Bring the needle up on the right, just outside the double running stitch, and down on the left. Make two more stitches: left to right, then right to left. The three threads across the gap should be taut, even a little too tight.

Bring the needle up on the left and begin to work buttonhole stitch across the three long stitches. Pass the needle eye-first under the threads from top to bottom, leaving a loop and then pass the needle through the loop.

Pull the thread tight to complete the stitch.

Repeat steps 2 and 3 across the bar, keeping the stitches close together and with an even tension. To finish the bar take the needle down outside the running stitch line.

Repeat buttonhole stitch around the edges of the square, this time stitching through the fabric.

Begin to trim the fabric away by first cutting from the middle to each end, and then from the middle to each side. Insert the scissors so that the flat of the blade rests against the stitches; this way the stitches will not be cut. Use small snipping movements to gradually trim away the fabric. Sometimes it is useful to turn to the back.

The finished sample of buttonhole bars.