Thursday, June 16, 2011

Back to Basics: Lesson 2- How to sew a button

Sewing a button
Thread the needle.

1. Thread the needle. If you like, you can double the thread to make this job quicker. Simply pull it through the needle so that there is an equal length of thread extending from both sides
Tie a knot.
2. Tie a knot at the end of the thread. One way to tie a knot is to wrap the thread around your finger as shown, roll the thread between your fingers, and pull it tight. If you doubled the thread, tie the ends together. 3.Leave a long tail of thread, whether you are doubling the thread or using a single thread to sew the button.
Position the button.

3. Position the button on the fabric. Line the button up with the other buttons on the garment
Check the buttonhole. Close the opposite flap or panel where you want it and make sure that the button lines up with the buttonhole.
- If the button was on correctly before, you can often go by the little holes in the fabric where the button used to be. You can see the pinholes alongside the button in the photo above.
Push the needle through.
4.Push the threaded needle up through the fabric and through one hole in the button. Pull the thread all the way through on each stitch.
Place a pin under the center of the button.
5. Place a pin or toothpick under the button across the button's center and hold it there until the next stitch helps keep it in place. When the pin is withdrawn later, it will allow the slack necessary to create a "shank" so that there will be space between behind the button for the material that will need to go there when the garment is buttoned.
Push the needle through the next hole.
6. ush the needle down through the next hole and through the fabric. Still holding the pin in place, pull the thread all the way through. Once that is done, the pin will be kept in place by the thread. In this photo, the button was lifted up to show what's going where, but it's best to hold the button in place so it does not move.
  • Button with stitching in an X.

    On a 4-hole button choose the one diagonal to the first hole if you want the threads to cross in an "X" formation.
  • Button with parallel thread pattern.
     Button with parallel thread pattern.
    If you want two parallel lines of thread showing, choose the next hole that is opposite the first.









7. Bring the needle up through the first hole (for a 2-hole button) or a new hole (for a 4-hole button) and pull the thread all the way through the fabric (as seen below).

Bring the needle up through the fabric and button.
8. Repeat the sewing process enough times to make sure the button is securely in place. On 4-hole buttons, make sure that the stitches have been made evenly, so that all four holes are equally used.
Repeat the process until the button is secure.
9.On the last stitch, push the needle through the material, but not through a hole in the button
Come up between the fabric and the button.
10. Pull the thread out into the area between button and material, remove the pin and pull up the button a little.
Go between the button and material.
11. Wrap the thread six times around the thread between the button and the material to reinforce the shank you have created
Wrap the thread around the "shank".
12. Push the needle back down through the material.
Back down through the material.
13. Make three or four back stitches to secure the thread.
Back stitch to tie off the thread.
14. Cut off the excess
Trim the excess thread.
Different sized needles, threads, fabrics, buttons and scissors are available in store. You can also buy a quick repair kit; it is small and compact and can be popped in your pocket, handbag or wallet ready to use when needed.
 If you would like to purchase any of of the products you have seen on this blog, you can order by phoning 01634 827063.

Or come and visit us 109 The Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4HW. If you are still unsure as to how to find us you can look on Google maps by clicking this link.   


For any queries please email: justfabrics@yahoo.co.uk

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