How To Sew On a Button Home Hacks

We are often guilty of avoiding the simplest projects around the house — like replacing the two lost buttons on our duvet cover — because we imagine we are just too busy. Then all of a sudden our duvet has morphed into the disaster you see in the second image and we force ourselves to remember how easy sewing on a button actually is.

What You Need

Materials
Button/s
Thread

Tools
Needle
Scissors
Pins

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of thread about the length of your arm.

2. Thread it through the needle and either tie a knot where the ends of the thread meet or leave it loose — you can secure it with your stitching.

3. If you didn't tie a knot in your thread, take a few backstitches at the point where the button will be placed. To do this, make one loose stitch, then bring the needle back up through the fabric to the left of the original stitch through the original stitch and back through the fabric. Pull tight and repeat once or twice more.

4. Position the button and hold it securely. Bring the needle up through the buttonhole and back through the opposite hole. Repeat on the other two sets of holes, creating two parallel lines of thread. Continue to alternate holes until you have run out of thread.

5. When you have about three inches of thread left at the end, loop it under the existing stitches on the back and tie it tightly. Cut off the needle and trim any remaining thread.

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(Images: Sarah Rainwater)

Comments (13)

Are there really people who couldn't figure out how to sew on a button? Or couldn't google it to find out how?

Next up: How to screw in a lightbulb!

This is a good reminder that little things can make a big difference. And while I may know how to sew a button I have had friends who didn't. And if someone doesn't write these things in the first place there will be nothing to google. Or worse if no one writes a lot of these things you'll end up with things you really don't want to see popping up as the top responses in google searches.

I have got to say thankyou for the Home Hacks series, especially this one - nice, clean instructions with pics.
I am one of those shameful can-do types but I can't do this.
Good work!

Great post, I ACTUALLY had to Google this a few weeks ago. You would be amazed about how convoluted the instructions could get. This is simple an to the point. Thank you.

I had to sew a button on a pair of pants the other day. I'd been avoiding wearing them for weeks because I was just to lazy to do it. I didn't do as nice a job as this, however. Thanks!

Here is a tip I learned from my mom who was a wonderful seamstress: when sewing a button, do so loosely, leaving a little space between the button and the garment, and finish by turning your thread 3-4 times around the threads attaching the button to the garment. This gives a the threads a protective shield and they don't wear out as fast. It is useful when sewing buttons on thick fabric, coats - or specially children's clothes - because the button won't pull on the fabric and damage it.

The button is thus less likely to fall and, alas!, be lost forever.

Thanks mom.

skidou, what you described is a thread shank. It lasts longer because it tightens up the threads where they contact the edges of the button at the holes. If there's no movement there, you eliminate a lot of the wear of the threads against the sharp edges.

A thread shank also keeps fabric from puckering around the button when the garment is buttoned up.

Another tip for easier sewing: after threading the needle, pull the thread across some wax. The bottom of a candle is fine. This will make it less likely to knot up and tangle as you're sewing, and it makes it wear better, too.

Another tip for easier thread shanks: use a larger needle laid flat between the button and the fabric. You don't have to worry about the spacing because the large needle does that for you. Then wrap with thread.

For really deep shanks, you can use wooden skewers (if your duvet is denim or corduroy).

I used to sew buttons and repair seams for friends in the dorm in college, so this is good information for the completely uninitiated.

I just don't get how this is a hack? I thought a "hack" implied some kind of improvisation or shortcut? Is doing anything at all a hack now? Or are the AT writers implying that they are themselves Home Hacks? (I'm teasing--I just couldn't resist that word play)

Seriously?!?! I'm sorry if this is mean, but are there people who can't just look at a button on another piece of clothing and figure out how it's sewn on? I'm always amazed at how clueless some people are. In my opinion, all kids need to take a Home Economics class at some point so they can lead a normal, self-sufficient life. Sheesh.

Ah, ApartmentTherapy commenters. Nice and helpful as ever.

Jeez....

And for the record, any time you want to be snarky about a post in a "Well I already know how to do THAT" way, just imagine the word "Correctly" after the post.

And seriously, stop the attitude. It actually really makes me sour to this site, where 90% of the time the comments are great.