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9.9

Sewing on a button that stays on

Anchor the thread first, sew through several times, and wrap a shank so the button has room.

Sewing on a four-hole button. Start from the back with a knotted thread, sew through the holes over a toothpick, then remove it, wind the thread round the stitches to make a shank, and knot it at the back.
Fig. 9.9 Start from the back with a knotted thread, sew through the holes over a toothpick, then remove it, wind the thread round the stitches to make a shank, and knot it at the back. Source: University of Florida IFAS Extension.
Area: HandsFrom age 13Time to learn: 15 minutes for the first button; about 10 after that

You will be able to thread a needle and sew on a button that stays on through daily use.

SafetyKeep needles and pins in a pin cushion or case, out of reach of young children.

Why it matters

A missing button can make a shirt or coat unwearable, and the repair takes about 15 minutes. Two things help a button stay on: a secure start, and a wrapped thread 'shank' that leaves room for the fabric under the button.

How to do it

  1. Cut about 80 cm (30 inches) of thread that matches the fabric. Snip off any old thread left where the button was.
  2. Push one end through the eye of the needle. Wetting the end and flattening it between your fingers helps. Pull until both ends are even, then tie them together in a knot. You now have a double thread.
  3. Start from the inside of the garment at the old button spot. Push the needle up through the fabric so the knot stays hidden on the inside. Make one tiny stitch on the spot and come back up. This anchors the thread.
  4. Bring the needle up through one hole of the button and slide the button down onto the fabric. Go down through the hole across from it and through the fabric.
  5. Lay a toothpick or pin across the top of the button, between the holes, and sew over it on every pass. This keeps the stitches slightly loose.
  6. Come back up through the fabric and the first hole, and repeat. Make at least 3 to 4 passes through each pair of holes. On a 4-hole button, sew an X or two parallel lines.
  7. Remove the toothpick. Bring the needle up between the button and the fabric, and wind the thread tightly around the stitches 4 to 6 times. This is the shank.
  8. Push the needle through the shank twice, then through to the inside. Make 2 or 3 small stitches on the back, and cut the thread close.
  9. Button and unbutton the garment to check the button sits level with the buttonhole.

Common mistakes

  • Sewing the button flat and tight with no shank, so it will not go through the buttonhole and the thread wears through.
  • Starting without a knot or anchor stitch, so the first tug pulls the thread out.
  • Making only one or two passes with thin, single thread.
  • Sewing the button out of line with its buttonhole.
You can do this when …you sew a 4-hole button onto a scrap of fabric and it stays tight after 20 rounds of buttoning and unbuttoning.

Sources

  1. VAUDE Repair Team on iFixit: How do I sew a button onto my shirt?
  2. iFixit: How to Hand Sew a Tear in Clothing

Sources and numbers last checked . How we check

Topic: Simple fixes

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1Body16 lessons
  1. 1.1Washing your hands properly
  2. 1.2Getting water out of your ear
  3. 1.3Brushing your teeth for two minutes
  4. 1.4Riding a bike
  5. 1.5Getting up off the floor without your hands
  6. 1.6Slow breathing to calm down
  7. 1.7How to put in a tampon
  8. 1.8How often should you wash your hair
  9. 1.9Reading a nutrition label
  10. 1.10Sleeping with your phone outside the bedroom
  11. 1.11Doing 10 full push-ups
  12. 1.12How to stretch your hip flexors
  13. 1.13How to swaddle a newborn, and when to stop
  14. 1.14Reading a prescription label
  15. 1.15Booking a doctor's appointment and describing symptoms
  16. 1.16Knowing your blood pressure
2Mind15 lessons
  1. 2.1Staying with boredom
  2. 2.2Naming what you feel
  3. 2.3Grounding yourself after a fright
  4. 2.4Letting someone see you upset
  5. 2.5What to wear to a funeral, where to sit, and what to say
  6. 2.6What to write in a sympathy card
  7. 2.7Focusing for 25 minutes
  8. 2.8How to stop overthinking
  9. 2.9The 988 crisis line
  10. 2.10Changing your mind when the evidence changes
  11. 2.11The 7 stages of grief, and why grief comes in waves instead
  12. 2.12Telling a friend you're not okay
  13. 2.13Knowing when stress needs professional help
  14. 2.14Building a habit by tying it to an old one
  15. 2.15Spending an evening alone without screens
3People17 lessons
  1. 3.1Introducing yourself and asking a question back
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  3. 3.3Apologising properly
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  5. 3.5Writing a clear email, subject line to sign-off
  6. 3.6Comforting someone who is crying
  7. 3.7What to say to someone who lost a loved one
  8. 3.8Saying no without an excuse
  9. 3.9Phoning a business
  10. 3.10How to burp a newborn
  11. 3.11Asking for consent
  12. 3.12Resigning from a job in writing
  13. 3.13Answering interview questions with the STAR method
  14. 3.14Walking into a room of strangers
  15. 3.15How to write an obituary
  16. 3.16Speaking up in a meeting
  17. 3.17Pausing an argument
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  3. 4.3Endorsing and depositing a check
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  11. 4.11What is a high yield savings account
  12. 4.12What is a contingent beneficiary, and how to name one
  13. 4.13Filing your own tax return
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  15. 4.15Index funds and why fees matter
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  1. 5.1Call 911 and give your location
  2. 5.2Plan two ways out in a fire
  3. 5.3Sheltering from a tornado: watch vs. warning
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  5. 5.5Test a smoke alarm and change its battery
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  10. 5.10How is a fire extinguisher used? The PASS method
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  9. 6.9How to check if your phone is hacked
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  9. 9.9Sewing on a button that stays on · You are here
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