Quick Tip: Button Placement Inside a Vertical Buttonhole

Your beautiful buttonholes have been sewn, but did you know there's a method for positioning the button that keeps it from coming unbuttoned accidentally and even holds the garment sides equally aligned?

If you place the button directly in the middle of the buttonhole, the garment fronts can shift up and down and make the lower edge of the hem uneven.

Just by placing the button higher in the buttonhole opening, (about 1/4-in. to 3/8-in. under the top edge of the buttonhole) you can stop the garment front from shifting. In the shirt shown, the button placement keeps the left and right fronts from slipping.

This placement also helps prevent the button from sliding out of the vertical buttonhole. The button is safely anchored high up in the buttonhole.

Keep your plaids matching and your buttons from popping with this easy fix!

LOUISE CUTTING, contributor
Posted on Mar 4th, 2013 in sewing, garment construction, how-to, tips & tricks, button, buttonhole, button placement

Comments (15)

rksue writes: I learned this technique 30 yrs ago, and used to take off all my bought buttons and reposition them. I have several bought blouses that have buttons that come undone, thank you for reminding me of a long forgotten technique.
Posted: 4:56 pm on May 9th

pbeesley writes: Simply brilliant.

Posted: 7:06 pm on March 11th

user-1118043 writes: Thank you.Well done!
Posted: 10:15 am on March 8th

eatsallinsects writes: WOO-HOO! I have a ready-nade shirt whiich is always coming unbuttoned. I think I may just re-sew those buttons?
Posted: 9:37 pm on March 7th

user-2377366 writes: For all the buttons I've sewn on in my life, it never occurred to me to up the button.....so simple. Thank you. As all before me have indicated. You are a genius. Keep these tips coming!!!
Posted: 3:35 pm on March 7th

Carly_Sue writes: This is a really good hint to tell us about. I will use it from now on. thanks!

Posted: 1:53 pm on March 6th

jackieclaire writes: Great tip, many thanks.
Posted: 6:40 am on March 6th

Jorey writes: Thankyou very much for that tip. I shall always now take care, especially when making little bags or cases for phones, etc., where the button easily becomes undone but needs to be secure.
Posted: 4:18 am on March 6th

sewquilter writes: aIt is a great tip. I did not know to put the button placement up above the halfway mark in the buttonhole. I will always definitely use this way again when I put in a button or buttons on a blouse.
Posted: 9:27 pm on March 5th

Lady_D writes: Great! Now I know what I've been doing wrong all these years. Now, if only my memory were half as good as this tip...
Posted: 7:08 pm on March 5th

Isa19 writes: Thanks, I love it! :-) Small, but important detail!
Posted: 5:56 pm on March 5th

user-2120205 writes: Thank you Louise, you are seriously a genius. Only yesterday I was getting annoyed with my button coming undone on a shirt I had made and cursing for making the buttonhole too big despite checking, dble checking and triple checking the size! I use lots of your tips. With gratitude, Lesley
Posted: 5:17 pm on March 5th

JmTokunaga writes: Clever! Thank you for the tip.
Posted: 4:03 pm on March 5th

ustabahippie writes: Great idea. Thanks.

Posted: 3:58 pm on March 5th

Norsecross writes: Having just finished a plaid shirt dress, I am tempted to re-sew all my buttons! This is so brilliant.
Posted: 12:26 pm on March 5th

You must be logged in to post comments. Log in.