How to Sew a Four Hole Button

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Clothes are expensive. When you lose a button, most shirts come with extra ones at the bottom. But how do you put that button in a spot to replace the one you lost? You sew it back on!

Steps

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1. 
   1
   Unwind 2 feet (24 in.) of your thread. Use your scissors to make a neat cut, keeping the edges from fraying as much as possible. This will make it easier to thread your needle.
2. 
   2
   Thread your needle by moistening the tip of the thread and feeding it through the eye of the needle.
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3. 
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   Fold the thread in half, with the needle at the center and tie a knot at the other end. To tie the knot, loop the thread around two of your fingers, pushing the needle through the loop you just made.
4. 
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   Your knot will look like this when it is tied correctly.
5. 
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   Place your button on the material in the spot you want it to be sewn.
6. 
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   Push the needle through the fabric under the button. Push it through one of the button-holes, making sure to pull the thread all the way through until the knot catches on the fabric.
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   Push the needle down the button-hole directly opposite (diagonally) the first hole and through the fabric, pulling the thread all the way through.
8. 
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   Push the needle up through the fabric and through one of the remaining button-holes, making sure the thread is pulled all the way through.
9. 
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   Push the needle through the opposite hole and down through the fabric, pulling it tight.
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    Repeat this process through the same holes until you feel the button is secure enough. Going through each hole 3 times should be sufficient. For larger buttons, more passes may be needed.
11. 
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    With the needle underneath the button, pass the needle through the crisscrossing threads on the bottom of the button. Pull the thread completely through, without going through any of the holes of the fabric itself.
12. 
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    To tie the knot off, push the needle through the crisscrossing threads one last time, without pulling the thread all the way through.
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    Push the needle through the loop in the thread and pull it tight, forming a knot similar to the one you used to tie off the thread initially.
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    Using your scissors, cut the remaining thread just above the knot you just made. Congratulations, you have successfully sewn a button!
15. 
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    Finished.
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The Takeaway: Sewing a Four Hole Button

Thread a needle and put the button where you want it. Push the needle up through the material inside one of the holes. Then, push the needle down through the material in the hole directly across. Repeat for all of the holes until the button feels secure, then cut the thread and tie it off.

Expert Q&A

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• Question

  How can I easily thread a needle?

  

  Mia Danilowicz
  Master Tailor

  Mia Danilowicz is a Master Tailor who works onset and on the red carpet in Los Angeles, California. With over a decade of experience, Mia specializes in bridal and gown couturier fittings, garment reconstruction, and custom design. Mia has worked at the Oscars, Grammys, SAG Awards, and Golden Globes. Her clients include a long list of entertainment and fashion industry headliners, major fashion magazines, luxury consumer brands, and popular media. Mia was trained at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and received her AA in Fashion Design and BS in Business Management.

  

  Mia Danilowicz

  Master Tailor

  Expert Answer

  An easier method to thread a needle is by using a needle threader. This tool is used if your thread is thick, prone to unraveling, or if you have poor vision or hand-eye coordination. To utilize the needle threader, insert it into the eye of the needle, then place the end of your thread through the wire loop of the threader. Gently pull the threader out of the eye of the needle, leaving the thread looped through it. This technique simplifies the threading process, making it more accessible and efficient, especially for those with specific challenges.

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• Question

  In what pattern should I sew a four-hole button?

  

  Maudy Paden
  Sewing & Tailoring Expert

  Maudy Paden is a Sewing & Alterations Specialist based in Sarasota, Florida. She provides a tailoring concierge service, where she offers in home/office fittings and pick up/delivery for alterations. She has over 30 years of sewing experience. Before starting her business in Florida, she ran her clothing alteration shop for 14 years in Vermilion, Ohio. Maudy has a wide tailoring repertoire; wedding dressings, formalwear, suiting, professional clothing, off-the-rack, ready-to-wear, clothing repairs, and patches all fit her skill set.  In all her work, she follows the high-quality standard outlined by the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals. She received an MA in Lay Ministry at Trinity Lutheran Seminary and a BA in Religious Studies from Wittenberg University.

  

  Maudy Paden

  Sewing & Tailoring Expert

  Expert Answer

  You can either do a parallel pattern or a crossover. For parallel lines, bring the needle back down through the opposite buttonhole, then repeat for the remaining two holes. Alternatively, for a cross-over pattern, bring the needle diagonally across the button to the next hole, then back down through the opposite hole. Repeat this process to form an "X" pattern over the button. Both methods provide secure attachment; choose the one that suits your preference and the garment's style.

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• Question

  How do I sew my own clothes?

  

  T. Chinsen

  Top Answerer

  Making your own clothes with a sewing machine is the most efficient method. Sewing by hand is also an option. Purchase a pattern to get a guide to the materials and method of making a garment.

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Tips

• To tie your knot, wrap the thread around two fingers. Spread your fingers slightly apart and pass the needle in between the gap, through the loop in the thread. Pull the thread tight, guiding the knot as close to the end of the thread as possible. This knot will be the same one used at the beginning and the end of the process.
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Things You'll Need

• Sewing needle
• Thread, with colors matching what was already used in the garment
• Replacement button
• Material to be repaired
• Scissors
• Thimble (if you don't like bleeding)