The Spanish Snap Buttonhole | Video
A Spanish Snap buttonhole is a secure, neatly finished buttonhole that is nearly invisible in fabrics such as handwovens, tweeds, and bouclés. There are no visible stitches or welts. Threads Contributing Editor Louise Cutting finds these sophisticated, subtle, and easier to make than bound buttonholes.
This buttonhole style was inspired by the late couture teacher Robert Carr. It consists of an oval opening faced with silk organza. The stitching that attaches the organza facing secures the opening edge and is especially helpful in bulky fabrics and those prone to raveling. On the garment interior, a corresponding faced buttonhole is made in the facing. The garment and facing layers are then arranged with wrong sides together and the buttonholes aligned. The buttonhole opening edges are then whipstitched by hand, to join the outer and facing layers. This conceals the organza and creates a stable, unobtrusive buttonhole.
My machine stitched buttonholes never looked great - too "thready". Glad of this alternative technique!
Such a clean look! My very old sewing machine can no longer be relied upon for even stitch width, or for even stitch length, either. I've resorted to hand-worked buttonholes, and while they are improving, they are not yet up to snuff. This is such a beautiful and practical method that I've never before seen! Thank you so much for the detailed demonstration!
Would have liked to seen how the hand stitch was done, but I very much enjoyed seeing how to do this.