How To Sew A Button

Have you ever faced a situation when you picked up your favorite outfit to wear, only to realize that a button is missing? Most of you would agree to having experienced such a condition. Though fabrics in general are soft and supple, buttons tugged in it are extremely delicate and fragile. Rough handling often results in breaking of the button. The other reason for missing button can be machine washing or even being loosely tugged. While women usually know the art of sewing a button back, men by and large are dependent on mothers, wives or sisters to do the same. Though it might look tedious, sewing a buttonhole is one of the easiest and simplest of tasks. In the following lines, we have provided tips on how to sew a button by hand.

Sewing A Buttonhole

Materials Required

Hand-sewing Needle
Matching Thread
Scissors
Spacer (Straight pin/ Another needle/ Toothpick)
Button

Instructions

The first step would be to pass the thread from the needle hole and knot it.
Now, thread the needle into the fabric in such a way that the knot remains at the back of the fabric. This is essentially done, so that it is not seen.
First make a couple of stitches in the fabric where the button is to be located to anchor the thread. Now, lay the button on the exact location where you would be attaching it.
Bring the needle from one of the holes in the button. Place straight pin, needle or toothpick in between the fabric and the button. This is essentially done to provide a lift for the button hole fabric under the button.
Now, thread over top of the straight pin, needle or toothpick and bring your needle and thread back down through the other hole in the button.
Repeat the above step to make at least six stitches over the straight pin to fasten the button.
In case you have a four-hole button, repeat the process for the other pair of hole as well.
Once you have passed the thread over the straight pin, needle or toothpick, for the required number of times, bring the needle and thread to the backside of the fabric.
Knot the thread of the newly sewed button to the threads that are already there is the garment. Cut any excess thread that is hanging.
You can anchor the needle in two to three ways. You can either stitch it to make diagonal thread patterns, horizontal pattern or even vertical ones.
Now, remove the straight pin, needle or toothpick from the button.
All you need to do is snug the button to the loop at the other half of the shirt, by tugging it.

Tips

Make sure that the spacer you chose is according to the thickness of the fabric with the buttonhole. In case of aheavy wool coat, large spacer is necessary. However, for a thin cotton blouse, the spacer should be small and thin.
Since you are sewing the button for the first time, you are likely to indulge in over sewing. However, remember, too many threads would not give professional result.
Make sure that the thread you have chosen matches either the button of the color of the fabric on which it is to be used.
Do not use a needle with a small eye as it would be difficult to thread.

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