Sewing Buttons on Knits

I am ready to sew a button on the Shalom Cardigan, so this tutorial is going to be handy.


What I like to do first is find the position for the button by closing the garment, lining up button band and buttonhole band just where I want 'em. Then, I mark the spot with my needle and thread by making a first stitch on the far side of the garment through the buttonhole.

Place the first stitch to get the button in the right spot.

You'll notice I've got my thread doubled and knotted at the far end. This makes sewing on the button faster (twice as strong with fewer passes!) and gives me an easy way to secure the first stitch, rather than having to make a knot. You instead attach the thread by looping the needle through the loop created by the doubled thread.

Secure the thread by pulling the needle through the doubled thread loop.

Now I’m ready for the button and slide it onto the needle and thread.

Slide the button into place.

(While I like these colors together, I chose them mainly for visibility; usually I match thread color closely to either the button or yarn color, depending on the desired effect.)
Now for the sewing: Go through the back of the button band, then back up and through the button three or four times, not too tightly. Make sure to go around both "legs" of one knit stitch to help your button lie flat and avoid pulling too much on one strand of yarn; this can distend your stitch

On the back of the button band, give your button a wide base to help it lie flat and to protect your knitted garment.

Tip: If you just can't avoid tightening up, try putting a toothpick or slim DPN or crochet hook between button and garment, then slip it out before the next step. The next step? Bring the needle back through the garment to the space between the garment and button.

Bring the needle up between the garment and button.

Wrap the thread around the sewing, creating a shank.

Wrap the thread around the "legs" created by your sewing.

Now pull the needle back down through the shank and wrap it around the shank crosswise. I like to do this three or four times to assure security.

Secure the thread around the shank.

Pull the thread to the back of the button band and tie a knot—again, I tend to wrap and knot a few times.

Knot the thread.

Now you can snip the thread and you’re done!

Finished and all buttoned up.

You shouldn’t have any buttons falling off your hand-knit garments again. You might still avoid buttons on some baby items, especially if the mom is the obsessive type—being a mom’s hard enough, and babies are pretty much cute as a proverbial button without the actual thing getting in the way.