How to sew shirt buttons

Sewing buttons on shirts or jackets is one of the most basic tasks that we should all know how to do to maintain the proper care of our garments. However, sometimes we have lost the practice either due to lack of time or because fashions have changed the style of garment closures and classic buttons are no longer used as much as before. Now they are very popular, for example, automatic closures, zippers, classic or lined hooks, thumbtacks or snap buttons and a long etcetera.

The most classic buttons are those that are sewn by hand. As I said, it is not a very difficult task, but unfortunately this custom has been lost over time and we only resort to it when we need to make a small repair. In most cases, very quickly and without really looking closely at what we are doing.

But don't worry, if a button has broken and you need to sew it quickly to show off that garment that you like so much on a special day, stay because in the next post we give all the keys to learn how to sew shirt buttons. We started!

How to sew shirt buttons by hand

Materials to know how to sew shirt buttons by hand

Surely you have a small sewing box at home where you keep a emergency kit for this kind of housework. Go through it and make sure you have a spool of thread the same color as the garment you want to sew, some needles and thimbles.

• The needle: you will find them in different sizes to better adapt to all jobs and all types of fabric. In case you don't know which one is the most appropriate to sew on your button, I advise you to always choose the smallest one because if you take a larger one and you don't have much experience when it comes to sewing, you run the risk that when stitching there are a few left. too large holes in the fabric and that can no longer be remedied.
• the sewing thread: Choosing the color depends on the result you are looking for, although if you are new to sewing, it is best to opt for a thread whose tone is as similar as possible to the fabric in order to hide the stitches as much as possible. Regarding the characteristics of the thread, it is best to make it cotton and of a fine thickness, since it is the one that best fits most sewing jobs.
• The thimble: It is a very necessary metal utensil for those who have little experience in sewing because they protect their fingers when pressure is exerted on the needle while sewing.
• The button: Either flat with holes (the most classic) or rounded with a back ring (the most ornamental). In flat buttons, the thread and the needle pass through the holes in the button. In rounded ones, the needle and thread go through the back ring and the thread is hidden behind the button.

How to sew a button by hand: basic instructions for handling a needle

When handling a needle to sew on a button, there are two steps that you must know how to carry out comfortably:threading and practicing with the needle on a piece of cloth.

When you don't have much experience sewing, one of the things that may seem most difficult is threading a needle. Putting a bit of thread through the eye of a needle requires patience. To make this step easier, try moistening the end of the thread a little so that it runs better.

Once you've threaded your needles, a good tip if you're not very skilled at sewing is to practice your stitches first on a scrap of fabric. So you can improve the size of the stitches or the direction of them. And when you feel more confident, take the step to sew the button on a shirt.

Steps to follow to sew a button with holes

• First of all you will have to take the spool of thread and select a length. Next, cut the thread with scissors and thread it onto the needle. In case you want to go a little faster during the process, a good idea may be to double the thread before threading and so that with each stitch two of the threads are the ones that go through the fabric.
• Then, place the button on the fabric where you want to sew it.
• Then, make the first stitch from the back of the fabric towards the button, that is, from the inside out. So the knot in the thread will be inside the shirt. Then, stretch everything and thread.
• Do not forget to place a thin piece of cardboard or a pin under the button so that it does not stick to the shirt when it is fully sewn.
• Continue threading the needle through the button holes trying to get the stitches as close together as possible. Then, remove the thin cardboard or pin from under the button and wind the thread around several times around the threads between the shirt fabric and the button, tightly.
• Then, take the thread and pass it to the inside of the shirt. Finally tie it with a knot and with the help of scissors cut the excess material.

And it would be ready! If you don't have much practice, sewing a button may seem complicated in principle, but with these simple tips you have seen that it is a very easy task and anyone can carry it out. As you sew buttons you will become more skilled and they will look better on your clothes.

So, do you dare to put these instructions into practice to sew buttons to your clothes? What type of buttons will you choose to sew on your first attempts? You can leave us your comments below.