Buttonhole Not Working / Uneven Buttonhole

How to Fix It

1. Attach the correct buttonhole foot (Foot A).

   Automatic buttonhole sewing requires the dedicated buttonhole foot — it has a sliding button guide on the back. If you are using a standard zigzag or general-purpose foot, the machine cannot complete an automatic buttonhole. Attach Foot A (or the buttonhole foot included with your model).

2. Lower the slide lever on the buttonhole foot.

   The buttonhole foot has a small slide lever on the back that must be lowered before sewing. Place the button you want to match into the back guide on the foot, then lower the slide lever over the button. This tells the machine the size of the buttonhole to sew.

3. Select the buttonhole stitch on the machine.

   On the stitch selection panel or touchscreen, select the buttonhole stitch (usually shown as a rectangle with a line through it). For computerised models, choose the buttonhole type (1-step or 4-step) that matches your foot.

4. Use a stabiliser under the fabric.

   Buttonholes on lightweight or stretchy fabric require an iron-on stabiliser (interfacing) on the wrong side. Without stabiliser, the satin stitch density causes the fabric to bunch, resulting in uneven sides. Place stabiliser behind the buttonhole area before sewing.

5. Check thread tension and test on scrap fabric.

   Set the tension to the default (4 or Auto) and test the buttonhole on a scrap piece with the same fabric and stabiliser as your project. Adjust tension by 0.5 increments if one side is denser than the other. Always test before sewing on your final garment.