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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Bring the needle up between the garment and button. |
Wrap the thread around the sewing, creating a shank.
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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.
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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.
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Knot the thread. |
Now you can snip the thread and you’re done!
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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.
