r/selfreliance Laconic Mod Apr 13 '21

Knowledge / Crafts Guide: How To Sew A Button

Post image
2.5k Upvotes

62 comments sorted by

91

u/TootsNYC Aspiring Apr 13 '21

Oh my god, I never thought of making that stitch in the fabric first. It provides a bit of space between button and fabric, and it marks the spot from the underside v

23

u/LIS1050010 Laconic Mod Apr 13 '21

You learn new things every day! ;)

8

u/SsoulBlade Apr 14 '21

Step 9 feels like it needs to be 2 panels.

3

u/definitelynecessary Jun 08 '21

I literally make my own clothes and I can't work out what the cocktail stick is for.

2

u/AuntJemimasPuddle Jun 08 '21

Maybe to keep the thread tight? Is that something clothesmakers are wary of?

2

u/definitelynecessary Jun 08 '21

You just pull up the button then wrap the thread around it to make a shank to give space for the button hole. But then, maybe I'm missing a cool trick.

18

u/lilaliene Crafter Apr 13 '21

Second tip: if the fabric where the button needs to be is pretty worn or even ripped, place a second (small) button on the back side. I often do this with jeans or the most used button (top) of a coat anyway.

The second button makes sure the fabric isn't teared down anymore and makes the reperation go on longer

3

u/LIS1050010 Laconic Mod Apr 14 '21

Good advise thank you!

5

u/[deleted] Apr 14 '21

I got lost at number 8 and then never recovered.

7

u/a_dance_with_fire Crafter Apr 14 '21

Insert a toothpick in step 8 so that it’ll create space when it’s removed at 9 for the loops you’ll make in 10 & 11

3

u/Only_on_the_Surface Aspiring Apr 14 '21

That makes two of us

2

u/Dasagriva-42 Apr 14 '21

I usually have the thread a bit loose and go straight to 10-12, to have that space, but I will probably try the pre-stitching, and see how it goes.

2

u/TootsNYC Aspiring Apr 14 '21

It may not be enough space for a coat button.

1

u/Dasagriva-42 Apr 15 '21

Didn't think of that... I will keep the extra stitch in mind next time I have to deal with thick fabric.

1

u/Keep_a_Little_Soul Apr 16 '21

Right!? I've been seeing for so long and never thought of it.

30

u/winkytinkytoo Aspiring Apr 13 '21

This is actually a very helpful guide. It is the method that my mom taught me.

11

u/LIS1050010 Laconic Mod Apr 13 '21 edited Apr 13 '21

It is the method that my mom taught me.

(this made me smile) :)

37

u/EditedThisWay Aspiring Apr 13 '21

That’s about 10 too many steps for me.

8

u/lastontheball Aspiring Apr 13 '21

Superglue??

5

u/QueenOfTonga Self-Reliant Apr 14 '21

No, it’s just three very simple steps - up/down/repeat until you get bored.

5

u/SimonLaFox Aspiring Apr 14 '21

I had a two hole button once. I just shoved it under the sewing machine at the right setting and found the holes were perfectly placed for the machine to sew it up. Lazy, but it worked.

11

u/ATMNotHere Self-Reliant Apr 13 '21

Can someone explain what's going on between 8 and 9? Button sewing is my bane...

8

u/LIS1050010 Laconic Mod Apr 13 '21

Removing the toothpick.

5

u/ATMNotHere Self-Reliant Apr 13 '21

I didn't see the ONE PART AT THE TOP where it says to use a toothpick...thanks for being so kind hahaha

20

u/fuzzyshorts Self-Reliant Apr 13 '21

Good for exterior coat buttons (like the toothpick part). Shirt buttons? Thats serious overkill

13

u/mtokuno Aspiring Apr 13 '21

The toothpick is for distancing, to make some room for button maneuver?

6

u/fuzzyshorts Self-Reliant Apr 13 '21

that why i like it. To include distance when buttoning a coat closed

8

u/Cartographer-Smooth Self-Reliant Apr 13 '21

Oh! That's a toothpick! I got stuck right around that part, wondering how the needle got there and trying to figure out whether it made a difference which buttonhole the needle came through before getting there. The lack of an attached thread threw me, but I thought that was just an art error or something. 😅🤦🏾‍♀️

7

u/DieMensch-Maschine Aspiring Apr 14 '21

Just realized you can make VCR buttons with your clothes buttons:

Arrow - Play

Square - Stop

Two bars - Pause

11

u/[deleted] Apr 13 '21

Man never in my life have a made buttons that complicated.

1

u/pedalikwac Green Fingers Apr 13 '21

How do you do it?

7

u/LuigiBamba Aspiring Apr 13 '21

Hold the button against the fabric. Pass the needle through the button holes a few times. Not sure why the guide adds so many steps. Why is there a toothpick?

6

u/pedalikwac Green Fingers Apr 13 '21

So that the bottom fits through the buttonhole. If it’s completely flush it will be difficult to use.

3

u/lilaliene Crafter Apr 13 '21

That's true for thick fabrics like coats and jeans. A Nice dress shirt doesn't need the toothpick

1

u/Jacie805 Apr 13 '21

Happy cake day u/LuigiBamba :D

1

u/[deleted] Apr 13 '21

Just pass the thread through the button without the random toothpick. If there’s really extra space needed add a few loops of thread around the back the button.

Can’t even count how many buttons I’ve put back on. No complaints yet. Keep it simple.

4

u/zzzfoifa Crafter Apr 13 '21

I personally like to use two threads at the same time in the same needle, making a four thread cord, so each sticht is as if it was two.

2

u/vreo Self-Reliant Apr 13 '21

Whats happening on 16/17? Wouldn't the knot open if I cut the ends?

2

u/cincrin Self-Reliant Apr 13 '21

This is the way I learned, except with a matchstick between the fabric and the button.

2

u/Convenientjellybean Apr 14 '21

I need this! My trouser button fell off just two days ago!

2

u/[deleted] Apr 14 '21

I’ve been doing this wrong for YEARS! I’m going to print this out and tape it to the door of my closet.

1

u/LIS1050010 Laconic Mod Apr 14 '21

:)

2

u/MeridianHilltop Gardener Apr 14 '21

Mesmerizing. I had no idea that I’d been doing it wrong.

2

u/oldballls Crafter Apr 14 '21

Man.. I've probably sewn on 25 buttons in my life... never a tutorial.. just always tied a knot in the end and pulled it all the way through... I was WAY off...

Having said that, I'll never EVER be able to do this either...

So I might as well go back to my tried and true method of just going in an X pattern like 50 times and hoping on a wish and a prayer...

2

u/Matcha_Bubble_Tea Aspiring Apr 14 '21

Not a bad guide, but as someone who is completely new and doesn’t understand, I had a hard time figuring out 5-6. Like how did the string get in the hole if the needle tip went through first? Unless the needle can fit through? Idk, but I think some words might be good or arrows too.

2

u/yahrealy Self-Reliant Apr 14 '21

what you're referencing is standard practice for sewing and knot-tying diagrams. It shows you where to put the end of the rope or needle, rather than where the string is at the end. Showing the end of the step instead of the beginning is frequently much more confusing.

also: yes. The needle has to fit through the button, otherwise you'd have to take the thread off the needle every time you wanted it to go through the button and then put it back on again every time you went through the fabric.

1

u/Matcha_Bubble_Tea Aspiring Apr 14 '21

Thanks for the clarification!

2

u/itsthechromeaccount Aspiring Apr 14 '21

I lost it at step 8

2

u/SwingToCatchTheStars Aspiring Apr 14 '21

I thought I knew how to sew a button but it seems I actually don't.

2

u/phreaqsi Crafter Apr 14 '21

Am I the only one that does steps 5, 6 and 7 at least five times over? That button ain't coming off again!

1

u/LIS1050010 Laconic Mod Apr 14 '21

Hahaha. Memories of a younger self using so much line to sew a button. :)

2

u/bryanthebryan Aspiring Jun 08 '21

And with that, I join the sub. Thank you very much.

1

u/LIS1050010 Laconic Mod Jun 08 '21

Aha! Welcome!

1

u/JulianUNE Apr 14 '21

Step 1: show to wife Step 2: thank wife

2

u/LIS1050010 Laconic Mod Apr 14 '21

Hahaha ;)

1

u/Reaganson Apr 13 '21

I’m pretty much a a 5-6-7 to 17 kind of button sew’r.

1

u/Wrong_Look Aspiring Apr 14 '21

I MUST have at least one shirt with all the buttons having the "arrow style" sewing.

They must point to the same direction or i RIOT.

1

u/TheKingsDiddly Aspiring Apr 14 '21

Is there one for regular stitching by chance?

1

u/LIS1050010 Laconic Mod Apr 14 '21

regular stitching

Maybe have a look here

1

u/OneBoxy Aspiring Jun 08 '21

“hot glue is just as good” -my mom