I'm making a housecoat with bound buttonholes.
My current one, made three years ago is my most worn me-made item of all time. I need some change.
The pattern is Simplicity 3592, which I won in Molly's March giveaway (Thanks!). I think it's the perfect shape for that humongous Ikea print I bought a long time ago and never used.
I usually am less finicky on finishing garments that won't see the light of day, so why bother making bound buttonholes instead of machine ones you ask?
One : it was in the pattern instructions. I am quite an obedient seamstress, I do have a tendency to make dresses in the same colour as the pattern envelope!
Two: obviously I need practice! I tried to make them according to Fashion Incubator's method for welts with the paper jig, but there is something in the calculation of the lips and turn of cloth that I can't get quite right on such a small area.
Three : I wanted to try a finish I saw in a coat I bought at H&M some years ago which I have never seen in any blog posts about bound buttonholes, the openings in the facings are machine sewn. I don't know how to do that and I winged it.
This is not a total success so I am not going to write up a tutorial about this, but I thought you might like the idea and try it yourself.
This is not a total success so I am not going to write up a tutorial about this, but I thought you might like the idea and try it yourself.
The gist of it is you open up the facing a tad smaller than the buttonhole opening and you stitch the buttonhole in the ditch. Am I making sense?
Had I made the lips in white instead of a contrasting colour, it would be nearly invisible from the outside. Also, I made the opening with a little square of cotton voile which I pushed through but I don't think this method needs it, a square of very small stitches would be fine and less bulky.
I don't like them. They are so sloppy, I might get the seam ripper out, and sew the facings by hand but as this garment will stay house bound, I might just leave them.
Sleepwear is a wonderful place to experiment, all the pressure of making things absolutely perfect is off so you can just enjoy the process. In fact, when I give advice to a beginner, I tell them to make a nightgown first or make the Tofino pyjama pants with Karen. There is no pressure there, your learning mistakes will remain private.
Jr C told me I looked like a pregnant cleaning lady when I tried it on and then I realized it is a pattern for a pregnant person. I might send it to Zoe when I'm finished. (Zoe do you want it? Give me your address.)
