[mudmatters]

Hi, I am 3/4 through knitting an adult pair of lined Hug Boot slippers and just realised I missed out button holes on the fold down lining . ( Each button goes through double fabric )
They are knitted in stocking stitch and I can make a small hole by separating the stiches but worry that this will eventually weaken the fabric over time. These have been far more knitting than I anticipated and I am loathed to frog it all back if it is not necessary !

Does anyone have a neat method of creating a buttonhole through knitted fabric or should I just rip the second boot back and do it properly ! The gauge is quite dense - worsted on 3.25mm needles.

 

[christine 47]

Hi, I am 3/4 through knitting an adult pair of lined Hug Boot slippers and just realised I missed out button holes on the fold down lining . ( Each button goes through double fabric )
They are knitted in stocking stitch and I can make a small hole by separating the stiches but worry that this will eventually weaken the fabric over time. These have been far more knitting than I anticipated and I am loathed to frog it all back if it is not necessary !

Does anyone have a neat method of creating a buttonhole through knitted fabric or should I just rip the second boot back and do it properly ! The gauge is quite dense - worsted on 3.25mm needles.

If its not seen you could create a small hole by separating the stitches and then maybe strengthen the "hole" with buttonhole stitch in wool. It depends again on how large a hole you can create and you will always know its wrong, I would take it back.

 

[KateWood]

Missed in the lining? Would it be possible to ravel the required row/rows back to where you want the buttonhole then reform the stitches? I saw a latch tool at a LCS that would make easy work of that for you.

 

[mudmatters]

Thanks and Yes, I know in my heart I should really take it back to the beginning of the lining for peace of mind ... I just got bored of knitting these, which turned out to be quite a lot more knitting than I thought.... and so heavy on the needles for my hands now.

I also have some fantastic new yarn sitting next to me for my next project !

 

[mudmatters]

Missed in the lining? Would it be possible to ravel the required row/rows back to where you want the buttonhole then reform the stitches? I saw a latch tool at a LCS that would make easy work of that for you.

The latch tool sounds intriguing but I would probably feel even more of a cheat having to buy a gadget to avoid ripping back. I should probably just "bite the bullet" and have a bit more self discipline.

I will have to just put my tempting next project new yarn out of site for the time being !

 

[HandyFamily]

You can:
1) Let go just, say, 2, 3 or however wide your button-hole should be - stitches, go to the place of the fist one, "finish" the stitches - well, slip them one over other in a line - and secure the last one with sewing thread. Than work your way up with a crochet hook the side threads you have up the the place of the next hole - and so on.
2) sew some tik-tak or other secret buttons on the inside and sew the buttons you like to be seen in the outside - just for looks.
3) this might or might not work, I am not sure, can't really imagine what the slippers should like - change the place of the button-line, make outside ... loops? When the buttons are not through both fabric layers, but outside the upper one? - with crochet and just attach the buttons as you would otherwise.
I wish you luck!

 

[mudmatters]

You can:
1) Let go just, say, 2, 3 or however wide your button-hole should be - stitches, go to the place of the fist one, "finish" the stitches - well, slip them one over other in a line - and secure the last one with sewing thread. Than work your way up with a crochet hook the side threads you have up the the place of the next hole - and so on.
2) sew some tik-tak or other secret buttons on the inside and sew the buttons you like to be seen in the outside - just for looks.
3) this might or might not work, I am not sure, can't really imagine what the slippers should like - change the place of the button-line, make outside ... loops? When the buttons are not through both fabric layers, but outside the upper one? - with crochet and just attach the buttons as you would otherwise.
I wish you luck!

Wow! Thanks HandyFamily...... I will certainly try your first method later. I just knew this site was the best bet for advice !
My biggest problem is always boredom when knitting larger heavier things, and although it is only a matter of one days worth (or two long evenings) of knitting to rip back and start again, I have never made this sort of mistake before and was hoping a more skilled needle person could suggest something.
Many thanks

 

[KateWood]

Machine knitters use latch tools to reform stitches, but handyfamily's idea using a crochet hook works just as well. Its not cheating to drop and reform a row or two of stitches for a skipped buttonhole. I drop rows of sts all the time and reform them for cables etc...Call it advanced knitting techniques))

 

[mudmatters]

Machine knitters use latch tools to reform stitches, but handyfamily's idea using a crochet hook works just as well. Its not cheating to drop and reform a row or two of stitches for a skipped buttonhole. I drop rows of sts all the time and reform them for cables etc...Call it advanced knitting techniques))

Thanks KateWood.
I don't know how on earth I forgot the buttonhole row although I do have flu right now and am in a bit of a dozy state I guess, but I was so pleased to have almost finished the boots ...then spotted the silly mistake. doh !

 

[christine 47]

I have just finished a jacket for myself which I have forgotten to put buttonholes in. It's a long jacket and you pick the stitches up for the band so it's a lot of stitches and it's a deep band. Busy knitting and watching TV and not concentrating. I can either take it back or leave it as it is. I know I
will never fasten it, so I think I will leave it. It's now become an edge to edge jacket, pattern variation.

 

[mudmatters]

Christine47 - So glad I am not the only one

 

[courier770]

I'm with HandyFamily! Just drop the stitches that the buttonhole is made over (carefully and slowly) back to the row where the buttonhole is meant to be. Use a crochet hook of the appropriate size, work the button hole then pick the dropped stitches back up to your current row. Being stockinette stitch is used it shouldn't be too difficult.

I went back 30 rows to correct a wrong stitch once, rather than ripping everything back to the error. It didn't take that long either. Certainly less time than it would have taken to rip back the 30 rows, fix the error and reknit those 30 rows.

 

[mudmatters]

Thanks courier 770. I am a true believer that we learn best from our mistakes and thanks to all here,I will now have yet another new knitting skill. In the past I would just have ripped back to whatever mistake and re-knit, but I am so glad I posted the problem now.

 

[dragonflylace]

I just found an old Reader's Digest complete guide to sewing and needlework and actually read yesterday about adding a buttonhole after you completed a garment.

Like you do when you steak a Fair Isle piece....carefully stitch down the area around the stitches where you want the buttonhole. Then carefully "cut" the stitches along the middle of where you stitched. Then using embroidery thread or the same thread you knitted with, go around the entire button hole.

This book also used the method of backing the strip where the button hole(s) are to be with ribbon and making the buttons through the knitting and the ribbon lining.

Hope this helps a little.

 

[courier770]

Everyone makes mistakes, I don't care who you are or how long you have been knitting, it happens.

How you deal with that mistake is a whole other issue. Leave it and try to live with it or find a way to truly fix it without tearing your hair out?

In my case I figured I'd give this a try, if it didn't work I'd just have to rip back those 30 rows anyway.

I will caution you to do this when you have nothing else on your mind and are not stressed, since a bit of concentration is needed. Just go slowly and carefully. My "fix" took about 20 minutes..ripping back and reknitting all those rows...would have taken hours!

 

[tamarque]

Can you explain to me how you establish the new stitches over the button hole bind off? This is the part I am not seeing clearly.

What I would probably do in something akin to Dragonflie's suggestion. Also if you have a sewing machine you can to a buttonhole and then cut it open as in a steek.

 

[HandyFamily]

OK, above the bind-off you still have threads of yarn - horizontal. Put your crochet hook under the first horizontal thread. Now go in front and above the second one. Take it with the hook and "twist" it around the first one - the one you went under with the hook. Now you have a stitch. Take it to a place - as is as many rows - you need and put something - a pin or whatever - just not to loose it. Repeat the process as many times as much stitches you need to have - 2, 3, as much as they are. Bind of like the first time. Start again like the last time.

 

[christine flo]

you could put buttons decoration and put press studs

 

[GroodleMom]

Thanks and Yes, I know in my heart I should really take it back to the beginning of the lining for peace of mind ... I just got bored of knitting these, which turned out to be quite a lot more knitting than I thought.... and so heavy on the needles for my hands now.

I also have some fantastic new yarn sitting next to me for my next project !

Hi,
I immediately picked up on your statement "so heavy on the needles for my hands now". I have arthritis in my hands so I am sensitive to your problem.
Are you using circular needles? They really help with taking the weight off your hands. I use them for everything.

 

[Ronie]

I am back on my vest where I was last tuesday because I made a mistake... I personally would do what 'dragonflylace' suggested.. I remember my mom knitting beautiful sweaters and she always backed her button holes with ribbon... if you secured all your stitches very well and cut the button hole in and then did a button hole stitch with the same yarn you would have a beautiful button hole.. back all your button holes with grograin ribbon and it will finish off your project beautifuly... I wish you luck.. we have all had to tink, frog and manipulate our work to get it right...