Fastenings: a beginner's guide
Buttonholes, buttons and zips.
- A buttonhole is a dense block of stitches, so the area must be interfaced.
- Buttonhole length is button diameter plus thickness; a flat 12 mm button needs about 15 mm.
- Women's garments button right over left.
- A zipper foot lets the needle get close to the teeth.
- Always baste the seam and press it open before inserting a zip.
All guides ›Fastenings
Sources
All checked November 1, 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.