Sewing on a button by hand and with a sewing machine

Sewing on a button: One of the most important and underrated sewing adventures. In this tutorial, I will show you how to sew on a button by hand and with a sewing machine.

The most important things at a glance

• Sewing on a button by hand: Step-by-step instructions for beginners and advanced sewists
• Sewing on a button with a sewing machine: Fast and efficient method
• Which thread is best? Tips for choosing the right material
• Which stitch should you use to sew on a button correctly? The best technique for a secure hold
• The best tips for a perfect result: Useful advice for beginners and advanced sewists
• Which needle is the right one? The suitable equipment for every project
• Important points when sewing on buttons: What you should definitely pay attention to
• ✂️ Sewing level: easy
• ⏰ Sewing time: 15 min.

It is just super great when you can sew on buttons yourself. It saves resources because you can repair your clothes yourself and therefore wear them longer. And, of course, it also saves money, because you won't have to take your jacket or blouse to a tailor. 🪡

Furthermore, sewing on buttons, both by hand and with a sewing machine, is really child's play. In this guide, you will learn how both work.

Little tip: If your clothing is worn out, the buttons might still be nice. Cut them off and keep them neatly tied together for your next garment.

Extra tip: Even individual buttons can be useful for repairing your clothes. But you can also use them, for example, for upcycling. A lovely idea is our jeans cushion cover with upcycled buttons.

Recommended reading: Sewing a buttonhole

YouTube tutorial on sewing on a button

Who is writing this post?

Dorthe has an intimate relationship with her fabrics; her gut feeling when selecting fabrics is crucial for her, and a "cuddle" is always part of it. Precisely cutting fabrics and then sewing them is pure relaxation. Spending an hour at the sewing machine in the evening after a long, busy day is like a vacation.
Her passion is paper piecing (FPP - foundation paper piecing).
She works as a quilt expert for BERNINA sewing and longarm machines.

What do I need to sew on a button?

The equipment needed to sew on buttons is really quite minimal. Here are the required materials:

• Spare button
• Sewing needle^* (I use a practical needle twister)
• Sewing thread^* (an all-purpose thread, e.g., Seralon from Mettler is perfect)
• Small, sharp scissors^*
• Marking pen^*
• possibly tweezers^*

Recommended reading: Marking fabrics

Sewing on a button by hand: Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Preparation

• Did you lose a button on your garment? It is best to keep spare buttons that are attached to the label.
• If the spare button has also been lost, choose a button that matches in color and size.
• To find the right size, test at the buttonhole whether the button actually fits.
• You will also need sewing needles and matching sewing thread.
• A seam ripper, tweezers, marking pen, and small sharp scissors should be ready.

Here is a tip for you on how to best handle the thread, the needle, and the knot:

• Cut a sufficiently long thread
• Thread the thread through the needle eye
• Pull the thread through the eye and hold both ends of the thread with your left hand
• Now wrap both thread ends around the needle tip three times
• Using the thumb and index finger of your left hand, hold the wrapped section and pull the needle along the thread toward the eye until the end
• This creates a knot

Step 2: Positioning the button

Tip: Has your button torn out? You can repair this quite easily:

• Iron a small piece of interfacing onto the back to stabilize the torn area
• You can mend the little hole with a few hand stitches or your sewing machine's darning program
• Then continue with sewing on the button

Step 3: Attaching the button

Sewing on shank buttons

Shank buttons have a hole on the shank for sewing. Here, too, you sew through this hole with a needle and thread and then attach it to the fabric. The small shank provides a distance between the button surface and the fabric. This makes this button well-suited for slightly thicker or fluffy garments.

How to sew on shank buttons

➡️ Good to know: Shank buttons are often particularly decorative. And: even after being sewn on, they do not sit as tightly against the fabric as a button with 2 or 4 holes.

Sewing on a button with a sewing machine: A fast and efficient method

Of course, you can also sew on your button with a sewing machine.

In our example, we are using a BERNINA sewing machine to sew on a button. Every model from this manufacturer has a button-sewing program.

For this, you will need the Button-sew-on foot #18^*. This foot has a rubber coating on its underside that perfectly fixes the button in place. With the button-sewing program, the button is securely sewn onto your garment. The machine ensures that the thread is securely tied off at the start and finish. The height can be adjusted on this special foot, allowing it to be adapted to the height and thickness of the button.

• First, check whether your sewing machine is equipped for sewing on buttons.
• You might also need a special presser foot to be able to sew on buttons with your sewing machine.
• Use the corresponding buttonhole program or a special button-sewing function.

• In our case, we show you how to sew on a button with a BERNINA.
• The Button-sew-on foot #18 is the right choice here. It fits all sewing machine models from BERNINA.
• A rubber coating on the foot prevents the button from slipping.
• If the button's shank is higher, such as with a horn button, you can adjust the height of the shank using the small dial (shown on the right on the presser foot in the picture).
• The button is positioned under the presser foot and the button-sewing program is selected.
• The sewing machine now sews the button on automatically, tying off the start and end of the thread.
• You can also sew on 4-hole buttons with your sewing machine.
• Sewing on a 4-hole button: First take care of the first pair of 2 holes, then shift your machine's foot to the next pair of 2 holes.

Tip: Try turning the handwheel beforehand to check if the needle actually pierces the buttonholes!

➡️ Good to know: Did you know that industrially produced buttons of any size have the same hole spacing? Only handmade buttons differ in this regard.

Which thread is best for sewing on a button?

A high-quality polyester or cotton sewing thread is ideal for sewing on buttons.

Choose a color that matches the fabric well and blends in unobtrusively.

Choose the appropriate thread weight: use a thinner thread for a delicate blouse button, and a thicker thread for a wool coat and a large button.

Which stitch should you use to sew on the button?

Perhaps you are now wondering which stitch you can use to sew on your button? Here are Dorthe's tips:

• The cross stitch and the buttonhole stitch are two common methods for sewing on buttons by hand.
• When using a sewing machine, a ready-made button-sewing program is available depending on the model.
• With a sewing machine without this program, you can set a zigzag stitch with a width matching the button's holes.
• Use a presser foot with an appropriate stitch width and lower the feed dog for this.
• Carefully test using the handwheel whether your stitch spacing is correct.

The best tips for a perfect result

Here are Dorthe's tips for the perfectly sewn button. 🪡✂️🙂

• Practice on a scrap piece first before sewing the button onto your project.
• Make sure to sew the button on securely, but not too tightly, so as not to distort the fabric.
• If you are working with thin fabric, place a washer under the button on the back of the fabric. After sewing it on, the washer is removed. The washer serves to keep the thin fabric taut while sewing on the button, which prevents the material from tearing.

• Do you want to attach a button with a shank? A matchstick is practical here and is placed under the button between the two holes as a spacer.
• What should you keep in mind when sewing on a trouser button? A trouser button should be placed slightly further inward. The button is under tension here, and it is advisable to attach a backing button on the wrong side of the fabric at this spot.
• Attaching a button with a backing button works as follows: The ideally smaller and flat backing button is placed parallel to the button on the underside of the fabric. The holes of both buttons are pierced simultaneously. The small, flat backing button ensures that the thread does not tear through the fabric. It is comparable to a washer for screws.
• For shirts or blouses, the button is merely a closing element and should sit in the middle of the buttonhole. However, if the button is meant to provide support, as with trousers, it sits at the front position in the buttonhole.

Which needle is the right one?

You can attach the button with any standard hand sewing needle you enjoy using. Dorthe has a few tips for you:

• Use an appropriate needle size depending on the fabric thickness and button size.
• A needle threader can be very helpful when threading the needle.

Conclusion: Important points when sewing on a button

Ready to get started right away and replace your lost buttons? Very good! Before you begin, you can read through Dorthe's best tips:

• Ensure the button is attached securely and firmly to the fabric to prevent it from coming undone.
• The sewing thread should be tied off cleanly and be as inconspicuous as possible.
• Take the washing and care instructions of the garment into account to ensure the button holds up well even after multiple washes.
• Whether you are sewing on a delicate shirt button or a robust toggle button, the method is always the same.

With these tips and instructions, you are well-equipped to sew on buttons yourself with ease – whether by hand or with a sewing machine. Be brave and try it out; it’s not as hard as it might appear at first glance!

Maybe you'll finally dare to sew on a button now. This is an easy way to repair your clothes yourself and wear them for much longer. That’s sustainable, saves money, and helps the environment. Cool, right?

Let us know in the comments how your first self-sewn button went. We are looking forward to reading about it!

Happy simple sewing, Dorthe & Sabine