How to knit PERFECT buttonholes [10 different techniques for every occasion]

A very detailed masterclass showing you how to make buttonholes in knitting - from super easy to very advanced techniques. Vertical and horizontal options for different kinds of buttons and projects.

Written instructions:

Book recommendation:
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This video is all about making buttonholes in knitting. They can be vertical or horizontal - simple or super sturdy. I am to provide you with tons of different options so you find the perfect buttonhole for your project. I start with a simple buttonhole for beginners, and at the end I also show you a wonderful double-knitting buttonhole and quite a couple of vertical buttonholes - even a reinforced option that doesn't wear out that quickly.

0:00 Introduction to knitting buttonholes
1:54 How to make a buttonhole [easy beginner technique]
4:10 Reinforced 1-row buttonhole
8:53 Placeholder buttonhole
18:45 Grafted Double-knitting buttonhole
36:24 Simple vertical buttonhole
37:32 Double yarn over buttonhole
38:24 Four-row yarn over buttonhole
41.10 Big vertical buttonhole
46:08 Reinforced vertical buttonhole
50:19 Buttonhole stitch in knitting

[NimbleNeedles]

And feel free to comment any time if you have a question. No need to be shy! :)

[AwesomeReversibleKnitting]

I have been avoiding projects with buttonholes, but no longer, thank you for making them feel possible!

[sarahmacintosh]

I love that you leave in the times when you split the yarn, drop the needle, "miss" the stitch, etc. Makes me feel much better when I do the same! 💜

[michellelee]

Norman, thanks for everything. You always cover why we do what we do (vertical vs horozontal buttonhole), on top of teaching us how to do. Sending you love from Singapore 🥰

[cbs]

Norman, you never disappoint!
You are truly intelligent & knowledgeable.
Your videos are well presented (lightning, background, timing, etc). The material you teach ( because you don't just "wing-it) is well researched, well timed, well presented (in a non-threatening or superior attitude). The whole experience is geared to help us understand what, why, how, when, etc.
THANK YOU for being a virtual mentor & for the seamless presentation, ty for always being well prepared & for presenting more than one way to work a given method.

[gaidhliglass]

😂 The moment I realised the armholes I knitted for my dog sweaters are just large buttonholes. Danke for the alternate methods, Norman. I plan to do cardigans for the grandkids next.

[genier]

Excellent video, and so well-timed. I am about to do the buttonhole band on my first cardigan, probably tomorrow, thanks.

[jackieostrander]

Very useful. I tried to do a button hole for a leash opening on a dog sweater. These are cute ideas for embellishments as well.

[scarzftime]

Splitting the yarn and asking "What did I do here?" is the best description of my knitting experience sometimes 😂

[shelives]

I absolutely love this buttonhole! I use it for the thumb opening in my fingerless mitts. Thank you Norman!

[susanhunt]

Thankyou Norman. I’ve been knitting for years but always struggle to make the buttonholes look neat. I’m knitting cardigans for summer so this video is brilliant for me now.
You make sure camera angles are right and you go slowly enough to follow easily.😊👍

[linelladevlin]

Absolutely stellar tutorial! Thank you.

[etainne]

you solved my problem again Norman, without knowing it. I was making a tunic sweater in the round accidentally when it should be flat front and back, but now i am using your button holes for my neck opening, saving the body in the round on a cable and flat knitting the top area (front and back continuously) and joining with the "button hole" neck/ shoulder on the fold.

[kariebrouillard]

Thank you so much for this. I always struggled to make my button holes look tidy. Can’t wait to try your techniques❤

[energyhealer]

This is the best buttonhole video that I've seen. I'm having a problem with buttonholes not being tight enough. I think your techniques are awesome and will solve that problem.

[cassandrabrown]

I love this video! You make making buttonholes so easy. I’m going to try out the techniques for a vertical buttonhole for my next sweater. Thank you.

[alicjaagaciak]

Big thank you for the lesson.
Good day,
Alicja from Poland

[duarteshelia]

I wound up liking your Embroidered button hole the best. You did a great job of sewing it up.

[elaineb]

The first technique is what you use on the fingerless gloves. I used that same technique to make a balaclava for a toy & it worked well enough for me to be asked how I did it!!! Now I can link this vid for multiple holes (which aren't just for buttons) so they can see!!!

[wallyjansen]

Dear Norman, I can't thank you enough to teach this important lesson. I have always made the simplest version of a buttonhole but when I saw this video it was a real eureka moment. I am knitting a cardigan with a dubblebreasted border in garter stitch. Now I am making the reinforced buttonhole and it came out splendidly beautiful. This is an experience to note. It's the first time that I can be proud of a buttonhole. Thank you so much!