From small and simple to polished and sturdy, here are four of our favorite methods for making vertical and horizontal buttonholes in your knits. Learn to work yarn over, one-row, two-row, and vertical short-row buttonholes with our video tutorial.
Written Steps
Yarn Over Buttonhole
Work to buttonhole location, YO, k2tog (or p2tog, to keep in pattern), work as established to end.
Two-Row Buttonhole
Step 1: With RS facing, work to buttonhole location. Bind off desired number of stitches for buttonhole, then work as established to end.
Step 2: On the next row, work to bound-off stitches, turn work, cast on the number of stitches that were bound off plus 1 additional stitch using Cabled Cast On method, turn work, slip 1 stitch from L needle to R needle and pass the extra cast-on stitch over. Slip that stitch back to the L needle and work as established to end.
One-Row Buttonhole
Step 1: With RS facing, work to buttonhole location. Bring yarn to the front of the work, slip the next stitch purlwise and bring the yarn to the back. *Slip another stitch and pass the previous slipped stitch over (1 stitch bound off); repeat from * until you have bound off the desired number of stitches (do not use working yarn to bind off).
Step 2: Slip the last stitch on the R needle back to the L needle and turn the work around (WS will be facing you). Insert the R needle between the first and second stitches on the L needle. Wrap yarn around as if to knit and draw up a new loop, place this loop onto the L needle (1 stitch cast on). Continue to cast on stitches in this manner until you have cast on the number of stitches that were bound off plus 1 additional stitch.
Step 3: Turn the work again (RS now facing). Slip the first stitch from the L needle to the R needle and pass the extra cast-on stitch over. Slip the last stitch on the R needle back to the L needle and continue as established.
Vertical Short-Row Buttonhole
Before beginning, place a marker on your needle where the buttonhole will be located.
Row 1 (RS): Work as established to buttonhole marker, turn;
Row 2 (WS): Slip 1 purlwise WYIF, work as established to end.
Rows 3 & 4: Repeat Rows 1 & 2 one more time.
Row 5 (RS): Work as established to buttonhole marker, slip marker, YO, work as established to end.
Row 6 (WS): Work as established to one stitch before buttonhole marker (YO from previous row), turn;
Row 7 (RS): Slip 1 purlwise WYIB, work as established to end.
Rows 8 & 9: Repeat Rows 6 & 7 one more time.
Row 10 (WS): Work as established to 2 stitches before buttonhole marker, p2tog (the slipped stitch with the YO), slip marker, work as established to end.