Sew a Button

Sewing buttons is very easy once you get the hang of it. It's a very useful skill to possess, as buttons do fall off.

Steps

Two Holes

  1. Choose your button and thread. Select a suitable button and thread that matches the button, the garment, and any thread used to sew on other buttons. If you like, you can double the thread to make this job quicker.
  2. Thread the needle. Simply pull the thread through the needle so that there is an equal length of thread extending from both sides.
  3. Tie a knot at the end of the thread. One way to tie a knot is to wrap the thread around your finger as shown, roll the thread between your fingers, and pull it tight. If you doubled the thread, tie the ends together. Leave a long tail of thread, whether you are doubling the thread or using a single thread to sew the button.
  4. Position the button on the fabric. Line the button up with the other buttons on the garment. Also check the buttonhole. Close the opposite flap or panel where you want it and make sure that the button lines up with the buttonhole.
  5. Push the threaded needle up through the fabric and through one hole in the button. Pull the thread all the way through on each stitch.
  6. Place a straight pin. Place a straight pin beneath the button, between the stitch you have made and where the next stitch will go, in order to keep the button from being stitched too tight. Then, push the needle down through the next hole and through the fabric. Pull the thread all the way through. It's best to hold the button in place so it does not move.
  7. Restart the process. Bring the needle up through the first hole again and pull the thread all the way through the fabric.
  8. Strengthen the button. Repeat the sewing process enough times to make sure the button is securely in place.
  9. On the last stitch, push the needle through the material, but not through a hole in the button.
  10. Remove the straight pin.
  11. Wrap the thread. Wrap the thread six times around the thread between the button and the material to reinforce the shank you have created.
  12. Push the needle back down through the material.
  13. Make three or four stitches to secure the thread. Make a few stitches below the button, going back and forth to make them strong. Tie this thread off.
  14. Cut off the excess.

Four Holes

  1. Choose what you will use. Select a suitable button and thread that matches the button, the garment, and any thread used to sew on other buttons.
  2. Thread the needle. If you like, you can double the thread to make this job quicker. Simply pull it through the needle so that there is an equal length of thread extending from both sides.
  3. Tie a knot at the end of the thread. One way to tie a knot is to wrap the thread around your finger as shown, roll the thread between your fingers, and pull it tight. If you doubled the thread, tie the ends together. Leave a long tail of thread, whether you are doubling the thread or using a single thread to sew the button.
  4. Position the button on the fabric. Line the button up with the other buttons on the garment. Check the buttonhole. Close the opposite flap or panel where you want it and make sure that the button lines up with the buttonhole.
  5. Push the threaded needle up through the fabric and through one hole in the button. Pull the thread all the way through on each stitch.
  6. Place a straight pin. Place a straight pin beneath the button, between the stitch you have made and where the next stitch will go, in order to keep the button from being stitched too tight.
  7. Push the needle down through the opposite hole and through the fabric. Pull the thread all the way through.
  8. Repeat through these holes twice, then switch to the other holes.
  9. Switch between opposing pairs until the button is strongly attached.
  10. On the last stitch, push the needle through the material, but not through a hole in the button.
  11. Remove the straight pin.
  12. Wrap the thread. Wrap the thread six times around the thread between the button and the material to reinforce the shank you have created.
  13. Push the needle back down through the material.
  14. Make three or four stitches to secure the thread. Make a few stitches below the button, going back and forth to make them strong. Tie this thread off.
  15. Cut off the excess.
  16. Finished.



Tips

  • Double thread your needle, if you want to reduce the number of times you have to thread the holes to secure the button.
  • If you are replacing a 4-hole button, look to see how the other buttons are sewn on the garment. Use the same stitching pattern (crossed or parallel) used on the other buttons.
  • Keep back of button as neat as the front by looking to see that you are not creating a bird nest of thread. Keep thread coming in and out at approximately the same area.
  • It is also a good idea to try to match the color of the thread used on existing buttons. Some shops specialize in buttons, if they don't have the existing button match, they should have something very near to it. If you are stuck with using a near match consider replacing all the buttons with you near match, that way your garment will look much better.
  • Make sure you've threaded at least 5 inches (12.7 cm) of thread.
  • You can thread two pieces of thread through the needle, doubling each and so using four threads at once, to really speed up the process.
  • Some sewers prefer to secure the thread to the cloth with a few stitches before beginning to sew on the button.
  • For buttons that get heavy use, try wrapping the long thread of the needle tail around the threads that hold the button, at least 4 or 5 times, tightly, then force the needle and thread through the tight bunch of threads that you have created. Try pushing the needle parallel to the the button's holes, to avoid resistance. Use a thimble for pushing the needle. (The reason for this is simple: thread wear will cause the button to fall off sooner, unless you wrap the exposed threads with a protective wrap.) Once you have forced the needle through, push it back into the cloth, and tie it off with the long tail that you left at the starting knot. When you wrap the threads, the button will be more secure, and the thread that holds it in place will last much longer.
  • Ordinary thread is fine, but there is such a thing as button thread. It is thicker and stronger than regular thread. If the buttons you are sewing need extra strength, such as on a coat, try button thread
  • Another way to knot the thread at the end is to take a tiny stitch on the wrong side, pull it almost down to the fabric, and then put the threaded needle through the loop before pulling it tight. If you do this twice in the same spot, that is a double-knotted thread. Then you can cut off the thread close to the knot.
  • Button thread is often easier to use if you run it through bee's wax after threading your needle. In fact you can even use quadrupled button thread, which is great for overcoat buttons.

Warnings

  • Take care not to poke yourself with the needle. If you are sewing heavy fabric, use a thimble to push the needle.

Related Articles

Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Sew_a_Button&oldid=362720"