How to Sew on a Four or Two Hole Button by Hand

I love buttons, all kinds of different colors and shapes of buttons. I like all the different buttons, like a four or a two hole button, and also shank buttons. There are many different types of buttons, I have lot of different buttons in my button jar. I have some decorative buttons that are shaped like palm trees and flip flops. And some strawberry shaped buttons, and more. My Hobby Lobby has button jars you can buy, that already are full of all kinds of different buttons.

In this post I’ll show you how to sew on a two-hole button, a four-hole button and also a shank button, these are probably the most common types of buttons. Okay, you understand what the first two buttons are, but what’s a shank button. Well you know how most regular buttons are flat buttons. A shank button isn’t flat. It has two part, the top part of the button. And a little ring, I guess you would call it, on the back of the button. The ring is what the thread goes through to attach the button to the fabric. And it helps the button to have a little more room between the fabrics. So, that make it good to use for thicker fabrics like wool.

There are also more types of buttons. There’s snap buttons, both sew-on and open ring prong snap buttons. A lot of times I’ll use sew-on snaps for the closures on the doll clothes I make. Sometimes I’ll even use a small button for decoration on the front of the outfit. Usually the outfits have the closures in the back, but sometimes a row of small sew-through buttons on the front adds a classic look to the dress or top.

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More about buttons

But, how do you know, what type of button to use? You can usually use whatever type of button you want of your project. If you’re following a sewing pattern, it’ll tell you what kind of button to use or suggestions for button. Sometimes I’ll follow the pattern with the buttons they suggest or I’ll use the buttons I prefer. A lot of time with the doll clothes I’ll use the buttons I like for them, small sew-on snaps.

And sometimes you just need a pretty unique button for decorative purposes.

But, sometimes you’ll need to sew on a replacement button when the old stitching gives way. So, you need to use a new button that matches as close as it can to the other buttons, if you can’t find the original button. Because if the missing buttons are sew through buttons. And the holes are already there you can’t use snap buttons for the missing buttons. Even if the button you have to use is not the exact same color of buttons already on the shirt, as long as it’s the same kind of button it’ll work. And sometimes when you buy dress shirts they may come with a spare button on the tag.

Sewing a button is a really important thing to learn in your sewing journey. And the sewing method for sewing on buttons is very simple.

What about the size of buttons you can use. The size you use is also up to you. Of course you won’t use a large button on a small doll outfit, or a super small button for a larger piece of clothing. But, a lot of the time you can choose between a couple different sizes of button.

You may be wondering what kind of thread you use to sew on a button. I use just regular thread, but you can use a heavy-duty or button thread if you prefer. But, I use doubled-over thread, so to me it’s strong enough. The length of thread you cut is up to you. I never measure it when I cut the thread, but it really doesn’t take much thread to sew on a button. Also, when you go to thread your needle a needle threader can make it easier to thread the needle.

Sometimes sewing kits buttons depending on the kit. I also like to keep a few extra buttons around, so if a sewing project I’m working on loses a button and I can’t find it, I’ll have a extra one for it.

2-hole button

I’m going to show you the best way I know to sew on a button. The first button we’re going to sew on is a two-hole button. We’re going to be hand sewing buttons on. I’m pretty sure that you can use a sewing machine to also sew on buttons with a button foot. But, I like to hand sew all my buttons on, that’s my preferred method for sewing on buttons.

Okay, let’s get started sewing buttons. It’s a real simple skill to learn with just a couple of basic steps.

1. The first thing you do is thread the eye of the needle. And knot the ends of the thread together.

2. Mark the spot you want the button with a straight pin, a pencil or a fabric marking pen.

3. Take the threaded needle and stitch a little x where the pencil marks are.

4. Place the button on the x and bring the needle up for the back of the fabric and through one of the button holes.

5. Push the needle down through the other hole and before you tighten the thread slide a toothpick under the thread. That makes the first loop.

6. Stitch through the button holes two more times.

7. Bring the needle to the right side of the fabric under the button and don’t go through the holes.

8. Remove the toothpick and wrap the thread under the button around the thread four times. Push the needle back to the wrong side of the fabric and tie off the thread.

There you now have sewn a two hole button. Sewing on a button really is a easy task.

4-hole button

You’ve learned how to stitch 2 hole button. Now we’re going to be sewing on a four-hole button. It’s basically the same as sewing on a two-hole button, but there are a couple of differences.

1. Thread your needle and knot the end of the thread.

2. Like the 2-hole button mark where you want the button to be.

3. For the first stitch, sew a little x on the mark.

4. Place the button on the x, and come up through one of the holes in the button. Go through the hole that’s diagonal from the hole you just went through and place a toothpick under the thread on top of the button.

5. Push the needle from the backside of the fabric through one of the remaining holes. And go through the last hole that hasn’t been stitched. See how that creates a x-shape with the thread.

6. You’ll now push the needle through the first button hole you went through in step 4, and repeat steps 4 and 5 stitching over the toothpick, two more times to secure the button.

7. From the back of the fabric push the needle up to the front side of the fabric under the button, but don’t go through the button.

8. Remove the toothpick and wrap the thread around the button four times.

9. Now take the needle and go back to the back of the fabric and tie off the thread.

Now you know how to stitch on a 2-hole and a 4-hole button.

Shank button

With a shank button you don’t have to use a toothpick or wrap the thread around. Because this button already has a shank on it so you don’t need to make a thread shank.

1. Thread the needle and knot the end of your thread.

2. The next step is to mark the fabric where you would like the button, like with the other buttons.

3. Stitch a small x on the mark.

4. And place the ring of the shank button on mark and bring the needle up to the right side of the garment. Pass the needle through the shank ring.

5. Now run the needle through the fabric under the ring and pull the needle through. You need to stitch through the shank ring 3 or 4 times.

6. Bring the needle to the backside of the fabric and tie off the thread and cut out the excess thread.

There you have it, how to sew on three different buttons. You really don’t need to know a lot of different sewing techniques to sew on a button. And you can sew on a button the easy way in just a few simple steps.

Of course to me there’s no wrong or right way to sew on a button. Everybody does it different, I’m just showing you what to me is the simple way for sewing on a button. I hope this helps you with sewing on buttons.