Buttonholes:

Buttonholes are stitched vertically if you have a placket and horizontally otherwise.
Buttonholes are stitched (if horizontal) 1/8” inside the center front line. -Buttonholes are stitched 1/8” longer than your button if you have a flat button. For thicker buttons you will need a longer buttonhole. About a ¼” longer.
Test. Use the same fabric, layers and interfacing that you will be stitching the buttonholes on and do a test buttonhole to make sure it fits your buttonhole.
Always place a small piece of tearaway under your buttonhole while stitching. -Mark the beginning, center and end of your buttonhole.

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