I have a button problem. There are hundreds of buttons in my sewing stash, because they are so darn cute. My particular favorites are colorful wooden buttons in novelty shapes. It’s easy to add a button to most projects and make it that much more cute, but adding buttonhole, on the other hand, is quite difficult. A quilt just doesn’t have any parts that open. But why should that stop us? It’s not. We are going to put a fake placket on a quilt.
Note: Just like with the zipper block, the placket on this block is not made with standard garment sewing techniques. So before you go yelling at the screen saying “but your inner seams are not hidden!” remember that this is not a shirt. It’s going to be alright.
Cut:
(8) 2” x 16.5” grey #2
(4) 3” x 16.5” white
(4) 2” x 16.5” white
Start with your standard sewing foot and optional seam guide.
Pair each grey strip to a white strip and join with a 1/4 inch seam. For the 4 pieces with a smaller white side open and press to the dark side. Set these aside.
For the remaining 4, before opening the Block, fold white in half over itself and press. Then open the seam and press to the light side, keeping the white folded and excess tucked behind the seam. This creates the double layer for the placket.
On the right side of the placket measure up 2 inches on the white side and mark with chalk or other easily removable method. Now mark 5 more points at 2.5 inches apart. Cross each mark 5/8 inch from seam, creating a center point. (See Below).
There are several types of button hole attachments available, and modern machines don’t need them at all. I use a common singer buttonholer attachment that takes templates, which is how I’ll explain the next steps. If your set up is different, that’s totally fine. Whatever the case though, make sure you have tested your method and are comfortable with it. The Singer Featherweight shop has a great video tutorial in case you are new to making vintage buttonholes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mwN7j9g4xw. Note that interfacing will help keep the fabric stable and prevent puckering, but because this isn’t an actual garment and there will be quilting later you can leave it off if desired.
Switch back to standard sewing foot.
Pair each button hole strip with a non-button hole strip by laying each piece right side up and snugging up the side with holes into against the seam on the other piece, just like a button up shirt. Pin in place. With matching white thread, top stitch the pieces together along the seam on the button hole side. Trim block to 4.5″ x 16.5″.
You can attach the buttons now, however I would suggest waiting until the quilt is complete to avoid possible difficulty in quilting later.
Congratulations, you are now at 3 out of 10 feet. Next week: The edge joining foot.
