This photo tutorial is part of my Gibson Cardigan free pattern on knitty.com, but I thought I would also put it on my website, because I really like this technique. It creates a neat, sturdy buttonhole and is completed within one row, rather then working the bind-off part of the buttonhole on one row, and the cast-on part on the buttonhole on the next row (the two-row buttonhole).
I used the same buttonhole technique for a new cardigan design, which will soon be available on WEBS*. So I also created a video tutorial for the one-row buttonhole-- check it out if you prefer video to photo tutorials.
NOTE: These instructions are for a three-stitch buttonhole. Mark the center stitch of the buttonhole with a removable marker, then proceed as directed below.
One-row buttonhole: *Knit to 1 st before marked st, bring yarn to front, and sl next st purlwise. Bring yarn to back and leave it there [photo 1]. (Sl next st purlwise from left-hand needle and pass first slipped st over it) three times [photo 2], then sl single slipped st remaining on right-hand needle back to left-hand needle. Turn work to WS and use yarn at back to CO 4 sts using Sturdy Cast-On [photos 3-5, also see Pattern Notes]. Turn work back to RS [photo 6], sl first st purlwise from left-hand needle to right-hand needle [photo 7], and pass last CO st over it to close buttonhole [photo 8], then sl st back to left-hand needle and knit it; rep from * for second buttonhole, knit to end of row.
1. Knit to 1 st before marked st, bring yarn to front, and slip next st purlwise. Bring yarn to back and leave it there.
2. 3 sts have been BO. Next step: Slip single slipped st remaining on right-hand needle back to left-hand needle, then turn work to WS.
3. With WS facing and yarn in front, insert right-hand needle tip from back to front between first two stitches on left-hand needle. Tip will then be used to draw loop of yarn from front to back to create new st.
4. 1 st has already been CO and placed on left-hand needle; to make next st, insert right-hand needle tip from back to front behind both legs of first st, in front of previous st.
5. Loop of yarn has been drawn through from front to back to create new st.
6. 4 sts have been CO and work turned back to RS.
7. First st from left-hand needle has been slipped purlwise to right-hand needle.
8. Last CO st has been passed over slipped st to close buttonhole. Next step: Place slipped st back on left-hand needle and knit it, then proceed with remainder of row.
*Speaking of WEBS, they have recently published two of my designs in their Designer Series; each can be purchased as an individual pattern or as part of a kit, with the yarn. The Lyndhurst sleeveless tank uses Valley Yarns Granville (90% cotton, 10% merino wool), and the Annatto cardigan uses Valley Superwash DK (100% extra-fine merino wool).