How do I knit buttonholes?

Short answer

To knit a buttonhole, you work a row with a yarn over and a decrease to create a hole, then continue knitting. The simplest method is to bind off a few stitches and cast them on again on the next row.

Knitted buttonholes are easy once you know the basic technique. The simplest is the one-row buttonhole, which works for small buttons. On the row where you want the hole, knit to the position, then yarn over (bring the yarn to the front) and knit two stitches together. On the next row, just knit the yarn over as a normal stitch, and you have a neat little hole.

For larger buttons, use the bound-off method. Knit to the buttonhole position, then bind off the number of stitches that matches your button width, usually 2 to 4 stitches. Continue knitting to the end of the row. On the next row, when you reach the bound-off gap, cast on the same number of stitches using the backward loop method, then continue knitting. This creates a clean, stretchy hole.

Make sure your buttonhole is slightly smaller than the button so it stays closed. Test the size by knitting a small swatch with the same yarn and needles, and try the button through it.

For a vertical buttonhole, you work two separate sections and join them later, which is more advanced. For most wedding knits, like cardigans or shawls, horizontal buttonholes are perfect.