Sewing a shank button is different from a common shirt button as it does not have holes in the top side, instead it has a loop on the back. This loop is either made of metal or plastic, however it is better to have a metal loop as it is a little stronger. The shank buttons are generally used on jackets, jeans, coats, or garment with thick fabrics as shank keeps the button up from the surface of fabric for buttoning of thick fabric. Let’s learn how to sew a shank button.
Let's see what things you will need:
- Sewing needle
- Scissors
- Thread
- Shank button
Follow the following steps to sew a shank button.
1. First step is to find the right button. In case you have the originally button, that would be the best. However, if you lost the button or broke it, you need to find a replacement button. The button for the garment should either resembles the previous buttons or compliment the colour of fabric. Remember to check your garment for replacement buttons as they are usually attached with the care label or sewn inside it. Alternatively, you might want to replace all the buttons in your garment to match the new one.
2. Find the point for sewing the button. This can be easily spottable from the old stitching. In case you cannot see old stitching, measure the distance between buttons or compare with the hole to ensure the correct position. Mark the point with pencil or chalk.
3. Take a strong sturdier needle and thread it with a 60 cm long thread, double the thread and knot the end. Choose a slightly sturdier thread as the fabric might be thicker.
4. Centre the button carefully and correctly and start the needling from inside of the garment while staying underneath the button passing it through the shank.
5. Carefully and correctly centre the button and then pull the needle back into the fabric ensuring the button is sitting at its correct place.
6. Repeat the process several times until you feel the button is secured. Make sure the button should not be too tight for fabric as it may damage it.
8. Cut off the extra thread and the garment is ready to be buttoned up!
7. In the end, secure the end of the thread by passing the needle under the stitches at the back of the fabric a few times and finish it off by pulling the needle through a final loop.