Friday Homework for Lesson 55: Tailor's Buttonhole Stitch

Oh, what a week! I spent quite some time on Tailor's Buttonhole Stitch, doing more research and trying out the various versions for my homework.

If you remember, 

the HOMEWORK was to:

1. Try out the five variations of the stitch, taught last Sunday's lesson
2. Pick a favorite
3. Work a row on the Aida sampler
4. Fill in a square on the Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart
5. Make a couple of button holes or
6. Play around with free form embroidery

1. Several readers have commented that they work the stitch in a different way from the five I showed. 

So I thought I should check out how professional tailors and dressmakers make a hand stitched buttonhole, as it might differ from the embroidery Tailor's Buttonhole Stitch. 

Here, videos turned out to be very informative and interesting. I found a number of different ways. Here are two:

The Yorkshire Tailor

Aluminiumfish/Mr Pasquale

Mr Pasquale used a stitch that reminds me of the basic Hedebo Stitch, used in Danish Hedebo Whitework.

After this research, I tried out my five stitches, and the two professional ones.

I tested them both in the middle of the fabric,

and on the edge.

2. So which is my favorite?

Well, I really like the two professional ones, Mr Pasquale's 'Hedebo Stitch' is the easier and quicker, but the Yorkshire Tailor's wasn't difficult - once you pay attention - more on that later!!!

As for looks, the version shown in Reader's Digest Complete Book of Embroidery, really gives a nice knitted edge, but it is tricky to do and time consuming.

3. On my Aida sampler I worked a row of The Yorkshire Tailor's Stitch

4. On the Sunday Stitch School's Preference Chart I made two versions,

Mr Pasquale's 'Hedebo' Stitch in brown 

and the one with the knitted top from Reader's Digest Complete Book of Embroidery in blue.

5. I thought I would try to make a tailoring buttonhole according to the Yorkshire Tailor's video, with the basting,

 oversewing serging,

waxing of the thread (I used real buttonhole silk!)
and gimp (didn't have any red, though)

 then I made the blunder of stitching the lower edge towards me, instead of the upper edge away from me! This proves that I will not be accepted as an apprentice in Savile Row!!!

 More proof of my incorrect stitch direction

 and uneven stitching....

 Well, I made one handmade buttonhole.
The gimp and the knot of the YT's Stitch made it a very strong buttonhole, albeit my untidy stitching is an eyesore.

So I'd like to redo my homework.
I'd like to have a holiday on Sunday and hand in a new buttonhole on Friday.

OK, good luck with your next 'keyhole'.