How to sew a button on a coat

Hand sewing a button on a coat is a crucial skill many sewing enthusiasts learn as beginners.

But using your sewing machine to sew buttons is an excellent way to save time, get a clean and professional finish, and avoid poking your fingertips with a sewing needle.

Whether you're replacing a worn-out button or adding new coat buttons, you'll start by identifying the type of button you'll use.

The most common garment buttons are two-hole, four-hole, and shank buttons.

Two- and four-hole buttons are easiest to sew with the accessories that come with most sewing machines.

What materials and tools do I need?

Start by gathering the materials and tools for your button sewing project.

Materials

• Buttons: Make sure you have enough buttons for the whole coat. Check if you'll need buttons for the sleeves or closure.
• Strong thread: If you're going through a thick winter coat or wool coat, you'll need sturdy button thread so it doesn't break in your machine.
• Interfacing: When you want to add stability to your button, a small patch of interfacing on the opposite side of the fabric is a quick and easy fix. This step is optional, depending on your project.

Tools

• Sewing machine: Any machine that can do a zigzag stitch will work, but some sophisticated machines have special button sewing settings.
• Button sewing foot: Most machines have a basic button foot, but you can also upgrade to a button foot with a built-in shank spacer.
• Feed dogs cover plate: Most sewing machines come with this accessory, which is easy to attach.
• Scissors: Thread snips, shears, or embroidery scissors work perfectly.
• Double stick or masking tape: Any craft or scrapbooking tape will work.

How long does it take to sew a button on a coat?

Once you set up your sewing machine, sewing a button on a coat is very quick.

You can sew a two-hole button in under a minute and a four-hole button in a little over a minute.

Sewing all of the buttons on a coat will take less than half an hour.

A step-by-step guide to sew a button on a coat

In this sewing tutorial, we'll cover how to sew on a button with two holes.

If you have a four-hole button, repeat the steps for the remaining holes.

1. Set up your sewing foot

Attach the Button Sewing Foot M to your sewing machine.

The textured part of the foot (the part with the wide opening) should face toward you. The small nubs on the bottom of the foot will help hold the button in place.

Lower the feed dogs (if your machine has that functionality).

If your machine doesn't offer moveable feed dogs, attach the feed dogs cover plate to keep the coat's fabric from advancing as you sew.

2. Prepare the coat and button

Using a tiny piece of double-sided tape or masking tape, temporarily stick the button back to the coat to keep it position for sewing.

Position the button so both holes sit in the opening on the front of the button-sewing foot.

If you're concerned about the button pulling the fabric during use, add a small piece of interfacing to the wrong side of the coat for stability.

3. Select the right settings for your button

Set your machine to a zigzag stitch.

Hand lower the unthreaded needle with your machine's wheel until it enters one of the button holes.

Continue turning the wheel slowly to ensure the needle is lined up to go into the second hole.

If the spacing isn't quite correct, you may need to adjust which zigzag stitch you use.

If your machine lets you change the stitch width, adjust the width to suit the distance between buttonholes.

4. Sew your button in place

Once you're sure you have the correct size stitch and the button is correctly positioned, thread the eye of the needle with sturdy sewing thread.

Leave a couple of inches of tail at the end of the thread.

Slowly start sewing your button into place.

The needle should go back and forth between your buttonholes.

Sew at least five or six stitches to secure the button.

Switch to a left-side needle position for a straight stitch and sew a couple of stitches to keep the thread from unraveling.

5. Check your work and repeat

Lift the presser foot and check your work.

Ensure the button feels securely attached, then trim the excess thread.

If your button has four holes, repeat Step 4 to sew the remaining holes.

Repeat Steps 2 through 5 for each button if you have more buttons to sew.

Successful DIY button sewing

The basic button sewing foot that comes with most sewing machines will sew your button flat against the fabric of your coat.

If your coat is thick and a flat button is too tight against the fabric, you may need to sew the buttons on with some extra space for flexibility.

You can use a Shank Style Button Sewing Foot or add a spacer below your button as you sew.

A quilting bar or a few pins between the button and the coat will give you just enough space for a loose stitch.

Congrats! You now have the skills to replace old coat buttons, use spare buttons, and dress up any coat with a pop of style.