Fix shirt buttonholes?

The buttons on my flannel shirt ALWAYS pop open and it drives me crazy. Does anybody know any way to fix this? They used to be fine but got stretched out I think.

One way of solving this is to make the buttonholes smaller, again. If using a sewing machine, the zigzag stitch (B in the top half of the diagram) would do this.


Here are the steps I would do if using a machine:
1) Place the button in the buttonhole and mark off points slightly smaller than the button on the buttonhole with a pencil
2) Make a locking stitch at the top of the button
3) Zigzag stitch down until you reach the upper line that you marked off
4) Zigzag stitch back to the top of the buttonhole
5) Make another locking stitch
6) Cut off the excess thread
7) Repeat steps 2-6 for the bottom portion of the buttonhole
*edit: I forgot to mention but to make it clear, you would sewing shut parts of buttonhole by stitching the fabric on either side together; that is why I would use a zigzag stitch. It helps with that kind of thing.

If doing this by hand, you pretty much do the same thing.
By locking stitch for a machine, I run back and forth over the same point with the single stitch (A in the top half of the diagram)

I might just do it by hand but I think I can handle this. thanks!

Hi Will,

Just did the same thing to one of my 60 year old…still going strong…Wool Pendleton just the other day…

They do get a bit “stretched” over time. As these buttonholes are overextended during use, a simple “bar tack” or “whip stitch” at the base of the hole will whip any old button hole into “like new” condition with just a few turns of the needle. If the garment sees a lot of use, I use a thin thread made of back strap sinew from a deer or other Ungulates; even sheep works just fine. Instead of “knotting” the end of the thread, use a more traditional, or “tailors trick” of several quick hidden “lock stitches.” This will leave your sewing cleaner and smoother looking.

If by machine, use the buttonhole setting or “bar tack.”

Regards,

j