One Row Buttonholes

Buttons on our Playdate cardigan from Max and Bodhi’s Wardrobe

There are many techniques for creating buttonholes. This tutorial shows you how to make a one-row buttonhole. For information on spacing your buttonholes and creating a button band check out our button band tutorial here.

1-stitch buttonhole: This is my preferred method, it is simple and creates a small, tidy hole. To work a 1 stitch buttonhole simply work (yo, k2tog)

A 1-stitch buttonhole works perfectly for Lush, especially if you are using smallish buttons.

2, 3, and 4-stitch buttonholes : For larger buttons, or in lighter weight sweaters (fingering / sock weight for example) a 1 st buttonhole would be too small, so you will have to go with something bigger. For 2, 3, and 4 stitch buttonhole you will work as follows:

1. slip the next 2 sts

2. pass the first over the second and off (also known as binding off 1 st)

3. slip 1 more stitch

4. pass the first over the second (binding off a second stitch)

Note: for a larger buttonhole work steps 3 and 4 more times. For a 3 st buttonhole you would work steps 3 and 4 once more, for a 4 st buttonhole you would work steps 3 and 4 twice more etc.

5. pass 1 stitch from right hand needle to left hand needle

6. Using backwards loop method, cast on 2 sts (or, if you are working a 3 st buttonhole cast on 3 sts, for a 4 st buttonhole cast on 4 sts etc.)

Ready for a buttonhole row!

Work to where you want your first buttonhole.

1. slip 2 sts

2. pass the first over the second and off (also known as binding off 1 st)

One stitch has been bound off

3. slip 1 more stitch

4. pass the first over the second (binding off a second stitch).

5. pass 1 stitch from right hand needle to left hand needle

6. Cast on 2 sts using backwards loop cast on

2 sts have been cast on

Buttonhole complete!

Voila! You have a buttonhole in a single row. Some variation you may want to try include cast on sts in a different manor. We used the backwards loop cast on but you could turn your work (so the wrong side is facing), cast on sts using a knitted cast on, then turn your work back (so the right side is facing).

If you are unsure of what  size of buttonhole you need, try one, work a few sts more, then see if you can get the button through. It should be a bit of a tight squeeze, knitting is stretchy and you don’t want your cardigan popping open!

SHARE the knit knowledge :::

Do you have knitting friends who could use this tutorial?  Share this post, or let them know about the great free patterns they could try from The Simple Collection.  And join in the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Ravelry!

Buttoned cardis from TCK: