To sew on a button, you need to know first about the available button types. There are flat buttons, the most common type, and shank buttons. Both these buttons require different methods to be sewn on. Flat buttons are the ones found on most clothes and they often come with either two or four holes. Shank buttons, on the other hand, do not have any visible holes, yet they feature a small protrusion at the back. These buttons are most often found on coats and dresses. To get things started, let’s talk about sewing on the flat buttons first.
To sew on a flat button, you need to first place a mark on the very spot where you want the button to be sewn on. Then, you can put your needle next to the spot you have marked, up through the clothing material you will be working on. The next thing to do then is to thread the needle, going past one of the button sides and then to the other side. You need to thread the needle passing the fabric and right by the spot that you have marked earlier.
After that, you need to grab a toothpick to push between the button and the clothing material, passing the two holes of the button as well. You need to make the needle go up and down the button holes, passing the back end of the material for quite a few times. Doing it for at least ten times is recommended. Then, you still need to make the needle go past the fabric, but no longer past the button this time. You need to put the needle by the side of the already made stitches. You need to turn the string around the thread, against the direction of the clock. Make sure that the thread goes past the button and towards the fabric. You need to do this a few times with the toothpick in place to tighten up the button. Now, get rid of the toothpick and wind up the string again a couple of times and voila, you are done sewing on the flat button.
Now, just like in the case of the flat button above, you also need to mark the spot you need to work on with the shank button. Then, you need to bring your thread and needle past the fabric, onto the marked spot. You then need to make the thread and needle go past the hole of the shank button. Yes, there is a hole at the part that protrudes on the back of a shank button. Then, you need to put the thread and needle down past the fabric, again, on the marked spot.
You need to make sure that the shank button sits tightly against the material that you are working on. You need to keep on making the thread and needle go past both the shank button and the clothing material for about ten times minimum. On your last pass attempt, you need to make sure that the needle goes through the back of the material.
Then, on the other side of the material, it is necessary that you knot the thread you use a number of times. You need to have the knots anchored using small stitches. Lastly, you can get rid of the ends as the button is now completely sewn on.
After that, you need to grab a toothpick to push between the button and the clothing material, passing the two holes of the button as well. You need to make the needle go up and down the button holes, passing the back end of the material for quite a few times. Doing it for at least ten times is recommended. Then, you still need to make the needle go past the fabric, but no longer past the button this time. You need to put the needle by the side of the already made stitches. You need to turn the string around the thread, against the direction of the clock. Make sure that the thread goes past the button and towards the fabric. You need to do this a few times with the toothpick in place to tighten up the button. Now, get rid of the toothpick and wind up the string again a couple of times and voila, you are done sewing on the flat button.
Now, just like in the case of the flat button above, you also need to mark the spot you need to work on with the shank button. Then, you need to bring your thread and needle past the fabric, onto the marked spot. You then need to make the thread and needle go past the hole of the shank button. Yes, there is a hole at the part that protrudes on the back of a shank button. Then, you need to put the thread and needle down past the fabric, again, on the marked spot.
You need to make sure that the shank button sits tightly against the material that you are working on. You need to keep on making the thread and needle go past both the shank button and the clothing material for about ten times minimum. On your last pass attempt, you need to make sure that the needle goes through the back of the material.
Then, on the other side of the material, it is necessary that you knot the thread you use a number of times. You need to have the knots anchored using small stitches. Lastly, you can get rid of the ends as the button is now completely sewn on.