LUDLOW QUILT AND SEW
How to sew on a button
Sewing a button on needn't be difficult
Sewing on a button is one of the most frequently needed sewing skills and yet many people are not confident at doing it.
I always begin sewing buttons with double thread - after threading your needle, pull the ends of the thread in line with each other so that you will be sewing with double thickness. It just saves a bit of time, and I'm all for that.
2 hole button
Make a couple of stitches where you want to sew the button just to anchor the thread. Poke the needle through one of the holes of the button and push the button down to the fabric. Turn the button so that the holes are where you want them to be, hold in place and push the needle back down through the other hole of the button to the back of the fabric.
Bring the needle back up through the first hole to the top, then push it down again through the 2nd hole. As you are pushing your needle up from behind the fabric, it often hits solid button rather than the hole - peek behind and you'll be able to see from the previous stitches where to place the needle to bring it up in the same place as before.
Repeat this about a dozen times. A large button needs a few more stitches, a small button might need a little less. Too many stitches for the size of button can make it look bulky, and too few might not be strong enough.
When you feel you have enough stitches, push the needle up through the fabric beside the stitching but still underneath the button so that it won't show.
Wind it around the centre between the button and fabric about 6 times. This adds strength and makes it less likely that the fabric will tear if the button comes off. Finish off sewing the button with a stitch to anchor the end of the thread, again under the button so that it won't show.
4 hole button
Sewing a 4 hole button is the same as sewing a 2 hole button, sewing the holes 2 at a time. Here you have the choice of sewing two lines next to each other like an = sign or across the diagonals to make an X. I don't think it matters which way you do sew the buttons. It comes down to personal preference or whether you need to match other buttons if you are repairing a garment.
Covered button
Some buttons are solid across the top and have a loop underneath made either of whatever the button is made of, or made of metal. To sew these on, begin sewing the button as before with a couple of stitches to anchor the thread.
Pass the needle through the loop of the button and bring the button down to the fabric. Pass the needle through the fabric to come up on the other side of the loop and then pass it through the loop again. Repeat a dozen times, then wind the thread round as before and anchor the end of the thread.
Self covered button
These buttons are great fun to sew and can make a real difference to the professional look of something you make. Most haberdashers sell the kits which have a plastic button body and a washer to go underneath it.
Cut a circle of fabric to the size suggested on the packet for your size of button. Try and centre the circle on an interesting piece of pattern in your fabric as it is the centre that will show on the finished button.
Sew a line of running stitch (like basting but much smaller stitches) round the edge of the circle. Place the button in the centre of the circle and pull both ends of the thread to gather the fabric.
Tie a knot to keep the fabric gathered and push the washer on to the bottom of the button to hold the fabric in place. Take care to have the bumpy side of the washer facing up so that it holds the fabric. To be sure that you have pushed the washer far enough, use a bobbin for extra push. Usually there is a click when the washer is in place.
Uses
Buttons don't have to be just functional. A really interesting button looks great as a decoration on a bag, as part of an embroidered pattern, or even as an alternative way to hold the layers together on a quilt.rose@ludlowquiltandsew.co.uk
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