How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (2024)

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1Two Holes

2Four Holes

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Co-authored bySeleh Rahman

Last Updated: December 12, 2022ReferencesApproved

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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.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Two Holes

  1. 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. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (4)

    2

    Thread the needle. Simply pull the thread through the needle so that there is an equal length of thread extending from both sides.

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  3. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (5)

    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. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (6)

    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. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (7)

    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.[1]

  6. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (8)

    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. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (9)

    7

    Restart the process. Bring the needle up through the first hole again and pull the thread all the way through the fabric.[2]

  8. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (10)

    8

    Strengthen the button. Repeat the sewing process enough times to make sure the button is securely in place.[3]

  9. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (11)

    9

    On the last stitch, push the needle through the material, but not through a hole in the button.

  10. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (12)

    10

    Remove the straight pin.

  11. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (13)

    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. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (14)

    12

    Push the needle back down through the material.

  13. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (15)

    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. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (16)

    14

    Cut off the excess.

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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Four Holes

  1. 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. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (18)

    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. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (19)

    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]

  4. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (20)

    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]

  5. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (21)

    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. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (22)

    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. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (23)

    7

    Push the needle down through the opposite hole and through the fabric. Pull the thread all the way through.

  8. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (24)

    8

    Repeat through these holes twice, then switch to the other holes.

  9. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (25)

    9

    Switch between opposing pairs until the button is strongly attached.

  10. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (26)

    10

    On the last stitch, push the needle through the material, but not through a hole in the button.

  11. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (27)

    11

    Remove the straight pin.

  12. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (28)

    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. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (29)

    13

    Push the needle back down through the material.

  14. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (30)

    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. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (31)

    15

    Cut off the excess.

  16. How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (32)

    16

    Finished.

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Community Q&A

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  • Question

    How do you reinforce buttons on a coat?

    How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (33)

    Seleh Rahman
    Professional Tailor & Furrier

    Seleh Rahman is a Tailor, Furrier, and the Owner of Seleh de Federal Hill in Baltimore, Maryland. With over 45 years of experience, Seleh specializes in fur, alterations, and fashion illustration. Seleh studied Fashion Design and Tailoring at Bay College of Maryland. He holds certifications in fur, design, and tailoring.

    How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (34)

    Professional Tailor & Furrier

    Expert Answer

    For this, you'll need a button backing to secure the front button. This way, when you sew on it all together, the top button will come through the hole easily and it will have more security.

    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    YesNo

    Not Helpful 0Helpful 5

  • Question

    The buttons I sewed onto my sweater have a steel loop to sew. How can I get the button not to look like it is falling off? How can I secure it better?

    How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (35)

    Community Answer

    Put a little button on the other side of the fabric then sew the button on. The small button on the opposite side of the button will pull the external button straight outward and keep it neatly in place.

    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!Claim Your GiftIf wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow

    YesNo

    Not Helpful 23Helpful 63

  • Question

    Does a button getting loose mean you're fat?

    How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (36)

    Community Answer

    No, not generally. In some cases it could result from gaining weight, but more likely, the thread just came loose because that just happens over time, or it wasn't sewn on very well in the first place.

    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!Claim Your GiftIf wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow

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    Not Helpful 11Helpful 42

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      Tips

      • 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

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      • 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.

        ⧼thumbs_response⧽

        Helpful10Not Helpful2

      • 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.

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      Show More Tips

      How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (37)

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      Warnings

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

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      About This Article

      How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (41)

      Co-authored by:

      Professional Tailor & Furrier

      This article was co-authored by Seleh Rahman. Seleh Rahman is a Tailor, Furrier, and the Owner of Seleh de Federal Hill in Baltimore, Maryland. With over 45 years of experience, Seleh specializes in fur, alterations, and fashion illustration. Seleh studied Fashion Design and Tailoring at Bay College of Maryland. He holds certifications in fur, design, and tailoring. This article has been viewed 1,769,878 times.

      56 votes - 75%

      Co-authors: 66

      Updated: December 12, 2022

      Views:1,769,878

      Article SummaryX

      To sew a button, first thread a needle and tie a knot at the end of the thread. Place the button on the fabric where you want to sew it, making sure it’s lined up with the corresponding button hole. Then, bring the needle and thread up through one of the holes in the button. Place a straight pin underneath the button next to the stitch you just made, which will prevent it from getting stitched too tightly to the fabric. Next, bring the needle and thread down through the other hole. Repeat the process until the button feels secure. Then, push the needle and thread through the fabric, but this time don’t go through one of the holes in the button. Remove the straight pin, and wrap the thread around the stitching between the button and fabric 6 times. Bring the needle and thread down through the fabric again, and stitch 3-4 more stitches through the holes in the button. Finally, tie off the thread and cut the excess off with scissors. If you’re sewing a button with 4 holes instead of 2, follow the same process but alternate the pair of holes you’re stitching through. For help making your button more secure, scroll down!

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      • How to Sew a Button (with Pictures) - wikiHow (42)

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        Oct 6, 2021

        "This article explained what I was failing to do for over 40 years of sewing buttons back on. I've worked mainly in..." more

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