How to: Sew on a button

**Skandi** · 04-23-2009, 01:29 AM

There are many different methods of getting your buttons on, this is not the most elegant, but it is easy and it works.

The first thing you need is a needle and thread, a button of the right size and the offending article of clothing.
If you don't have the original button, look for one that fits through the button hole with a little room to spare.

If there is any of the old thread left, as there is in this photo, remove it but don't forget where it was!

Check by comparing to other buttons, which way it is meant to go on.

Thread your needle, and on opposite side of the fabric to your button make one stitch, pull the thread through until you have about 1 inch left

Hold onto this loose end and do a stitch round it, through the fabric. after about three of these you should be able to give the needle a firm tug, and the thread will stay attached.

Now place the button back on and push the needle up through any hole. Go back down through another hole. You can do this square as in the third picture or you can make a cross, I try to match any other buttons on the item. continue doing this until you have at least six threads on each side. The tightness of these threads will depend on what the button is for, you will want a shirt button on tighter than a trouser button

If you are doing a trouser or coat button and you have left a little slack in the threads (no more than 1 or two mm max) then bring the needle up from the back but do not go through the button, wrap the threads 6 or 7 times around the button, so that they wrap around the threads you have used to sew the button on with. Come back up through one of the holes and then back down leaving the needle on the back side.

Now you need to tie off the end, make a loop by taking a stitch but not tightening it, and put the needle through this loop. You will see that this creates a knot, do this twice and cut off the loose string. Finished!