Step 1. I am using heavy fulled wool for this demo. What this means is that the slit I've cut in the fabric, just big enough for my button to slip through, won't unravel. If you are using linen, an unfulled wool, or some other fabric that tends to unravel, you will need to work gently. Slow and steady will be better than fast in cases such as those.

In many cases you will have a facing of silk, wool, or linen as well as your main 'fashion' fabric. You will need to make sure that each of your stitches catches both layers of fabric. I tend to look at the front and back as I get used to the fabric of the project.

Step 2. Cut your fabric, straight of grain or bias does not matter, both were done in period, close to the edge of your piece. Cut slowly and test putting your button through the slit early on so that you don't cut the slit to long.

Step 3. Make a waste knot a little distance away from your slit. You can bury the know between layers if you are using a facing. Bring your needle up through the slit.

If you do not have a facing to bury your knot in, place your knot so that your first stitches will travel over your thread.

Step 4. Take a small stitch about a 1/4" from your slit, bringing your needle back through the slit. this is your first starter stitch and it is unlike the rest of the buttonhole stitch.

Step 5. Begin you buttonhole stitch, making sure as you come out the slit that your thread is behind your needle.

For a good drawing of a button hole stitch, click here.

Step 7. As you take your first stitch on the bottom of the slit, you will make another stitch as shown in step 4 above.

Buttonholes in the 14th century don't appear to have had any rounding at the 'corners' or special treatment. One row of buttonhole and a second row of buttonhole. That's it.