Alder Sew Along: Buttons and Buttonholes
Today is the last step in the Alder Sew Along, aside from variations. Start by laying the right button band out flat. You'll be inserting the buttonholes into this side. The measurements I'm using here are the same as on the pattern but feel free to use your own placement. Begin by marking the top of the first buttonhole, 2 1/2" down from the collar stand.
The second, and all subsequent buttonholes, are placed 3 1/2" down from the mark you made for the previous buttonhole. We're only marking the top of the buttonholes here because that's how my buttonhole foot works, so if your machine requires a mark for the bottom as well be sure to measure that out based on the size of the buttons you've chosen.
For the buttonhole on the collar stand you'll want to mark the buttonhole to start aligned with the center of the button band and in the center of the collar stand.
Once your buttonholes are in slice them open. I used this buttonhole chisel but you can use scissors as well. If you're going to use a seam ripper be careful because this can go super wrong and your dress is almost done! Be sure to use a sharp one and place a pin through the end of the buttonhole so if you over slice you hit the pin which stops you from slicing through the entire button band. I've seen this happen a lot!
I like to mark the placement of the buttons off o the buttonholes. This way if anything is slightly off from your original markings everything will be aligned. After you've sliced open your buttonholes align the two button bands.
Place a pin through the buttonhole to mark the button placement. Repeat for all buttonholes.
You can either sew the buttons on by hand or maybe you have a button foot for your machine which makes this step really easy! That's what I always do otherwise I'd still be working on my first Archer.
Once all your buttons are on you're done, phew! You just made it through the Alder sew along, congrats!! Stay tuned for a few variations as well as some more regularly scheduled, non Alder programming.
