When most people lose a button from their shirt or coat, that loose button is typically subjected to a lonely fate stuck in the garment's pocket, tucked in the back of the closet and forgotten.
But, replacing a button is very easy. Even if you're a fumble-fingers, it will take less than 5 minutes.
If you have the loose button, great! You will sew it right back where it belongs.
If you lost the button on a dress shirt, look at the bottom hem in the front. Most men's (and some women's) shirts have an extra button or two sewn to the button placket for just such emergencies. Snip the threads carefully from the one that matches (in case there are 2 sizes).
If you lost the button and do not have an extra you have a few options:
1. Replace all of the buttons with something you like from the craft store. Pearly buttons look great on most sweaters, especially the kind with a shank (a loop back, rather than holes that go through the button face). You can make a dull shirt/sweater/coat into a dressy item just by adding classier buttons. Or "dress it down" by using more casual buttons like plain white, shell, or wood.
2. Remove the top-most button and use it to fill the missing spot. Then replace the top button with something even more decorative and interesting. This will look like your shirt or sweater has a design detail, rather than a patch-job. Silver, gold, rhinestone, or pearl buttons that look like small jewelry brooches are a good choice for feminine clothing. For men's clothing, something "chrome" or "steel" looking and interesting would look good on most shirts and coats. Just test the new button to make sure it isn't too big to slide through the button hole!
Thread close in color to your button, or the same as what was used on the other buttons. It doesn't have to match perfectly, but if you must choose lighter or darker, always choose the darker shade; it will blend better.
Sewing needle
(optional: chalk, sliver of old bar soap, or a safety pin for marking location)
1. If you can't clearly see where the old button was sewn on, button the garment and lay it flat. Insert your chalk, soap sliver, or safety pin point through the empty button hole to mark the fabric underneath. This is where your button should go. If your button hole is long (like on a coat), just mark through the end of the slit that is near the edge.
2. Cut a piece of thread about 2 feet long.
3. Thread this through the eye of the needle then slide the needle to the half-way mark and tie the two loose ends together roughly 3-4 inches from the end. This will make sure you don't yank the thread out by accident and it leaves you a nice tail to tie off with.
4. Insert your needle from the back side of the button area and thread your button on. If it is a 4-hole button, use a criss-cross pattern. Insert the needle down through the next hole in the button and carefully point your needle back through the fabric to nearly the same place as it came through; pull the button close to the garment and snug the thread; be gentle so you don't pop the knot through too! Repeat until you have at least 4 loops through each pair of button holes, or 6 around a shank button. Pull each loop snug and even as you pass through.
5. End with the needle passed through to the back of the garment right by where it began. Tie off the ends with a double knot, or use this surgeon's knot for extra security, looping the needle through twice before pulling snug: http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/surgeon's+knot
Tip: To get your needle to poke out where you want it to, enter through the starting location then angle the tip toward the target area rather than removing the needle and moving it over. This will save much frustration and sloppiness!
But, replacing a button is very easy. Even if you're a fumble-fingers, it will take less than 5 minutes.
The Basics:
Most button-up clothing comes with extra buttons when you purchase it. Stash these in a jar or a box somewhere if they're the unattached kind.If you have the loose button, great! You will sew it right back where it belongs.
If you lost the button on a dress shirt, look at the bottom hem in the front. Most men's (and some women's) shirts have an extra button or two sewn to the button placket for just such emergencies. Snip the threads carefully from the one that matches (in case there are 2 sizes).
If you lost the button and do not have an extra you have a few options:
- Check your other shirts/coats for extra and similar buttons you can borrow.
- Buy a similar size and color button from a craft store. It doesn't have to match exactly.
- If the missing button came from the middle of the row and the replacement is too different for your liking remove the bottom-most native button and use this one in the middle open space - then use your mismatch at the bottom.
- Most shirts get tucked in so the mismatch will be hidden.
Hard-to-match buttons:
If you love the garment and cannot find a replacement button that is close enough you have a few options.1. Replace all of the buttons with something you like from the craft store. Pearly buttons look great on most sweaters, especially the kind with a shank (a loop back, rather than holes that go through the button face). You can make a dull shirt/sweater/coat into a dressy item just by adding classier buttons. Or "dress it down" by using more casual buttons like plain white, shell, or wood.
2. Remove the top-most button and use it to fill the missing spot. Then replace the top button with something even more decorative and interesting. This will look like your shirt or sweater has a design detail, rather than a patch-job. Silver, gold, rhinestone, or pearl buttons that look like small jewelry brooches are a good choice for feminine clothing. For men's clothing, something "chrome" or "steel" looking and interesting would look good on most shirts and coats. Just test the new button to make sure it isn't too big to slide through the button hole!
Sewing on the button:
Tools:Thread close in color to your button, or the same as what was used on the other buttons. It doesn't have to match perfectly, but if you must choose lighter or darker, always choose the darker shade; it will blend better.
Sewing needle
(optional: chalk, sliver of old bar soap, or a safety pin for marking location)
1. If you can't clearly see where the old button was sewn on, button the garment and lay it flat. Insert your chalk, soap sliver, or safety pin point through the empty button hole to mark the fabric underneath. This is where your button should go. If your button hole is long (like on a coat), just mark through the end of the slit that is near the edge.2. Cut a piece of thread about 2 feet long.
3. Thread this through the eye of the needle then slide the needle to the half-way mark and tie the two loose ends together roughly 3-4 inches from the end. This will make sure you don't yank the thread out by accident and it leaves you a nice tail to tie off with.
4. Insert your needle from the back side of the button area and thread your button on. If it is a 4-hole button, use a criss-cross pattern. Insert the needle down through the next hole in the button and carefully point your needle back through the fabric to nearly the same place as it came through; pull the button close to the garment and snug the thread; be gentle so you don't pop the knot through too! Repeat until you have at least 4 loops through each pair of button holes, or 6 around a shank button. Pull each loop snug and even as you pass through.
5. End with the needle passed through to the back of the garment right by where it began. Tie off the ends with a double knot, or use this surgeon's knot for extra security, looping the needle through twice before pulling snug: http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/surgeon's+knot
Tip: To get your needle to poke out where you want it to, enter through the starting location then angle the tip toward the target area rather than removing the needle and moving it over. This will save much frustration and sloppiness!
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