How To Do Buttonhole Stitch Embroidery By Hand? Let’s Do Embroidery With Buttonhole Scallop Stitch

I have been doing some embroidery with a buttonhole stitch since I learned it. And I did some stunning designs with all types of buttonhole stitch 😎 but today I got stuck. I was thinking of doing some wavy effects on embroidery, but I don’t know how 🤔

After some time, the buttonhole scallop stitch idea popped up in my mind. 💡 It is perfect for creating a wavy effect in the embroidery. It’s not hard to do it too. That’s How to do buttonhole stitch embroidery by hand with it-

That’s a glance at the process. I won’t leave hanging, of course. Let’s do the whole Buttonhole Scallop Stitch together.

How To Do Buttonhole Stitch Embroidery For Beginners?

I chose Buttonhole Scallop to buttonhole stitch embroidery cause it is what I need for embroidery. It is easier than other types of buttonhole stitch. You just have to tie a knot in each step. 😜 So,

To do buttonhole stitch embroidery with buttonhole scallop stitch, you need to follow 5 steps-

1. Place An Anchoring Pin
2. Position Needle In The Tick Mark
3. Create A Line
4. Take Your Needle And Go Under The Thread
5. Anchor It With Stitch To End It

You can try doing embroidery with a half wheel buttonhole stitch, too. But for now, I’ll go with it.

To start, take  ½  to 2 ⅛ inch long pin. Place your anchoring pin right between those 2 tick marks, starting from the top line and working your way down to the bottom line in that wavy direction. Just a heads up, this might feel a bit upside down, but that’s okay!

When you’re ready to anchor, bring your thread behind the pin to where you finish. That’s your starting point for the next step!

First, position your needle on that tick mark on the right, where you’ll insert it. Then, bring it back up just a tiny bit away from your starting point. Pull your thread through so it’s snug but not overly tight.

It’s firm enough to hold its shape but still flexible enough to add those bullion stitches. The process is similar to a knotted buttonhole stitch.

Create a line along with this thread. These little loops add texture and depth without the bulk of an entire buttonhole loop.

To make each stitch, take your needle and slide it gently under the working thread. This helps guide your stitch into place and keeps your loops in line with each other. You can also apply this to Detached buttonhole stitch edging.

I also keep my working thread along the top as I go, which makes it easier to control the placement and keeps everything running smoothly in a nice, even row.

Take your needle, go under the thread, then over it, and pull it through. Make sure the knot slides down to the bottom of the stitch as you pull. This will anchor it securely.

At this point, you might be worried about the size of the scallop. The size depends on you and how thick you want your wavy. But in most cases, the thickness varies depending on thread type. Here is how-

But remember that if the stitch is too long, the scallop can look a bit floppy. So, ⅛ 18-inch scallop is best for buttonhole stitch embroidery.

Now,

Keep working on the thread on top. Slide your needle back under, then over again, pulling it down to create another loop. This reminds me of a quote:-

Just like that, keep doing that. Keep an eye on each loop. Make sure they’re snug and uniform for a nice, clean look. That’s it—just keep repeating, and you’ll have a beautiful, consistent line in no time!

Alright, now that I’m near the end, there’s just enough space for one more stitch. So, I’ll go under and over once more, then pull the thread through.

Now, it’s time to anchor everything down. I’ll go down through the fabric to secure that final knot.

At this point, the stitches might look a bit loose, but don’t worry—that’s normal!

Once anchored, they’ll settle where they should be, friendly and flat against the fabric. And there you have it! 

That’s the final touch to ensure everything looks tidy and finished. That’s how to do buttonhole stitch embroidery, which is the perfect type of stitch to create a wavy effect. This will give you a Detached Buttonhole Stitch look but in a wavy way.

Is this the only way to do embroidery with buttonhole stitch? Of course not. There are more. However, different designs require different kinds of buttonhole stitches. Here is how-

How To Do Flower Embroidery Stitches With Buttonhole Stitches?

For flower embroidery, buttonhole wheel stitches are perfect. You don’t need to do any extra work. Just do the wheel stitch, and your flower will be done! Here is how-

1. Draw Flower Shape: Lightly sketch the flower and each petal on your fabric. You can apply closed buttonhole stitch here.
2. Start First Petal: Bring the needle up at the petal tip near the centre.
3. Stitch Petal Outline: Make buttonhole stitches along the petal, keeping the working thread under the needle for each loop.
4. Finish Petal: Complete the outline, secure the thread on the back, and repeat for each petal.
5. Add Center: Use a French knot or straight stitches for the flower centre.

Buttonhole Stitch Embroidery Designs

What? Don’t you have enough ideas of what designs to do next? No worries; it’s okay to get stuck sometimes. I do too. Here are a few design ideas with basic stitches-

1. Leaf Patterns: Outline and fill leaves with buttonhole stitches to add texture. Combine with stem stitches for realistic branches.  You can even apply a tailor’s buttonhole stitch for it too.
2. Wave Borders: Create wavy, flowing parallel lines by working buttonhole stitches in a curved path. This technique is ideal for decorative hems or seam details.
3. Buttonhole Wheels: Make circular patterns by layering buttonhole stitches around a central point, resembling sunbursts or floral centers.

These designs add texture and dimension to embroidery projects and are great for experimenting with different thread colors and thicknesses! Cause remember-

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Sum Up

So yes, that’s how to do buttonhole stitch embroidery. At least, I like to do it with scallop buttonhole stitch. 

Do you have any other way to do embroidery with hand-sewn buttonholes? If so, feel free to share it with SewingInspo.