PERFECT FINISH
O
nce you know how, you can add
buttonholes or loops to any
project. A pattern should tell you
where and how to work a buttonhole, often
as part of an edging or button band on
cardigan fronts, usually worked over three
to six stitches.
We’ve explained below how to work a3-stitch horizontal buttonhole in double
crochet rows. It’s best to place these about
2cm (1in) from the edge of your fabric. You
can use the same principles to work
buttonholes in other stitches.
To check your buttons are the right size
for the buttonhole, make a swatch and pass
the button through the hole – aim for a fairlysnug fit so the buttons don’t undo by
themselves. To change the buttonhole size,
you can change the number of chains
worked and stitches missed, but then you
may need to make other pattern changes.
It’s often easier to just change the buttons
instead! With such a wide range available it
should be an easy switch.BUTTONHOLES
Here’s how to work simple buttonholes and button loops
RIGHT-HAND
3
Now skip the same number of stitches as
your chain length. If you made 3ch, skip
3 stitches on the row below. Work a dc stitch
into the next stitch and continue working the
stitches in the row as usual.4
On the next row, when you return to the
chain length, just work a stitch into each
chain. Alternatively, treat the buttonhole as
a chain space and work the stitches into the
space. See which look you prefer.1
Work to the point where you want to create
the buttonhole. To practise on a swatch, we
suggest that you work the first three stitches as
above in double crochet as usual and then place
the buttonhole.2
Don’t work into the next stitch. Instead,
make a chain length, which needs to be
slightly shorter than the width of your button.
To practise on a swatch, try 3ch.If you’re right-handed, follow these steps to make a double crochet buttonhole...