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The buttonhole stitch is essentially the same as blanket stitch except for the spacing.
With buttonhole stitch, the spacing is much closer together; the vertical stitches may be butted up to one another or with a slight space. With blanket stitch, the space between each stitch matches the length of the vertical stitch.
The flowers, buds and leaves of this embroidered linen are stitched almost entirely in buttonhole stitch. The stitches on the buds are spaced closer than those on the flowers and leaves, but the stitch is same.
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Space your stitches as required, pulling the needle out through the fabric and over the working thread, as shown in the diagram below. When pulling the thread through the fabric, pull it level with the fabric rather than straight up in the air. This allows the stitch to sit flat.
Experiment with different vertical lengths and spacings to create different results.
Stitch diagram
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As its name suggests, buttonhole stitch was traditionally used by tailors to reinforce buttonhole edges, preventing fraying as the fabric was cut away.
Refer to the diagram to master buttonhole stitch.
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