How to sew on a button in five minutes by hand

5 minutes. Costs a few cents.

Try this first (costs nothing): find thread near the colour of the button. Cut about 50 cm, thread the needle, pull the ends level and knot them together. A doubled thread is stronger.

Steps

1. Pin or mark where the button sat. The old stitch holes show the spot.
2. Push the needle up from the back at that spot, through one hole of the button.
3. Lay a matchstick or toothpick on top of the button, between the holes.
4. Stitch down through the opposite hole and the fabric. Repeat four to six times.
5. Pull out the matchstick. Pull the button up slightly so there is a gap under it.
6. Wind the thread three or four times round the stitches under the button. This makes a stalk, which lets the button sit on top of the fabric.
7. Push the needle to the back, make two small stitches in one place, and cut the thread.

For a four-hole button, sew each pair of holes the same way, either parallel or in a cross.

If that does not work

• The button hangs loose. The stalk is too long. Re-do it with fewer wraps.
• The fabric tears. Sew through a small scrap of fabric on the inside to spread the load.
• The thread frays. Use thread made for sewing, not craft or embroidery thread.

Many coats come with a spare button sewn inside. Keep it.

Fix it, replace it or live with it

Fix it: always, if the button is intact. Replace it: with a matching one from a haberdashery if lost. Live with it: never, because a loose button just falls off. If a zip has the same problem, see how to fix a stuck zip.

Worked example

A shirt button has fallen off at the cuff. Round numbers: you have a spare button, and a doubled thread about 50 cm long. Following the steps takes about 5 minutes with a threaded needle. If the shirt has buttonholes that are tight, make the stalk a little longer so the fabric sits flat when closed.

Common mistakes

• Sewing too tight. The button cannot move and the fabric pulls.
• Skipping the stalk. The button sits flat and strains the thread.
• Weak thread. Use polyester or cotton sewing thread.

A jumper with pilling needs a different fix.