How to make a buttonhole, post 516
In the days of my grandmother, my paternal grandmother who was a seamstress, you would sew buttonholes by hand. How? How to make a Buttonhole by Hand You start by drawing a line in pencil or with tailor's chalk. What is tailor's chalk? Tailor's Chalk A tailor's chalk looks solid, like coloured pencil lead. It doesn't crumble like blackboard chalk. The tailor's chalk is a contrasting colour, but washes out easily. Another name for tailor's chalk is French chalk. From Wikipedia. An alternative in a washable felt tip pen. Check it really washes out on another scrap of fabric or the back inside hem or half way up an inside side hem, anywhere which won't show. Stitches To stop the button hole from fraying, you sew several parallel lines of one long stitch across both ends of the slit. These lines must be close together. That conceals the end and prevents the fabric pulling apart each time you use the buttonhole to fasten or unfasten the button. Then you s...