I was tired of how crummy and “homemade” my hand sewn buttons were looking when I realized I could just sew the buttons on with my machine. Yes!
OK, maybe some of you are smart and figured out this trick a long time ago, but for those of you who are as clueless as I was, here is an easy way to sew on neat, tidy, and professional looking buttons with the sewing machine!
Using the zig zag stitch and removing the presser foot.
What a time saver this was for me!
And look how nice the buttons look from the backside! Much nicer than my usual messy hand sewn buttons.
Before you set up your zig zag stitch to sew your buttons down, set your straight stitch to zero length, which means the needle will stay in place and not go forward. Sew one or two stitches and then do a backstitch to lock the thread. Now you can continue with the sewing of your buttonholes. Do the same thing once you are done sewing the buttonhole to lock the thread and keep the buttons from unraveling off.
A little dress design I’ve been working on in chambray, my fabric obsession of the moment, based on a 1940’s pinny dress.
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Ooh…I love the dress you’re making! I’ve never done buttonholes on the machine. Now I’m gonna have a complex about how they look on the inside!! Rofl Justine….alright, fine. I’ll try it! 🙂
I don’t think I am smart but yes I have been using a machine to apply my buttons for at least twenty years. My last two machines have a button to push for sewing buttons. I love the beginning of your dress. Perfect choice in buttons.
My machine has an option to sew buttons on for me, which I use, but now that I think about it–it’s basically the zig-zag stitch! My machine came with a button foot too, which holds the button down and in place.
Mmmm I knew you could sew a button with a machine but I’ve never done it. Don’t ask why, I like to sew mine by hand, and besides, I guess i never tried the machine because I’m always too scared to brake another needle. lol
Love this dress! I must try out this buttonhole method
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Great tutorial!! This is my preferred method for sewing buttons. When I sew them down by hand, they always end up slipping a little bit during the sewing. I’ve linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip here:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-sewing-buttons-down-by-machine/2013/08/31/
–Anne
I use the button stitch on my machine all of the time, but I never thought to use just a zig zag stitch, hahah! genius!
I don’t have a button stitch this was really helpful- I’m going to give it a go!
que preciosidad de botones
http://mandarinacosturera.blogspot.com.es/
Thank you for the tutorial. I would have never thought to do this myself.
What a great trick. Love it! Thank you so much!
Love the little girls chambray blue dress.