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Handsewn Buttonhole Skills Workshop
Master handsewn buttonholes one step at a time. This workshop introduces the techniques behind precise, durable, and elegant buttonholes. You’ll learn how to mark, cut, and stitch, choose the right thread and tools, and build confidence with each practice piece—knowing that true mastery comes with time and repetition.
Seamwork Members: Free!
Non-Members: $49
Start Your Journey to Precision Sewing
Handsewn Buttonholes: A Skill Worth Mastering
Handsewn buttonholes are a hallmark of couture sewing, offering elegance, durability, and control that machines can’t match. This workshop is your first step: you’ll practice, learn essential techniques, and begin building the confidence to tackle even the most refined garments.
- Learn the foundations of handsewn buttonholes
- Build your own practice swatch library
- Develop the precision and patience this classic technique requires
- Set yourself on the path to mastering a true tailoring skill
Introducing
Handsewn Buttonhole Skills Workshop
Handsewn buttonholes bring a polished, couture finish to your garments. This workshop is your first step—learn the techniques, practice with swatches, and start building the patience and precision needed to master this skill over time.
By the end of this course you’ll be able to:
- Prepare your fabric, interfacing, and practice templates for handsewn buttonholes
- Mark, baste, and cut openings accurately for clean, precise results
- Choose the right thread, needle, and thimble for your fabric and project
- Understand horizontal vs. vertical buttonholes and select the best style and placement
- Stitch horizontal fan-end buttonholes with buttonhole stitches, bar tacks, and fan ends
- Stitch keyhole buttonholes, including creating an eyelet and optional cording for structure and finish
- Troubleshoot common issues like uneven stitches, misaligned markings, fabric distortion, and tension problems
- Identify which Seamwork patterns are ideal for practicing handsewn buttonholes
Meet Your Teacher
Erica is the Head of Education at Seamwork. She’s been sewing since she was 10 and taught sewing at a fabric store for 12 years. She loves the endless possibilities sewing your own clothes offers, and she's excited to share her knowledge with you.
Course Lessons
Lesson 1: Class Overview
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to create handsewn buttonholes from start to finish and begin the journey toward mastery. Learn how to prepare your fabric and tools, mark and cut precise openings, choose the right thread and needle, and stitch both horizontal fan-end and keyhole buttonholes. Y...
Lesson 2: Get Prepared
In this lesson, you’ll prepare for handsewn buttonholes by selecting the right fabrics, interfacing, and tools. You’ll learn how to create practice templates, mark buttonhole placement accurately, and understand which fabrics and projects are best suited for this couture technique. This lesson se...
Lesson 3: Choosing the Right Thread and Needle
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to select the perfect thread and needle for handsewn buttonholes. Discover how thread fiber, weight, and preparation affect stitch quality, and explore the best needle types and sizes for different fabrics. You’ll also learn how to use a thimble, wax your thread, ...
Lesson 4: Buttonhole Style and Placement
In this lesson, you’ll explore different handsewn buttonhole styles - straight, fan-end, and keyhole - and learn how to choose the best style for your garment. You’ll also learn how to position buttonholes horizontally or vertically, consider stress points, and plan placement for both function an...
Lesson 5: Marking and Cutting Your Buttonholes
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to accurately mark and cut handsewn buttonholes. You’ll practice transferring placement marks, drawing stitch guidelines, basting layers for stability, and using tools like a buttonhole chisel or scissors. By the end, you’ll be ready to create clean, precise openi...
Lesson 6: Horizontal Fan-End Buttonhole
In this lesson, you’ll stitch a horizontal fan-end handsewn buttonhole from start to finish. Learn how to form the buttonhole stitch, create a fan-end for the button shank, and finish with a secure bar tack. You’ll practice maintaining even tension, consistent stitch spacing, and shaping your but...
Lesson 7: Keyhole Buttonhole with Cording
In this lesson, you’ll handsew a keyhole buttonhole and learn how to add optional cording for structure and a crisp, professional finish. You’ll practice stitching around the curved eyelet, forming a secure bar tack, and maintaining even spacing and tension. By the end, you’ll create durable keyh...
Lesson 8: Troubleshooting Handsewn Buttonholes
In this lesson, you’ll identify and fix common handsewn buttonhole issues, including uneven stitches, inaccurate markings, poorly cut openings, and fabric distortion. You’ll learn how to choose the right needle, stabilize delicate fabrics, maintain consistent tension, and correct mistakes. With t...
Lesson 9: Put It Into Practice
In this lesson, you’ll apply your handsewn buttonhole skills to real projects. You’ll explore how to choose the right garments for handsewn buttonholes, including which Seamwork patterns are ideal for practicing handsewn buttonholes, and how to create swatch cards for future reference.
What’s Included
You’ll get:
- 8 video lessons guiding you step-by-step through handsewn buttonholes
- Practice template and swatch card downloads to build your reference library
- Troubleshooting guide for common issues and expert tips
- Examples of Seamwork patterns ideal for applying your new skills
- Opportunities to practice and share your buttonholes with the community
About our Skills Workshops
Each month, we create a new 30-day live Skills Workshop, focusing on helping you improve one particular sewing ability.
We alternate these with our seasonal Design Your Wardrobe program, and all these resources are available for free to our members.
It’s part of our SEAM method, to help you learn as you sew:
- Seasonally plan the wardrobe you want to wear
- Explore unlimited access to 250+ patterns
- Advance your skills through targeted workshops
- Make connections in our supportive community
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a skill workshop?
- Each month, we focus on a single sewing skill, helping you build your expertise step by step. Over time, you'll create your own skills library with technique samples you can reference again and again. You can apply these skills to any pattern you choose, allowing you to learn while making something you truly want to wear!
How does it work?
- The workshop is made up of self-paced video modules you can watch whenever it fits your schedule. Go at your own pace!
- We will release the workshop on the first day of the month, and then it will be available to you as a member anytime moving forward. There will be video lessons and downloads that you can access anytime, and you’ll be able to go at your own pace through the course material.
- During the month the workshop is released, we will be posting about it in the community and sending emails to keep you motivated so that you can share progress and inspire each other. A new Skill Workshop will be released each month, except for the months where we are doing Design Your Wardrobe.
- You will be able to access this skill workshop anytime starting on April 1, 2026.
Will I be able to interact with other people who are also in the workshop?
- You’ll receive weekly email reminders and forum prompts to keep you motivated and connected with fellow sewists. You’ll be able to ask questions and get feedback to build your skills even more. We’ll also have a live Zoom event for even more interactive learning.
Which pattern should I use to learn the skill?
- We’ve designed these workshops so that you can learn the skill AND pick a pattern that works for you and your style. Unlike a sewalong, you don’t have to make one specific project.
What if I’m not ready to make a pattern? Can I still learn the skill?
- Absolutely! Cut out some test fabric and practice, practice, practice. Use the handy downloadable sample cards to keep things organized and easy to reference later.
Handsewn Buttonhole Skills Workshop
Master handsewn buttonholes one step at a time. This workshop introduces the techniques behind precise, durable, and elegant buttonholes. You’ll learn how to mark, cut, and stitch, choose the right thread and tools, and build confidence with each practice piece—knowing that true mastery comes with time and repetition.