Sew a Button on a Bag
Is your favorite handbag falling apart? Want to embellish a plain clutch to make it perfect for evening wear? Buttons can solve a number of function or design needs in just a matter of minutes. Whether your handbag is made of leather, vinyl, canvas or cloth, you're only limited by your imagination when it comes to adding buttons. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Decide on the location of the button. If you are simply replacing a button, the location is already determined, but if you are embellishing with new buttons, especially if they are just for decoration, the options are limitless. Choose your button or buttons and arrange them on the bag or clutch to decide on placement.
2. Mark the location of each button with a fabric marker. Depending upon the type of button used, either mark through the button holes or directly beneath the button. Marking placement helps keep the button centered.
3. Cut at least 3 feet of thread from the spool. Thread the needle, pulling the thread through until both ends are even. Knot both strands of thread together, creating a double strand of thread. Make a double or triple knot to help hold the thread in place by making another knot over the original knot.
4. Begin on the back side of the button location. Push the needle up through the first anchor point, but don't pull it through all the way just yet. Place the button over the needle and make sure that the button will be centered correctly. If not, pull the needle back through the material. Hold the button in place and push the needle up through the fabric and the button.
5. Work from one hole to its adjacent hole (on a 4-holed button) or in an "X" pattern, coming up through the first hole, down through the bottom hole on the other side, up through the top hole on that side and down through the last hole. Repeat this process at least 5 to 6 times for a secure hold. For two-holed buttons, come up through the bottom first, then down through the opposite hole, and repeat at least 7 times.
6. Sew on shaft buttons (solid buttons with a connecting loop on the back) by pushing the needle up from the bottom side of the material, bringing it through the loop, and then back down very close to the first point. Repeat this process at least 10 to 12 times.
7. Finish sewing on the button by pushing the needle down through the bottom side and pulling the thread through. Slip the needle under several of the formed stitches, and pull the remaining thread almost through completely, inserting the needle through the loop formed by the thread. Pull it tight, creating a knot, then cut off the excess thread.
Tags: down through, least times, needle through, through bottom, bottom side, button location, down through bottom