In this second video of the Bound Buttonhole series, tailoring expert Daryl Lancaster explains how to transfer the buttonhole placement markings from a garment pattern to the fabric.

Begin by reinforcing the fabric in the buttonhole area with fusible knit interfacing on the wrong side. When you finally cut the fabric to create the buttonhole opening, you’ll cut close to the corners, and the interfacing prevents undue distortion. The interfacing also prevents show-through to the right side.

For the most accurate and even buttonholes, Daryl machine-bastes a “ladder,” which connects that buttonholes’ end marks along the fabric’s grain, and it marks the buttonhole opening lines, perpendicular to the end marks.

Before proceeding, check that all these basting lines are correctly oriented and evenly stitched. This is the most important step for ensuring that the buttonholes will be equally sized and parallel. If the markings are slightly off now, you can correct them at this point for perfect results when you create the buttonholes.

Learn the remaining steps to making the buttonholes, in these videos:

“Bound Buttonholes: Introduction | Video”

“Creating the Buttonhole Lips”

“Attaching the Lips to the Garment”

“Completing the Buttonhole”

“Finishing the Buttonhole’s Wrong Side”

To follow the steps in print, look for Daryl’s article “Bound Buttonholes for All,” Threads #197, June/July 2018.