Welcome back for Day 2 of the Katelyn Jumper SAL!  Today, we’re going to make our straps and buttonholes… GASP!  I always get a little nervous when doing them.  Is my machine going to cooperate, do I remember how to do it, are they going to be even, etc..????  No worries though!  We’ll go slow and you can just focus on the straps today.

If you haven’t marked your buttonhole placement yet, do so now.  Remember, the button holes should be centered on your strap.  If you mashed sizes on straps, remember to center your markings!!!

Stitch your straps together, per tutorial instruction.  Now its time to turn them!  Here’s one of our FAVORITE notions:  The point former and tube turner from Nancy’s Notions.  This tool is life.changing.  I mean it!  Put it on your next wish list or treat yourself.  Worth every penny.  You can thank me later. 😉

Press and top stitch your straps and get ready for buttonholes.

Take a deep breath.. Here we go!

If you’ve never made them before, I suggest looking over your sewing machine manual, since every machine is a little different.  I’m going to be using my buttonhole foot.  I just plug it in, select the size I need and the machine does the rest for me.  **most of the time.**  Isn’t technology great… sometimes??

I always stress when I do them though.  I don’t do them very often and sometimes my machine doesn’t cooperate.  Here’s a tip for you!  Use some tear-away stabilizer under your fabric!  Since I’ve been doing this, I haven’t had any trouble with buttonholes!!

Test your buttonholes on some scrap fabric to make sure your machine is in a “good mood” today. 🙂  It’s also a great time to check your buttons to make sure they will fit into the holes.  You do NOT want to go through all the steps of making your dress and then find out the buttonholes are too big/small.

Once your buttonholes are finished, you can use a seam ripper to carefully open them up.  I want to show you a fun buttonhole cutter I was “suckered” into buying when I bought my sewing machine.  It is a small blade and cutting mat that slices buttonholes in one step!! I bought mine at the Husqvarna dealer at my local JoAnn Fabrics.

See?!?! Easy-peasy… How cool is that!  Yet another tool that I love!  Here is a similar one.

Let’s use a little “Fray Check” on the wrong side of the buttonholes to prevent fraying.  Don’t use it on the right side though.  Fray Check will leave a residue sometimes.

Woo hoo! Buttonholes… Check!  Thanks for joining us for Day 2.  Don’t forget to post your progress pic in the Day 2 album in the Made for Mermaids Patterns Group on Facebook or  Instagram #katelynsal #m4msal #katelynjumper.  See you tomorrow!