How to make a rouleau button loop

January 06, 2018

 

How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog

Button loops, also know as rouleau loops, add such a beautiful finishing touch to a garment. The loops aren't hard to make, but if you've never done it before you might be scratching your head. Turning a very narrow piece of fabric right side out can seem tricky!

The Jackie pattern in our collection uses three of these loops at the back neckline. In this pattern, the loops are made of knit fabric; however, you may use this method for woven fabric. Also, if you are making a garment in knit and find that the fabric you've chosen is too dense for a loop, you can always opt to make a woven loop with your knit garment. I'd suggest something light, such as a lining.

In this tutorial, I'll walk you through the steps of how to make these lovely loops. Let's get started!

 


Tools:

  • A loop turner is an ideal tool for this operation.
  • If you don't have a loop turner, no sweat. You can simply use a large sewing needle with strong thread.

How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog

 

Note: The Jackie pattern comes with a loop pattern piece that is 1" x 7" (2.5 cm x 17.8 cm) and has a 1/4" (6 mm) seam allowance. If you are making your loops for another project, the length will be determined by how many loops you need.

For a loop that has 1/4" (6 mm) seam allowance on either end, and that will fit a 3/8” (1 cm) button, I allow for each loop length to be 2" (5 cm) long. Therefore for three button loops, you will need a 6" (15.3 cm) length. I also add an extra 1" (2.5 cm) to the piece's length so that I can trim off the ends if they turn out sloppy during sewing or in the process of turning the loop.

If you decide to make woven button loops, you can use the Button Loop pattern piece to cut out your fabric on a bias grainline. Bias will allow your loop to curve nicely around your button.

For these instructions, I’ll be using knit fabric, but the steps are the same with woven. I’ll show you my woven loops at the end.

How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog

 Bias woven button loop piece

 


 

Step 1: Sew the loop piece


Pin the loop piece widthwise, with right sides together.

For knit loops, use a serger or a stretch stitch on a regular sewing machine. If you are using a serger, leave a tail of thread at the beginning. When you reach the end, don't worry if you swerve off before you reach the edge to save your little fingers.

For the woven fabric, use a straight stitch machine and sew the loop at 1/4" seam allowance.

How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog

Knit

How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog

Woven

 

Step 2: Turn out the loop 

First, let’s try the loop turner.

Insert the turning tool into the loop tunnel. If you have serged the loop piece, you can grab hold of the serger threads.

Otherwise, grab hold of the fabric by inserting the latch through the weave of the fabric.

How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog

How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog

Begin to pull the turning tool out through the end of the loop. At the end where the tool is grabbing the fabric, you must make sure that the fabric begins to roll inward, towards the inside of the loop.
How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog
Once it has turned in at the end, you can continue to pull the turning tool out, slowly, which will turn the whole loop.
How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog
 
Now, let’s try that with a needle and thread.
 Tie a good solid knot around the edge of the fabric at one end of the loop.
How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog
 
Insert the eye of the needle into the loop tunnel. Begin to feed the needle along the tunnel and out through the other end.
How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog
 
Gently pull on the needle, and as you do, the end where you tied the knot should begin to roll into the tunnel slowly. Once it does, Gently pull on the thread, turning the loop out.
How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog
 

Step 3: Prepare the finished button loops
Press the turned out loop cord.
How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog
 
Trim the ends off if they are untidy.
How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog
 
Cut the loop pieces into equal sections. For Jackie, each piece is 2” (5 cm).
How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog
 
Form each loop to prepare for sewing them in place.
How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog
 
Sew the loops in position at a scant ¼” (6 mm) seam allowance. I like to sew the loops in a chain and separate them afterward.
How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog
 
Give your finished loops a little press, and they’re ready to sew into the garment.
How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog
 
Here are my woven loops, which I would choose to use if my knit fabric was too bulky for little loops.
How to make rouleau button loops - Victory Patterns blog
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