Buttonhole Stitch

The Buttonhole embroidery stitch is considered a looped stitch. Looped stitches are formed by working thread over a straight stitch. Obviously, it is used to do buttonholes, even though most of us don’t do buttonholes by hand anymore. The stitch is close to a blanket stitch, but the stitches are made closer together. The buttonhole stitch is perfect for embellishment, applique, crazy quilting and borders, and of course, buttonholes.

Variations to the buttonhole stitch are endless. You can vary the distance between the stitches, as well as the height of the stitches, as seen in this sample.

How to embroider the buttonhole stitch

A buttonhole stitch is stitched left to right. Bring your needle up on your line at A. Take a straight line to B and back up at C, just left of A.

Go to the right to take your next stitch, inserting your needle on the top line D, and bringing it up on the lower line E, looping the thread around the tip of the needle.

Do the same step again, inserting your needle on the top line at the same distance from the previous stitch F, and bring up on the lower line, looping the thread around the needle G. Continue these stitches for your line

There are so many variations for the buttonhole stitch. Here are several that show varying height of the stitch and closeness of stitches.

And, do this again, and again. Pull it taut, but not too tight, to make the stitches straight and not curved, like mine are looking in this picture.

And, I’m starting on the next circle!

The final sample of this stitch in circles.

And, another sample with the top row showing in #8 pearl cotton in black, the 2nd row in a variegated, and the 3rd is a sample eyelet with this stitch.