Knitting Two-Row Buttonholes: How to Add Buttons to Your Knitted Garments

Knitting two-row buttonholes is an important technique to learn if you plan to make your own homemade garments. While there are many styles of buttons and holes to choose from, the two-row style is the easiest and most versatile, working well with almost any type of knitted garment. Here is a quick guide to knitting two-row buttonholes for your next item of homemade clothing.

Knitting two-row buttonholes: Choosing a button

When deciding on a style of buttons for your knitted garment, consider whether the button will be primarily for practical purposes or whether it must also be decorative. The size of the knitted garment can also affect the type of buttons that will work to keep it fastened. A good way to test your prospective button styles is to create an extra swatch of your garment. Be sure to knit this swatch in the same style you will be knitting the finished garment so you can get an adequate test of the button's suitability.

Knitting two-row buttonholes: Shank vs. flat buttons

The best type of buttons for most knitted garments are shank buttons. Shank buttons work well because they give plenty of room for the thicker fabric of a knitted garment. The button shank itself allows more vertical clearance than a flat button would. Flat buttons can usually be switched over to the shank style simply by adding some extra yarn or thread around the stitches holding the buttons onto the garment. First, wrap this extra thread around the stitches located between the fabric and the button itself. Firmly secure the thread on the back side of the garment by tying a knot in the end.

Knitting two-row buttonholes: Creating the buttonhole

The easiest type of buttonhole to knit is the two-row style. If you are a novice knitting one of your first garments, it is advisable to start off with two-row buttonholes and move on to the more difficult styles as you gain experience. As the name implies, a two-row buttonhole is two rows high. To make the first row, cast off the width of your buttonhole. To make the second row, cast on the exact same number of stitches as the first row. This will become the top edge of your two-row knitted buttonhole. To finish the buttonhole, you will need to use the buttonhole stitch technique. Insert your needle facing the opening of the buttonhole, then make one straight stitch, keeping the working thread under the point of your needle. Work your way all the way around the buttonhole's opening to reinforce it and give your knitted garment a nice, neat edge.