Nancy Drew: Sunni of The Cupcake Goddess

Sunni.  I just like saying her name, because you know the instant you met her that she'd be one of those types of people who are fiercely loyal, but completely honest and would tell you, HUN, that shade of blonde just isn't doing you any favors.  At least that's what I imagine, as I've never actually met her.

 But that doesn't keep me from enjoying her personality, because it shines through her writing, bright and clear on her blog, The Cupcake Goddess.  She is witty, intelligent, and she knows her sewing techniques [as will be beautifully showcased today.]

 She leans toward the vintage look, and does so quite finely.  I am so pleased to have Sunni here with us today, with a different slant on children's books.

Welcome, Sunni!
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Nancy Drew and the...Hand Worked Buttonhole! Today, I bring you a tutorial on how to hand work a buttonhole. What does this have to do with Nancy Drew, you might ask?

Nancy was a character born in the 30's and making a smash in the 40's, 50's, 60's, even up through today. In keeping with the tradition of her vintage appeal, her penchant for impeccable taste and her ability to "make do" in a pinch, I thought it would be fun to bring to life a vintage technique that would have been taught to a girl like Nancy. Hand worked buttonholes are a rather gorgeous way to give that latest frock a little edge and interest, while also adding function. So let's get started:


You will need the following:







♥ buttonhole twist (you can buy beautiful silk threads here or another option is to use the pearlized cotton found by the embroidery threads)
♥ buttonhole gimp (I use a strand of the buttonhole twist or for a sturdier option use button and craft thread)
♥ beeswax
♥ fray check
♥ small shears or a seam ripper for cutting buttonholes






Start by measuring your button. You'll need to get the diameter plus the thickness of each button. For example, my button diameter is 3/4" and my thickness is 1/8" so I need to create a buttonhole that is 7/8". Transfer this marking onto your fabric.






Please note that I'm using contrasting threads to that of my fabric for visual effect, it's up to you whether or not you want to do the same! You now need to create a boundary for your buttonhole with your machine. Machine stitch a scant 1/8" on each side and across both ends of the buttonhole marking. Carefully slash the buttonhole down the middle and add a little fray check to the slash.






While the fray check is drying, cut an 18" length of buttonhole twist and run it through your beeswax. Press the thread with a hot, dry iron allowing the beeswax to more thoroughly coat the thread.






Once fray check is dried, take a long length of your buttonhole gimp (either a strand of the twist or the button and craft thread) and tie a knot in one end. About 1/2" away from the buttonhole, thread your buttonhole gimp through the fabric and up through the bottom end of the buttonhole.






Taking the buttonhole twist in hand, begin the buttonhole by back tacking the reverse side of the buttonhole to secure the thread in place (this is in place of a knot). Thread your buttonhole twist up through to the right side of the buttonhole in the corner opposite the slash. Allow the gimp to lay across the buttonhole and start working the buttonhole across one of the long edges. The buttonhole stitch is a stitch many are already familiar with - its your basic blanket stitch! Now how cool is that? Tip - the key to a well worked buttonhole is even stitching along with keeping the purl (the small braid that forms on the inside lip of the buttonhole flat against the edge)






As you near the first opposing end of the buttonhole, begin to fan the stitches to round the corner. Now this fan is only going to be on one end and a bar tack on the other, alright? Alright.






To finish off the buttonhole, you'll need to bar tack the end. To make a bar tack, take 3 or 4 long stitches across the width of the buttonhole and then blanket stitch over the top of the those long stitches catching a bit of the fabric underneath. This forms a rather beautiful braid at the end of the buttonhole and gives it a very sturdy and long lasting finish.






Pull the thread through to the reverse side of the buttonhole and back tack in place to secure the end the thread. Cut the knot in the gimp and bring both gimp threads through the reverse side of the buttonhole. Trim all threads close to the buttonhole.

A few tips:
♥ when working the buttonhole, allow a small space in between each stitch. the buttonhole stitch is not meant to be a satin stitch
♥ make sure that the buttonhole area has been interfaced
♥ use a similar color gimp as the color of your fabric
♥ use a different slightly different shade of buttonhole twist from the color of your fabric to really make the buttonholes stand out






I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial on how to make your own hand worked buttonholes! Here's a bit more info on my blouse: It's made by me from Simplicity 7896 a vintage pattern from 1977 that took a cue from the 40's. I left out the sleeve, because I didn't have enough fabric, used cover buttons and of course finished it off with handworked buttonholes. It's made from a luscious silk shirting I bought online from Fashion Fabrics Club. There you have it, a cheeky blouse with a perfect bow!

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Sunni, Nancy would approve!  Thank you for your help in solving the mystery of honing our hand worked buttonholes.  I've a stash of silk thread that now knows its fate.