How to Hand-Sew a Button

Why should I learn how to sew a button by hand?

Thrift stores usually inspect their clothes for defects before they go on the racks, but sometimes, the odd missing button still finds its way into the store. Some thrift stores even have “damaged but worthy” sections where they purposefully place lightly defective items at heavily discounted prices.

Learning how to hand-sew a button is simple yet essential, especially if you want to take advantage of the thrift shopping experience.

So here’s the easy steps to sewing a button by hand

Get Your Supplies Ready

How to hand sew a button

 

Before you start hand sewing a button, gather all the necessary supplies:
Needle, thread, scissors, button

 

 

Prepare the Thread

 

Cut about 18 inches of thread and thread your needle. Double up the thread for extra strength and tie a knot at the end.

 

 

Align the Button

 

Position the button where needed, making sure it lines up with any buttonholes or other buttons.

 

 

Sew the Button

 

 

Push the needle up from the back of the fabric through one of the button holes. Pull the thread through until the knot stops it. Insert the needle down through the opposite hole and pull tight. Repeat this 4-6 times to make sure the button is secure.

Tie the Thread to Finish

 

After securing the button, push the needle to the back of the fabric. Tie a secure knot close to the fabric and trim any excess thread. Check that the button is firmly attached.

Thrift shopping is a great way to find unique and affordable clothes. Knowing how to hand-sew a button can help maximize your thrift shopping experience. Following these steps, you can confidently fix button issues and enjoy your thrift store finds.

 

How to hand-sew a button (photos)

We cover just the 4-hole button in this article but there’s a lot of other buttons out there that don’t look like this. Let us know if you want us to cover how to fix any more pesky defects you might find while thrift shopping.
Thanks for reading; please check out some of our other handy articles on personal fashion at The Stitch of It.