Have you ever struggled with uneven buttonhole, eyelets spacing, or crooked button placement? Professional-looking spacing doesn't require expensive tools – just a simple technique that takes minutes to set up.
Today I'm sharing it with you!
My Solution: Custom Cardboard Templates
What You'll Need:
- Sturdy cardboard (cereal boxes work perfectly)
- Ruler or measuring tape and a pencil
- Sharp craft knife or scissors
- Awl, eyelet cutter, or sharp point for marking
Creating Your Template:
- Determine your spacing - Measure the distance you want between buttonholes/buttons
- Cut a strip of cardboard about 3 cm wide and long enough for your project
- Mark your first point around 2 cm from one end
- Measure and mark subsequent points at your desired spacing
- Punch small holes at each mark using an awl or eyelet cutter
- Label your template with the spacing measurement for future use
And you are done! To use it simply place the template along your garment's center line and mark through the holes with a fabric-safe marking tool. Move the template down, aligning the last marked point with the first hole, and continue marking. Perfect spacing every time!
Pro Tips for Better Templates
- Make multiple templates for different spacing measurements you use frequently
- Use different colored cardboard to distinguish between spacing sizes
- Store templates flat in a folder or envelope for future projects
While DIY templates work beautifully for most projects, there are times when a commercial spacing tool might be worth considering, for example if you need a tool that may adjust the distance each time. Here is an economic version of the tool that I have bought, you may find it here (I chose the purple one... I am not a reseller, I'm just sharing the tool for you).
See you soon for new blog posts, one of the next will be focus on historical corset making!