My Secret to Effortless Buttonholes

September 19, 2025 Terrance Williams

When I first started sewing menswear, the most intimidating things for me were buttons and buttonholes. I didn’t even know where to begin! I didn’t know how to do buttonholes, and I didn’t know how to use my sewing machine to attach buttons. It was all a confusing and intimidating mystery to me! But last year, I told myself I was going to learn how to attach buttons and make button holes. With the help of my friend, Julian Collins, and my bernette 79, I did my first set of buttons and buttonholes, and my life changed forever! Now I feel like I am a buttonhole savant, and what was once intimidating to me now actually makes me excited because it means that the button down shirt that I’m working on is almost finished, and I get to put the final touches on it!

Person standing outdoors in a colorful handmade buttonup shirt with a terrazzo inspired print, paired with blue jeans, smiling under a bright blue sky. — Handmade Terrazzo Print Button Up Shirt Styled Outdoors

Using my sewing machine to make buttonholes, specifically my BERNINA 790 PRO is a breeze! Both the b79 and the B 790 PRO make doing the buttonholes really simple and quick. There are features on the B 790 PRO that make attaching the buttons and creating the button holes even easier. I love that it’s not a complicated process and that there are really simple steps to follow. I recently did a button down shirt using a linen viscose fabric from my Minerva fabric collection, and I wanted to show you how I used features on my B 790 PRO to do my buttonholes!

BERNINA Buttonhole Foot with Slide #3A

In order to do a successful buttonhole, you need to use the Buttonhole Foot with Slide #3A. When it comes to crafting perfect buttonholes, this presser foot is a true game-changer. This little accessory is like having a mini automated tailor at my fingertips. The Buttonhole Foot with Slide #3A is designed specifically for creating consistently sized buttonholes easily.

Close-up of a BERNINA 3A presser foot with automatic buttonhole sensor, sitting on a sewing machine — BERNINA Buttonhole Foot with Slide #3A

Key Features of the Buttonhole Foot with Slide#3A

Automatic Precision: The foot works in stitch with my BERNINA 790 PRO to measure each buttonhole automatically. That means every buttonhole is the exact length I need without me having to measure and guess.
Ease of Use: It’s easy to set up the foot! I just set up the foot, select the buttonhole stitch I want, and let the machine do the rest! The Buttonhole Foot with Slide #3A takes care of the length and repetition, so I get neat, identical buttonholes every single time.
Versatility: Whether I’m working on delicate fabrics like for my tulle embroidered dusters or thicker layers like for a coat, this presser foot does it all. It’s especially helpful if you want a professional finish without the intimidation.

The Buttonhole Foot with Slide #3A makes the process of adding buttonholes practically effortless. It’s one of those tools that makes you wonder how you ever sewed buttonholes without it.

Steps For Sewing Buttonholes

Step 1: Select the Buttonhole Menu

Close up of the BERNINA sewing machine touchscreen showing various buttonhole stitch options, with a stylus pointing to the buttonhole menu — BERNINA Touchscreen Display with Buttonhole Stitch Options

Step 2: Select Buttonhole 51

Close up of a BERNINA sewing machine touchscreen showing buttonhole stitch number 51 selected, with a stylus pointing at the option. — BERNINA Sewing Machine Screen with Buttonhole Stitch Selected

Step 3: Adjust Buttonhole Slit Width

Press the ‘i’ icon to access the buttonhole adjustment settings. You can use the multifunction knobs to increase the buttonhole slit width

Close-up of a BERNINA sewing machine touchscreen showing buttonhole stitch settings, with a stylus pointing at the stitch width adjustment — BERNINA Touchscreen Buttonhole Settings Adjustment

Step 4: Select the Buttonhole Measuring System

Close up of a BERNINA sewing machine touchscreen showing buttonhole length measurement with a button icon, set to 15.0 mm. — BERNINA Touchscreen Buttonhole Length Setting with Button Measurement

Step 5: Adjust Buttonhole Size

Hold up your button against the display and use the multifunction knobs to adjust the size for the button.

Hand holding a tan two-hole button against the BERNINA sewing machine touchscreen to match the buttonhole measurement, set to 15.0 mm — Measuring Button Size on BERNINA Touchscreen for Buttonhole Sewing

Step 6: Now Sew the Buttonhole!

And just like that, we have a buttonhole! Whether you’re a beginner tackling your first button down or a seasoned sewist refining your tailoring game, the Buttonhole Foot with Slider #3A foot takes the stress out of buttonholes. It’s tools like this that make sewing not just easier but more enjoyable. If you’ve been hesitant about adding buttonholes to your garments, this presser foot is your sign to dive in and let your BERNINA do the heavy lifting. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll never look back!