How to Sew Hand-Sewn Buttonholes | Keyhole & Shirt Style Buttonholes

Hand-sewn buttonholes are the ultimate tailored finish — elegant, durable and synonymous with bespoke tailoring. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to create two professional hand-sewn buttonhole techniques from start to finish. We’ll make: ✂️ A corded keyhole buttonhole — ideal for tailored jackets and coats, particularly when working with thicker fabrics. ✂️ A shirt-style hand-sewn buttonhole — a beautiful technique for lighter-weight fabrics and a high-end handmade finish. I’ll take you through the preparation, tools and materials, waxing the thread, creating the foundation, cutting the buttonhole, working the blanket stitch, forming the bar tacks and finishing the buttonhole neatly. These techniques take a little practice, but once you find your rhythm, the stitching becomes wonderfully methodical and relaxing. This is Session 9 in my Buttons & Buttonholes Playlist, where we work from buttonhole theory through to advanced and traditional sewing techniques. If you're just joining me, the complete Buttons & Buttonholes Playlist is linked below. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAHu-g3sOuEDoCxfo7om6QNS3Dlv450fO In this tutorial: 00:00 Introduction 01:16 Preparing the sample 01:30 Marking the buttonholes 02:15 Cutting and waxing the thread 04:18 Machining the foundation outline 05:09 Punching the hole for the keyhole buttonhole 05:38 Cutting the buttonholes 06:10 Sewing the keyhole buttonhole 12:13 Sewing the shirt buttonhole 16:27 What’s next in the playlist Up next: