Q&A Monday: You CAN Sew on a Button!
One of the most common phrases I see in comments and emails for this blog is, “I can’t even sew on a button!”. No big deal, right? Some people don’t know how to sew on a button. Big whup.
What I don’t like about this statement is how it implies “I can’t and won’t ever be able to sew on a button, or sew anything else for that matter!” Most things can be learned. Just because you don’t know how to do something now, doesn’t mean you won’t ever be good at said thing!
My big tin ‘o buttons!
Let’s rewind to more than a decade ago when I was a Theatre Major at the University of South Carolina (Go Cocks!). I was a good bit less than enthused when I had to do my time in the costume shop (mandatory lab assignment). I had absolutely NO interest in sewing or costuming at the time.
My first assignment was to sew a row of buttons onto some gorgeous brocaded doublet for an upcoming show. I clumsily stitched the buttons on, shrugging when my task was complete. The next day, I had to sew them all on again, as they had popped off in rehearsal! The actor was livid and the costume shop staff was incredibly annoyed with my ineptitude. That’s right. I couldn’t even sew on a button! One of the nice costume shop grad students sat down with me and showed me how.
It’s not hard, folks. If a bored 20-year-old me could do it, so can you! You’re about to have no excuse for not being able to sew on a button!
For those of you who are visual learners, Threadbanger has your back!
Some of you might prefer written instructions, like these from The Art of Manliness (I seriously adore this blog btw!).
from The Art of Manliness!
Here’s a little tip from me: Whenever you’re hand-sewing anything, run the thread over an unlit candle. The wax will keep it from getting tangled!
Wax On!
For those of you who are feeling super-creative, you can even make your own buttons!!!
Let Liz from Offbeat Bride show you how!
So…now you know how to sew on a button! It wasn’t that hard, now was it? 🙂
Cheers!
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30 Responses to Q&A Monday: You CAN Sew on a Button!
Your tip about running thread over an unlit candle is good to know, but did you know that if you knot the wrong end of the thread it tangles?
That’s right. Thread is twisted in one direction so it runs smoothly through your sewing machine without tangling. If you knot the end that’s closest to the spool, you will have far less tangles.
The same, actually the opposite is true of knitting yarn. Knitting yarn is twisted so using it from the center of the ball is the correct way. If you knit from the outside of the ball you will get a lot of tangles.
I know! Too much information, but sometimes I’m typing and can’t stop LOL
I’m a knitter and it drives me crazy when people use the outside of the yarn instead of pulling from the inside. It’s just going to lead to trouble lol!
Thanks for the candle tip! Totally trying it!
Installing zippers…that’s my biggest fear.
Ah! That’s a good suggestion!
Best way to install a zipper is to make a seam first. Iron open te seam and put the zipper on underneath on the wrong side with right side of zipper facing the opened seam. Sew it on and then unpick the seam!!
Really super easy! The easiest way I know how but always make sure if you are making a cushion to do the zipper first as it will make it harder if all the other sides are sewn!
Take a look at my blog
http://www.angelfairydust.blogspot.com
Your welcome!!
There is a free zipper class on craftsy!!! And zippers aren’t that hard. I’ve even totally butchered putting one in a skirt and no one can tell but me.
I looooove Craftsy! 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing ‘the art of manliness’! The comments are too cute, lovin the guy sewing his own button back on to impress a date!!
I was one of those people, had dry cleaner sew them on for me! But I am a big girl and will accomplish this task! Lol!
Right after I graduated from high school I worked at an Express store.
One day a woman came in telling me she needed to return a sweater. I asked what was wrong with it and she tragically said “A button fell off!” In my naivete I just started at her for a moment (with a look on my face that I’m sure said “are you serious?”) before directing her to my manager to return the sweater. Her boyfriend was with her and said to me, “Well, what would you have done?” and I very frankly replied, “I would have sewed the button back on.” He looked at me like I was out of my mind!
I think I would have reacted the same way, Rachel.
I’ve picked up so many great garments for very little money at thrift stores because they’re missing a button, when an extra button is sewn into the side seam. Takes about 5 minutes to snip the button out and sew it in place.
Ah…Retail! *FACEPALM*
My grandmother ALWAYS had a piece of wax in her sewing basket just for ‘waxing-up” thread.
I just learned something today – run the thread over wax. I’m going to try this next time!
Thanks Jillian!
Jennifer
http://highlife.mymwalimu.org
Zippers here!! http://prudentbaby.com/2011/03/prudent-home/how-to-sew-a-zipper-pillow-2/
I’m a novice sewer but even I can add really lovely zippers using this method. Love your blog. Just bought my first dress at a Goodwill to try and refashion. I’m excited! 😀
Awesome! Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait to see how your new dress turns out!
I’m curious what was the “wrong” way that you sewed those buttons on the costume? After reading the blog, I’m wondering if I’ve been doing it wrong all these years??
I just kind of haphazardly stitched them down, only pulling the thread through once. Big fail.
Ok ok ok but what about button HOLES? I seriously avoid these like the plague because I have no idea how to even start one!
Ah! That’s a great idea for another post!!! 🙂
Dana Willard from Made has several great tutorials for button holes. Makes them much less intimidating
Great idea for a post! So many people think there’s magic involved, but it’s like anything else – knowledge and practice, and with everything on the internet these days, the knowledge is very accessible.
You can also use dental floss to sew on buttons….the waxed kind….it is especially good for heavy buttons where you would use heavier thread
as for zippers….I found if you hand baste them in place instead of trying to pin them in running them through the machine….you get a better result and dont have to rip them out and start over if you goof …..I HATE HATE hand sewing and would go out of my way to avoid it but hand basting a zipper doesn’t take but a minute…you use big stitches and they aren’t hard to remove…..
and I am a button FREAK….I LOVE how pretty buttons can totally change the whole look of a garment…..i have been known to buy a garment at a thrift store just for the buttons…cut of the buttons and junk the rest, lol! I also used to buy dresses at the thrifts just for the “Sarah Elizabeth” label because that is my daughter’s name…I would sew them to her refashioned stuff I made for her like purses etc….I would carefully remove the label and re-donate the dress back….
I buy clothes by the pound at second hand stores just for the buttons, zippers and other tabs and etc that come on clothes/ Much cheaper than buying them new, and the old vintage ones, esp heavy duty metal zippers are worth their weight in gold!
I’m also always on the lookout for fleece pullovers with a certain type of elastic cord and fastener around the waist. I remove them (after purchase of course) and use the cord and fasteners to make my sons’ shoes into slip on sneakers instead of ties. Both my boys are Autistic and tying shoes is a long, hard road, this allows them to wear “cool” shoes just like the other boys. And the fleece is still totally wearable, so I can redonate the fleece to be sold again!
Love the tip about the candle wax, It drives me absolutely mad when I am hand sewing and my thread tangles and it happens at any length. Will have to try this next time I sew something. Thanks 🙂
Methinks I need to get me some wax. Will likely save me lots of angry frustration. 🙂
I would say that this topic is what Refashionista is actually all about. So many people have no direct connection with their possessions including clothes or are so tied into the ‘rules’ of clothing and fashion and purchase that they believe they cannot be proactive. It’s easy to forget skills and the options we have. I took two pin tucks out if a top and now it fits me. A few years ago I would have passed it on. Taking control of our clothes, figuring out how to fix stuff is liberation.
Thank you so much! 🙂 When we really take care of what we own, we value it more…don’t you think?
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