Stitched Sunday - Buttonhole

a very well known and used stitch this week – the Buttonhole stitch – otherwise known as a blanket stitch.

This was traditionally used as a blanket edge on the raw edging of woollen blankets – hence the alternative and well known name. OF course the buttonhole version was as it sounds – to make buttonholes by hand - It is widely used as an appliqué stitch for various fused appliqué methods. But of course it can also be used as a stand alone embroidery stitch in many variations.

so, here we go:

for the purpose of this tutorial I have drawn two lines – you would probably only every have one line marked on your design and none for appliqué – so you need to use your sharp eye to get even stitches or make lines with an erasable marker.

Bring the threaded knotted needle up at A – this would be on your design line –

take it down at B and up again at C with the thread under the needle– now for a ‘basic’ buttonhole stitch the way we mainly use it, try for even sized stitches – that is all sides of the three sided square are even in size – so the distance between point A and C and point B and C are the same so we end up with a square.

Pull the thread through horizontal to the fabric – I like to pull it as close to the fabric as possible rather than pulling the needle straight up away from the fabric – I find this ‘sits’ the stitch into position a little better.

Take the needle down again at your new point B – the same distance away from the previous point B and repeat the stitch.

continue along your design line trying for even stitches.

to end your stitch take the needle down over the top of your last stitch as close as possible to where you came up but over the thread – pull through to the back and tie off.

a common problem with buttonhole, particularly on curves is that is wont sit where you put it and it pulls inwards. The step above I mentioned about pulling the thread through horizontal and flat on the fabric helps a little but also…

…..every few stitches on a curve take the needle down over the thread to the back (just as when you are ending)

Then bring it back up again on the inside of the thread (where you came up before) and continue stitching.

Corners – coming up to a corner try and just the distance so that the last stitch is the same width away from the corner as your last stitches were. Take your needle down in the same hole as the previous stitch and then up again right in the corner.  

pull through and then take it over the thread and to the back as before to lock the corner stitch in

bring it back up inside your stitch and continue in the next direction – see the first stitch uses the same inner hole again – that's three stitches into the same hole

continue along in the new direction.

 

blanket stitch flowers  - these are very cool flowers and easy to do. Bring the needle up on the outside of your circle and down in a centre point.

work your way around the circle using that centre point every time to place your needle down. You may need to lock every few stitches down (with that little stitch over the top) to prevent them from rolling in.

continue until you meet your start point. You could place a knot in the centre if you wish. You can do full circle flowers or just part circles flower buds or hanging flowers.

There are many variations of Butthonhole including Closed Buttonhole, Up and Down buttonhole, knotted buttonhole, buttonhole stitch bars (used in  cutwork) and buttonhole stitch with picots or bullions. Google these for ideas and instructions if you are up for a challenge.

Here are a few examples I found in my studio or you can see many others on my pinboard.

Basic buttonhole to appliqué a pocket on                 

Buttonhole Flowers

Blanket stitch applique

Blanket stitch as an edging on a double sided flower – this stitch is the same both front and back as in the edging on a blanket so is double sided.

So here is this weeks page Download Buttonhole

 

a bit of up and down buttonhole here – just move your point B to the other side of the line.

 

I added some colonial knots to the centre of my flowers and around the outer edge.

 

have fun and happy stitching

Hugs,

Helen 

Comments

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[Lori]

Thank you so much, I just had to rip out a bunch of blanket stitch flowers cuz they all rolled over and yours is the only help I've found on getting the stitches to stay put on a curve.

You saved my project!!!!!!!!!!

[Houseelf]

Thank you. I use button hole stitch the most -for hand appliques.

[Debby]

Hi Helen,

I'm enjoying your stitching lessons and look forward to Sundays. They get me get back into the mood to stitch again. Your stitching is beautiful and even.
Thank you. ;-)
bee-hugs, Debby (WI,USA)

[Heleen Groot]

I use the blanket stitch a lot (since I am unable to applique round shapes, mine always turn square...). I just never thought of making flowers of it. Beautiful! Can't wait to start! Thank you!

[Jenny at Always Quilting]

Helen, Thank you for a great Blanket stitch tutorial. You have solved those tricky curved stiches so easily.

[Anne Davis]

Hi Helen
I've always worked the stitches towards me rather than away from me, I don't know why. Is one way easier than the other?
Cheers
Anne

[Angela]

I love the versatility of the button hole stitch, it is one of my favourites.

[*karendianne.]

Oh how super pretty!