How To Use An Automatic Buttonhole Foot 

Very clear&informative

Place a straight pin across your buttonhole to protect the end threads from being cut by the seam ripper when opening the hole. It's a great trick! Most of us aren't as talented as Sarah in using a seam ripper. Great demo.

Ha, I didn't think to use the automatic stitch feature, would be a lot easier! ^ ^ I haven't used a button foot since 2015 when I bought my machine.

Beautiful buttonholes. Thank you. After 50 years of sewing, I am only now venturing into buttonholes, and your video was very helpful.

You've just saved me, I have a lot of these to do and could not figure it out from the booklet. Thank you for making this :-)

Thank you so much. A really clear and concise video. I have always been afraid of buttonholes. Not anymore!

Hi Sarah I bought a new Janome about three years ago specifically for the automatic buttonhole as I was making my daughter's wedding favours and these needed two bottonholes each for ribbon to feed through - what a difference it made to have this feature. Previous to this my New Home machine had manual and was about 30 years old! My question is what method/attachment can I use to make a very large oversize buttonhole - say 2-3 inches or bigger. I wish there was a forum on youtube so that I could pass my thanks on to everyone whose videos I have watched and have given me so many tips, techniques and projects that will keep me busy. THANK YOU.

LOL - no worries! We never really stop learning the art of sewing. =D

TY! Wow I have to say ty for being thorough in the beginning because the manual and other tutorials missed showing where the push arm should sit and why it comes down where it does. I couldn't make it work until I found you!

Ooo my..i have a sofia that cane with one n really stressed on how to get the right size hole. . That is so clever n thank you so much for sharing..u really showed an old dog a new trick..i started sewing in the 60"s on the old singers n paid 2k for this machine that i barely understand..woohoo i can do buttons now!!

Ohhh thank you!!! i was passing a hard time because my machine was showing an error E3 and didn't know what happened!!

Thanks for this. Much more helpful than the official Brother ‘help’ video 👍😁

Thanks so much! Easy to follow for a beginner!!!

Thanks!!! Most informative video so far.

Hi and thank you. It is model 4423 heavy duty. Thanks so much :)

Im sorry, this video is from ELEVEN YEARS AGO!? wow. Eleven years ago you posted this. And it helped me tremendously now. I love the internet

Thanks so much for an easy video for us that haven't used a modern one before 😂💜🎊💜

Awesome video! Im learning more about the features that my sewing machine has. Thanks alot!

Your video is very clear but seems to be meant for a certain weight of fabric, knowledge about how to set the foot up, and which lines to match up the buttonhole with--my Singer instructions are as poorly described as if they were written/translated by someone whose native language is not English. I spent over two hours tearing out a buttonhole and trying to re-do it to no avail. Another hour getting that one out and I then just oversewed the torn-out buttonhole/mess fabric and sewed down a button over it and used a snap behind it to make the connection. I used my little Singer for years until it burned in a fire. Then my Kenmore was fine for 30+ years when I finally bought this new one. I'm sorry that I did. The parts are cheaply made and none of the feet for buttonholes, buttons, and zippers are problem-free. I never had these kinds of problems with my two other machines, neither of which were electronic. I don't think I will ever use those feet again. The zipper foot took me 30 minutes to be able to try to put it on while holding the presser bar (name?) up as high as it would go. I had to finally call in my son to do one part while I did the other. It just went on and on for these three feet. Though I haven't sewn much the past ten or fifteen years (while I was parenting) I am quite experienced. I've been so frustrated and wonder if it's possible to hate a sewing machine (or at least the company that made it)? All that to say, as some others did above, that heavier layers were impossible to make a decent buttonhole in--when does anyone sew just two cotton layers together with some interfacing? Sigh. What should I do with my usual fabrics to make buttonholes? Thanks for letting me rant. Helen

Hi, I didn't hear the mention of the stitch settings. Is that automatically set once the foot is in place. If not, what settings should I use?

You have made a wonderful buttonhole, but how do you adjust the stitch length and width selector as well as the thread tension selector? thank you ++

You REALLY helped clear up our questions about the different types of feet for this machine! I'm a subscriber!😊👍💃🇺🇸 Ms. Heart❤

Thank you really appreciate it.

hi sara, i still can't get the hang of this foot. i followed all your directions but my machine just sews in one spot. so my questions are..... what is your upper tension set on? what size length stitch on the top dial is it set on? and things like that. all my manual says is "set it on F" .... thanks.... hoping this is my problem

Thank you so much for the video ! 😄 Safe my day !

What would I do without you girls?!!! Thanks!!!

Why using a topstitch needle instead of an embroidery one with the embroidery thread?

Your videos are great; I truly appreciate! Thank you!

Lovely, thank you!

Thank you for your videos! Very useful. For the buttonholer, what if I don’t have a lever on my old Singer 247?

Thank you so much 🤗

thank you so much for this tutorial!

Madam can you please tell which stitch width dial, stitch length dial to keep on which number. I have kept stitch display on buttonhole stitch. My machine dosent go forward. It stays stitching on same point.

I didn't know buttonholes could be used for ribbons and rope and etc.? Too bad you didn't answer all the distress questions in this comments section. People are looking to you for help!

Thanks for the video... very helpful!

thank you SO MUCH! my manual really wasn't helpful, as it never mentioned that little button hole lever at all- not even in the diagram explaining what all the pieces of the machine do. Big fail, Brother!

Don't how to comment but thank you thank for solving my problems :)

Did you drop your feed dogs recently?

great tutorial!

Help please. I cannot sew a buttonhole. I have a Brother cs6000i. I put the button size I want in. The white lever of the buttonhole foot is in front of the pull down lever. I start sewing and it just keeps going backwards then stops and keeps sewing in the same spot. I also keep having my thread break. What am I doing wrong.

God Bless You!!

What if your button is bigger than the button foot?

Dónde lo puedo comprar ,para usar en una máquina industrial? GRACIAS❗🙋🌹

it sews a straight zigzag stich for me

Thanks hun 😍😍

How can I use the button hole foot to make a 4" or longer button hole my project has 3" straps that would go through the button hole.

I have the Brother XM2701 - 27 stitch machine. I've been trying for over two hours to make a button hole on a scrap of material. It will start the top and do one side then at the bottom it just builds a big hill of thread. Do you put the tension to zero? 1, 2, 3?? I can't seem to figure out what I'm doing wrong!

i have the xl2600i and i don't see a GO button.

I am curious what the point of putting a button on the foot is... does that tell the machine how big of a stitch to make? What if you want a tiny button hole? I'm curious if this would make sense for covid-19 masks (to run a piece of bias tape, shoelace, etc. through the tiny button hole). I'm a newbie so just trying to figure this out. I saw a video for my machine and it's almost the same. Singer Fashion Mate 5560.

Thank you! :)

Hi i like your tutorila but i am unable to make button hole as it is stucking on one place only foot is not moving forward and backward. I would be grateful if you can help me to sort it. My machine is model RH127 brother one step button hole.

I cannot get it to work. I have a Singer machine, I did everything u said and read the book, too. In the front of the button hole foot ,where the needle comes down the needle just keeps going up & down in one spot. The buttonhole foot doesnt move back and forth to form the buttonhole. Do have any idea what the problem could be.?

thanks it help

My sewing machine doesn’t have a go button!? What now?

Hi Tiffany! Did you get your machine make a successful buttonhole?

thank you so much!

You dont show how to set up Machine for button hole. Which icon? How many different icons. Etc.

Problem with mine is the dog underneath couldn’t push the fabric forward, so I end up with a solid ball in one dot

por favor pon un video en español.......gracias

I think what has been missed is that this foot is for automatic buttonholes only, not 4 step manual. If the machine doesnt have auto buttonhole it won't work. Am I correct?

Here is my issue: I have used the Brother XL2600i model manual and for some reason when I thread the machine and push my foot down, the dog feet don't move. I believe it has something to do with either the settings on the machine that it suggests (pattern 1 for buttonhole, F for fine stitching) or the buttonhole foot itself (it only has one little arm that sticks out when most buttonhole feet I have seen have two, but it doesn't seem broken). Can you please give me some tips on what I should be troubleshooting? For your info, I have already re-threaded the machine and the tension is not an issue. The dog feet move when I am sewing on other settings so they work, they just don't move on these settings but this is what the manual says to use and I am not sure how to change the settings so I still get a clean, neat buttonhole.

Hello I'm doing everything as you shown but when I press the start button there a message !Disconnect the foot controller. I dont know what it means and how can I solve thie problem for years now. If you could help me I would appreciate it so much

what do I set my machine to?

what settings are used on the machine?

but what setting do use with this foot,,

Where on the machine to it say go

started sewing buttonhole but machine keeps stopping soon after help

But what is the point of the button on the back?

Hello! what Brother model are you using, maam?...

How do i need to set the machine

I don't know why but my sewing machine won't move the fabric. It just holds it in place and makes a bird's nest. If it doesn't make bird's nests it only does a single line.

hi Thanks for sharing but I am afraid that even your tuto does not help me to understand what I make wrong. I am happy for you that your machine can do the bottonhole so automaticaly; mine does not want to, even it seem to be so simple, euh sorry so automatic and in the manual, the instructions are lacking of detail, I think but even the manual way does not work; it only sews one way but doesn't sew back.

you said press go. those that mean the pressor foot

Thousands of lifetime projects with Woodprix plans.

I was just curious on how to sew a button hole and didn’t even realize that there was a foot for it. Turns out my sewing machine came with it.

WHAT STITCH SETTINGS DO I USE I'M SO LOST 😭😭

I have tried to use the button hole foot followed all directions still can't get it to work. I am going to just punch a slit in the material and double stitch it by hand. Tired of trying to fiqure it out.

Hi Ramona! I just have to ask a couple basic questions before we dive into seeing what's wrong. Are the feed dogs up and did you pull down the buttonhole lever as far as possible?

Gee! If I haven't find your video I would be stuck in the last part of my baby girl's skirt. Thanks a lot!

OMG..... I'VE BEEN SEWING FOR YEARS MAKING SMALL STUFF.....I NEVER KNEW HOW TO USE THIS...LOL I WAS USING THE ZIGZAG .... THANK YOU!!!! I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS & HOW YOU EXPLAIN STUFF.... THANK YOU!!!!

Help!! I have a Brother XL2800i. I understand and can get the presser foot instruction great. when it sews and makes the first row, then needle stays in same place and makes a ball/string. none of the how-to videos talk about the machine settings which I feel is my problem.

Thank you so much for this video!!!! I couldn’t figure it out on my own how to use this foot!

Hi, I always have a problem when it comes to buttonholes the thing is when I mark the buttonholes where I want them to be but it starts & ends not in the place I marked 😭 It will be a great help Can you please help me Is there any tips to get all my buttonholes where I wish for rather than in different places

Thank you for this. I have a question: do I need to use embroidery thread when using knit fabric?

Wow so simple I was way overthinking button holes! Thank you!

my sewing machine is not computerized this way. Thanks for posting though. I'll look for another tutorial for manual stitching buttonhole sewing.

Hi, like Christina Castillejo, I have used the Brother XL2600i model manual and for some reason when I thread the machine and push my foot down, the dog feet don't move. I believe it has something to do with either the settings on the machine that it suggests (pattern 1 for buttonhole, F for fine stitching) or the buttonhole foot itself (it only has one little arm that sticks out when most buttonhole feet I have seen have two, but it doesn't seem broken). Can you please give me some tips on what I should be troubleshooting? For your info, I have already re-threaded the machine and the tension is not an issue. The dog feet move when I am sewing on other settings so they work, they just don't move on these settings but this is what the manual says to use and I am not sure how to change the settings so I still get a clean, neat buttonhole.

Its been so helpful for people like me who know so little about sewing...thank you for sharing.

I’ve been sewing for years and can still learn from these videos. Thanks, I really enjoy them!

Thank you so much!! Very easy to follow but please tell people to change their stitch on the machine. I kept getting an error message before I finally realized that!

Well glad you showed the stop arm coming down. The directions for button holes on my 4423 did not show that step.

What must you do when you want a huge buttonhole? For example to make a belt and you need a large opening?

You don't mention anything about the threads. It looks like the top thread goes through the small hole and hangs from the front. Where does the bottom thread go?

Does the machine stop itself after doing the button or do I just stop myself and take my foot off the pedal?

Are there any specifications on tension, thread length and stitch type for this?

Hi, how are you? I had been your Subscriber and now also, I am. Due to many other subscriptions, I couldn't get you have with you. I have only one proble with one step button hole. That is, not getting equal thicknrss, when bsewong button hole. How to get equal thickness? And sometimes, itvcoes up, doesntbtevert back, & since stitching on the same spot, thread will become lump. How to avoid this? 0please suggest. :)

I have. Kenmore Ultra 12 # 158.1561.281 Serial # 31011771 Feed Dogs don't go down. I don't think this machine can make button holes.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for the videos. Just purchased a Brother xl2600i so I could learn to sew, and the instruction manual simply says 'attach the buttonhole foot'.

Which sewing machine is the best for buttonhole making please I have singer from the 80S Will any part for butthole sewing work on it I should purchase The one I have it's not good

I have question as why my fabric does not move with the attachment. The needle just sits at the beginning and just goes left and right it doesn't move forward or backwards.