Hints & Tips

This is by far the quickest way to sew on buttons with normal holes at the centre.

I use this technique when I am making clothes like shirts, tops or jackets.  Obviously you can’t do this with shank buttons.

Set the dials on your sewing machine as follows:-

1. Stitch length zero (0)
2. Zig zag should be the width of the two holes in the centre of the button.  On my machine it is around four (4).
3. Lower the feed dogs on the machine.  Do this by reversing the flywheel (usually on the right hand side of the machine).  The feed dogs are under the sewing machine foot and needle.  (If you don’t lower the feed dogs you may find it difficult to place the fabric under the foot, and allow enough room to put the button under the foot.)
4. Place the garment in under the foot and place the button in the right position.
5. Lower the foot onto the button.  Sometimes I have to hold the button in place if the button is slightly raised.  Or sometimes I use some tweezers to hold into place while I lower the foot.
6. Using the flywheel, lower the needle into the button hole, then continue turning the flywheel until the needle goes into the opposite hole.
7. Now sew about 6 times back and forth.  The garment and button should not move because you have the stitch width set at zero (0).
8. Take the garment out from under the foot and leave yourself a bit of thread.
9. Some people would just cut off the thread and leave it, which is why the buttons fall off in the first place.
10. Using a needle thread the cotton onto the needle and push through to the under side.
11. You have four threads now.  Divide them into two and knot off.  Cut off excess cotton

Happy sewing

Judith aka genie

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