Introduction: How to Sew on a Button & Create a Bound Button Hole Tutorial- Super Sized

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Sewing on a button is an essential skill, whether it is reattaching a button that has fallen off an existing garment, or you are using them on a garment you are making yourself.

If you are making your own clothing, then a Bound Button Hole can provide a very professional finish to a garment.

Continue reading to find out how to Sew on a Button and create your own Bound Button Hole.

Supplies

  • Fabric
  • Button
  • Sewing Needle
  • Sewing Machine (Optional)
  • Thread
  • Toothpick
  • Fabric Marker (removable ink)
  • Iron

Step 1: Attaching the Button

Using roughly 20 inches of thread, slip one end through the eye if a needle and double knot it at the end.

From the front of your fabric (or Right Side) poke the needle down through the fabric and come back up through the top left hole of the button.

Position your toothpick across the button and push the needle to the back (or Wrong Side) of the fabric. Come back up in the top left corner, and go back down again in the bottom right.

Bring the needle back up through the top right hole this time, and back down through the bottom left. Repeat several times until the button feels secure, alternating so that the thread crosses over each other every time. End with the needle on the back side of the fabric.

Step 2: Creating the Shank

Remove the toothpick. The slack created will help to create the shank. A button shank reinforces the threads holding the button in place, and allows enough space for fabric to sit between the garment and the button when the garment is all buttoned up.

Bring the needle back through to the right side of the fabric, but behind the button, close to the threads. Wrap the thread three to five times around the threads that secure the button in place. You can secure this with a knot, and then push the needle back to the Wrong Side of the fabric.

Step 3: Tying the Knot

To knot the thread send the needle through the stitches and pull tight until only a small loop is left. Thread your needle through the loop and pull completely tight. Do this twice to double knot the threads.

Send the needle back to the right side of the fabric, but remain behind the button and snip the thread short. This will hide the end of the thread from both the front and back sides of the fabric.

Step 4: Outlining a Bound Button Hole

Draw a box (in removable pen) on the right side of your garment fabric exactly where you would like the buttonhole to be. The length of the box will be the diameter of the button you are planning on using. Decide on how thick you would like the button hole edges to be, and the total of the two edges will be the width of the box.

One the wrong side of the button hole fabric mark the same box with the centre line drawn in as well. Create a triangle at each end, the point of the triangle should be as tall as half the width of the outer rectangle.

Place the button hole fabric wrong side up directly over the box drawn on the right side on the main garment fabric, and pin in place.

Sew around the outside of the box only but hand or by machine, pivoting at the corner. Back stitch at the beginning and the end.

Step 5: Cutting the Hole

Cut along the centre line of the rectangle, between the points of each triangle only. Cut along the edges of the triangle, as far into the corners as you can go. Ensure that you do not cut any of the threads at all.

Push all of the button hole fabric through the hole you have made, and flip the fabric over to the wrong side of the garment to neaten up the edges. Iron all the edges flat.

Step 6: Creating the Button Hole Edges

Creating the button hole edges can be a little complicated, but follow the images to guide you.

From the inside of the garment (or wrong side of the fabric) fold all layers of the top edge towards the middle of the rectangular hole. Fold the button hole fabric back up, over the rhombus shaped piece of the garment fabric.

Repeat for the bottom edge- fold all edges towards the middle, and press the button hole fabric back down over the rhombus of outer garment fabric.

Iron all the pieces of fabric flat so that it holds its shape. The last photo shows the view from the right side of the garment fabric.

Step 7: Secure the Button Hole in Place

From the right side of the fabric, fold one edge back so that the triangle is visible. Stitch the triangle to the outer edges of the button hole fabric as shown, and repeat for both sides.

Trim the edges of the button hole fabric to a reasonable width for the size of button hole you are completing.

Using a matching thread (Red is used here to show the placement of the stitches) stitch out the outside edge of the button hole, in the ditch between the button hole and the garment fabric (on the right side of your fabric). The closer the thread matches your fabric the less visible it will be.

Iron the button hole flat, and you have finished your Bound Button Hole.