Buttonhole Techniques
Presented at our February 2007 meeting by Barbara Meloy
Let me first say that I much prefer to make all my buttonholes in knitwear on the sewing machine. I have a Pfaff, and it locks down the material to make the buttonhole. Therefore you govern the size of the buttonhole by the button, not the hole governing the size of the button. That being said, here are different methods.
Single hole (small half ball or ball button, or flat). Transfer one stitch to neighboring needle (always either to the right or left). Keep empty needle in work. Knit to next hole and repeat.
Elongated hole. Transfer one stitch to the left, adjoining stitch to the right. Leave the needles in work. On the next row, remove one of the "hole" stitches and twist it like an e-wrap (use the 1-eye needle transfer tool, and your latch tool). Knit desired number of rows until next buttonhole.
Elongated horizontal hole. Put stitches for hole in hold, and the rest of the stitches beyond it on the band in hold. Carriage in hold. Knit accross. Bind off the hole stitches (crochet or tight, up to you), Place all stitches except hole (they are out of work) in hold. Knit across (COR). Place stitches beyond hole in work (don't place all the way back!) and knit across. Put all stitches in work. Pull hole stitches to hold, with a separate piece of yarn e-wrap (or crochet on) them. Take carriage off hole, and knit across. The next 3 rows pull hole stitches to hold to knit off. (Check and remove crochets stitches from gate pegs.) Knit the desired number of rows until the next buttonhole. (Don't forget to put weight on the buttonhole e-wrap.)
Vertical hole. Put all stitches to the side of the hole into hold. Knit amount of rows wanted on first side (ending on outside). Break yarn. Put all stitches in hold. Knit across. Put stitches on other side of hole in hold, knit the same number of rows on 2nd side. (Yarn tail will be on the outside.) Take all stitches off hold, knit until next buttonhole.
If you are using a double band, sew the edges of the buttonholes together before anchoring band.
If you are knitting a horizontal band (from the sweater out), do the one on the left, then the next one, etc.
Think about the stress on the hole - should it be horizontal or vertical?
Good luck!
Bayou Creations
Barbara B. Meloy
3857 Throne Court
Milton, FL 32583-5030
(850) 981-9667
mulat@att.net