How to add a crochet a button band with buttonholes

The addition of a button fastening to a crochet garment or accessory is a great way to add functionality and interest to your crochet project.

In this post, I will show you how you can add buttonholes and a crochet button band to your project.

I am using the Any Time Cardigan as an example, as crochet cardigans are the most common place I add buttons.

This free crochet pattern uses simple stitches and the techniques you will learn can be applied to a variety of different stitch patterns and crochet projects.

If you are looking to crochet a ribbed button band where the rows are worked at right angles to the front opening (horizontal), the same principles apply.

You might find these supplementary posts helpful.;

• You can learn how to add ribbing in this post
• You may want to check out the technique I used to crochet and hide your ribbed button holes

How to add crochet button holes

Below is a step by step photo tutorial illustrating my approach to adding button holes to a crochet cardigan.

Start with the button band

Start by crocheting the button band up the row ends of the first side of the cardigan (seen on the right hand side in the image below.)

Make sure your button band is wide enough to sew your buttons onto. Generally speaking the buttons will be sewn to the centre of the band, so you’ll want it a little wider than your buttons.

There is a lot of room for style choices here, but the key requirement is that the buttons have a secure place to be sewn on to which will ‘make sense’ when the piece is fastened.

In the image above, I have worked 5 rows of single crochet on the button band to the right, with the first row being worked into the row ends.

The number of stitches you work up the row ends will depend on your stitch pattern and crochet tension.

It’s really important that the tension on your button band matches the tension in the front of the cardigan. You want it to lay flat, not cause the fabric, or pucker or ruffle. (Unless of course this is a design choice!)

Ensure you make a note of your stitch counts so you can work the same number of stitches on either side of the button band.

In some designs, the bands on either side will be made at once, working around the neckline. In this example, I have treated them as separate sections for simplicity.

The button holes will be made in the centre of the opposite side , where you will create a band of the same width and the same number of stitches.

The button hole row

In the image below, have worked the first couple of rows of single crochet on left hand side.

This is done as a mirror image of the button band, so if you started on the Right Side at the bottom on one side, you will start on the Right Side at the top on the opposite side. This will ensure the crochet stitch pattern on the two sides of your button band match.

Decide how many buttons you want to add to your project and add place markers where you want them to go.

In this case, I have added 5 stitch markers, evenly distributed down the left hand side of the cardigan opening (as seen in the photo – it will be the right side when worn). This is where I will be placing my button holes.

In the picture below I am just about to begin the button hole row.- row 3 out of 5.

A reminder the I am left handed so if you’re right handed you may be working a mirror image of these pictures. The principle is the same either way!

Crochet in your chosen stitch pattern up to the first marker. In this case, single crochets.

When you reach the marked stitch, make a chain and skip the same number of stitches as you chained and continue in your stitch pattern.

The number of stitches you chain and skip will depend on the size of your button.

This chain should be only just long enough to allow the button to pass through. It is likely it will be fewer stitches than you expect.

If your chain is too long, the button will slip out when fastened, kind of defeating the object.

In this example, I chained 2 and skipped 2 stitches then continued working single crochet across.

You will want to check that your button just fits through the hole. Crochet generally stretches, so my personal preference is to err on the tighter side.

Continue working in your stitch pattern until you reach then next marker and repeat this process.

Carry on working in this way up the button hole row to the end.

As you work, align the two fronts of the cardigan and move each marker to the stitch on opposite side, so you know where to sew on buttons.

You can then complete the rest of the button band on the buttonhole side in the button band pattern.

In this case, in the row following the button hole row, I worked a row of single crochet into each stitch and chain down the front.

This makes it tricky to see the simple button holes when the piece is not fastened.

Sewing on the buttons

When both sides of the button band are completed, lay everything out and check you are still happy with the placement, the size of your buttonholes and width of the band etc., before sewing on the buttons.

Where I can, I use the same yarn to sew on the buttons, however this may not always be possible, especially if you’re using a chunkier yarn as your yarn needle may not fit through the holes.

This is something worth considering when you choose your buttons.

Securely sew the buttons in place, next to the markers, checking they fit through the button hole appropriately and that the alignment remains flush as you work.

Sew in your ends, and there you have your completed button band!

Tips & Miscellany

In the example below, you see a slight bump in the button hole side when the item is fastened as the band is only just wide enough to accommodate the buttons in this example.

This is normal, but the wider the band, the less noticeable it will be, generally speaking.

The button holes in this example are made vertically which adds to the slight bump.

Button holes worked horizontally, in ribbing for example, like the example of the hidden button hole tutorial, will create less of a bump along the edges.

That aside, I want you to take away how straightforward and effective button bands can be to add to your crochet project.

I hope you have found this tutorial useful and if you have any questions, please do drop them in the comments below.

Feel free to share this post with your yarny friends or save it to pinterest for when you need it.

Happy Hooking

Dc