Horizontal buttonhole placement ...

[UttaRetch]

how far from the edge?



Admittedly, 5/8" looks too far away, but is 1/4" adequate? 

[Greybird]

I think 1/4" is too near the edge - perhaps try for somewhere in between? It certainly needs to be inside your stitching line, which I can just about make out in the picture.

[Manuela]

1/4" is definitely too close to the edge. Best to look at it together with the button you intend to use.

[UttaRetch]

Thing is I didn't mark the buttonholes at all as I had to shorten the bodice and didn't bother to go back and do it.  I could root out the pattern piece, but I am so disenchanted with this project that all I want to do is finish it and move on to something else.

[Greybird]

You could always place a tape measure or ruler on it and mark out every 2 inches or whatever the spacing should be. I often find this is easier than transferring the pattern markings.

[BrendaP]

The buttons need to be on the centre line and the end of the cut in the buttonhole also needs to be on the centre line so that the buttons end up in the centre of the garment (assuming that's where they are supposed to be.

[UttaRetch]

Looks as if I will have to get the pattern piece out.  It's the damn details that irk me and makes some aspects of sewing TEDIOUS. 

[Greybird]

It's that very tediousness UR, that gives you that lovely self-righteous feeling when you've actually done it!

[justpottering]

Another option would be to look at and measure a blouse or similar garment you already have

But usually buttonholes are in the centre as described by Brenda

[UttaRetch]

I looked at a few things that I have sewn in the past and the buttonhole ends 1/2" from the edge.  If I use the centre line, it will be too tight.

[Ploshkin]

I was taught that the end of the buttonhole should be at least half the diameter of the button away from the edge.

[UttaRetch]

I put in a fresh needle, practiced and practiced BUT I have three failed buttonholes out of ten.   I have struggled to unpick them and I am going to leave it for a while.  I bloody HATE sewing sometimes and this is why I have pretty much given up.

[Acorn]

I'm not looking forward to doing the buttonholes on my coat because I know that I wouldn't be able to unpick without destroying the fabric.   

[BrendaP]

I used to feel like that about buttonholes until I discovered buttonholers for vintage machines.   

The trickiest bit is getting the thing attached to the machine and then it's a doddle. 

[b15erk]

UR, is there no-one local to you who has a vintage machine and buttonholer.  These things are the best yet for beautiful buttonholes - not many fails!

I would be happy to lend both, but you are just a tad too far away for that to be practical 

Jessie