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How to sew a button
It is very practical to be able to sew a new button on by yourself. We give you solid advice on how to succeed best in this text.
Photos: Ted Olsson
Text: MIKAEL VALLIN
How to sew a button:
IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Be sure to see how the thread is passed through the holes on the garment's other, existing buttons so that it does not look different on the button you sew yourself. See if the thread is passed diagonally between the holes as in an "X" on the front of the button, or if the button is sewn in parallel through the whole pair.
1. CUT TO SEWING THREAD
Start by cutting up a piece of sewing thread that is not too short, so that you have enough thread to work with. About a meter of sewing thread is usually okay.
2. ATTACH THE SEWING THREADS TO THE BUTTON
Attach the thread to the button by threading the thread through two of the button holes, so that two equally long thread ends come out on the back of the button. Now bring these together and thread both thread ends through the eye of the needle. Sewing with double thread will save you a lot of time and give you a firmly sewn button.
3. CREATE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN BUTTON AND FABRIC
An important detail when sewing a button is how to keep the distance between the button and the fabric. This becomes more important the coarser the fabric. If you just sew the button directly to the fabric without creating a few millimetres of distance between the button and the fabric, it will be difficult to button-up the garment. You solve this easily with the help of two taped toothpicks or matches.
Attach the button to the point where the button was previously sewn. Place the two taped toothpicks between the button and the fabric, so that the toothpicks end up between the two holes you thread through.
Attach the button to the point where the button was previously sewn. Place the two taped toothpicks between the button and the fabric, so that the toothpicks end up between the two holes you thread through.
4. SEW THE FIXED BUTTON
Use the existing buttons as a reference to determine how much thread you should use. When sewing through the first pair of holes, then start sewing the button through the second pair of holes.
5. ATTACH THE SEWING THREAD
When you have sewn the required stitches, wrap the remaining thread around the threads that run between the button and the garment, to create the small "stalk" that holds the button a few millimetres from the garment fabric. Finish the job by discreetly attaching the thread to the back of the garment.
YOU NEED THIS TO SEW THE BUTTON:
• The button you want to sew on.
• Two taped toothpicks or matches.
• Sewing thread that matches the colour used on the other buttons.
• A needle with an eye large enough to thread a double thread into.
HOW TO CUSTOMISE YOUR CLOTHES:
We strongly advocate making adjustments with a tailor to make your garments fit better on your body. When you buy a suit, jacket or a pair of dressy trousers, this is almost a requirement.
Examples of adjustments that a tailor can make are:
• Shorten, or in some cases lengthen the sleeves.
• Lay up the trouser legs.
• Bring the jacket in to the back and waist.
• Remove sewn-on shoulder pads from a jacket.
• Make the jacket narrower over the shoulders.
• Extend the jacket.
• And more.
Read more about how to tailor your clothes here.