The Perfect Buttonhole
shared by Adrienne Weissman LWeissman@aol.com
Start with waste yarn and knit a few rows. Knit 6 rows in main
yarn and determine placement of buttonholes.
- Pull out 4 needles (or desired number for size of buttonhole) and manually
knit a short length of contrast yarn through the stitches.
- Continue this process for all of the buttonholes needed.
- Knit 6 more rows in main yarn and Main Tension and then 1 row in tension
10 (turning row). Then knit 6 more rows.
- Bring forward slightly the groups of stitches previously marked for
buttonholes and add one more needle to the left of each group.
- Pick up the loops in the main yarn that are above the contrast yarn and
place these loops in the hooks of the five needles. The knitted piece will
now look folded.
- Push the original stitches on those needles behind the latches, but keep
the picked up loops in the hooks of the needles. Working one stitch at a
time pull the front loop through the stitch behind the latch.
- Starting at the right, transfer the second stitch to the first needle.
Pull the stitch just moved through the original stitch and then transfer
that stitch to the empty second needle. Transfer the third stitch to the
second needle and pull the stitch just moved through the original stitch and
then transfer that stitch to the empty third needle. Transfer the fourth
stitch to the third needle and pull the stitch just moved through the
original stitch. Transfer that stitch to the empty fourth needle. Take the
fifth stitch and transfer it to the fourth needle. Pull the stitch just
moved through the original stitch and then transfer that stitch to the empty
fifth needle.
- Pick up the loops below the contrast yarn and hang these loops onto
the empty needles (needles 1-4) and knit 6 more rows in main yarn at main
tension.
- Knit several rows of waste yarn and remove from machine.
- Attach band to body of sweater.
- This band can also be knitted after picking up the front edge of the
garment.
- Remove all waste and contrast yarn.