Buttons.....

if ya'd asked i'da told ya that, Sunny. i've been sewing buttons on with the zigzag forever. i dont do it any other way now. takes too long by hand and its not really fun so why do them by hand. tis but a necessary evil at any rate, eh. j.

"Sunny" wrote... Why didn't somebody tell me ages ago that I could attach buttons with a sewing machine? I just attached 18 buttons to my new advent calendar (yes, I know it's going to be a tiny bit late, but better late than never) in about 20 minutes.

SEwing buttons is one of my buggaboos. I've been known to throw away a shirt because it needed a button or two. Putting on a button by hand takes a long, long time and many finger sticks and many dropped needles and buttons and probably knots where they don't belong so starting over and then realizing the button is in slightly the wrong place. Well, my trust little sewing machine put those suckers on in a whiz. Yay!

Sunny

Yeah, tis the ONLY way I can do them.and I can even sew one on with a 'shaft' by hand turning the flywheel. For the longest time, I would send said objects to my sis to sew buttons on...cause my hands refuse to do it. Then my "Aunt" told me she did hers by machine...and that was the last of the 'hard way' for me. I'm tickled for you, Sunny. bet it made your day : )

Butterfly

I sew my buttons on by hand. With my dumb luck, I'd break a needle trying to do it by machine ;)

G> Why didn't somebody tell me ages ago that I could attach buttons with

I'll add to your happiness by telling you that it's even easier if you use a glue stick to get the buttons to stay where you want them. That's assuming the item to which you sew the buttons will be washed or cleaned. I got so tired of trying to hold a button in just the right place with my fingers that I finally tried a glue stick and it works a charm :-). Too often I have held the button right where I want it, lowered the needle into the hole and then had the button sort of "squirt" away before I could get the needle set properly -- VBS!! Glue stick to the rescue -- LOLOL! OH -- another FYI when sewing buttons to garments that hare heavy. You need to be sure that you leave a bit of "play" in the thread that holds the button on. When you put it through a buttonhole in heavy fabric, the button won't sit right if it's sewn too tightly to the fabric. I usually put a large hand sewing needle (like a darner) under the button and then carefully sew the button on. You need to go slowly doing this but it sure makes the finished project look much nicer and more professional :-). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

You know, I instantly grasped the value of using a glue stick, lol. I may be slow but I'm not stupid. A little squidge of that glue stick and the button no longer wriggled all over the place. Nice, nice, nice.

But thanks for the suggestion. There might be somebody out there who won't admit they are just as ..... um, delayed.... as I am and could use the advice.

Sunny

Ginger, when I realized I had 50 buttons to sew on this calendar (don't ask, it was a stupid thing to get myself into -- why can't I ever, ever just do a project the way it's intended) I just sort of thought of tossing the whole thing. Then I started looking online. Duh.

Broken needles I could handle, but 50 buttons by hand would just finish me off.

Hugs, Sunny

Me too, Ginger! I've had a machine that would do it for years, but have never 'trusted' any of them!! . In message , Ginger in CA writes

*Sewing* them on doesn't worry me, but I will NEVER do covered buttons myself again if I need more than a coupe or three for a hat! I still have nightmares about covering 70 buttons in thick wool fabric for a bridal project...

gluestick? now i gotta go find a gluestick among the chaos that is my sewing stuff. eeeeeeeeeeek thank goodness i dont do that many buttons to be bothered, eh. j.

"Sunny" wrote... You know, I instantly grasped the value of using a glue stick, lol. I may be slow but I'm not stupid. A little squidge of that glue stick and the button no longer wriggled all over the place. Nice, nice, nice.

But thanks for the suggestion. There might be somebody out there who won't admit they are just as ..... um, delayed.... as I am and could use the advice.

Sunny

What is up with that? Used to be you could get those handy button forms that were easy to pad and clipped shut holding the fabric in very permanently. I used to buy those by the gross, then last time I ran out they were just gone. The shop I used to get them from had closed, but something as nice as that I expected to be able to find again.

It's like button pins and dior chains. I have some older ladies who come to me because I not only know what they are, but I am willing to use them. Now I am wildly improvising because I cannot find them at any shop, brick and morter or online.

NightMist

On Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:06:05 -0500, Tia Mary wrote: some clipping occured here:

Out of a sewing machine not worth rescuing (truly), I picked through the notions box. I found this mysterious thingy and only later went back and pulled it out having read through the booklet to find out if there were any good tips.

The thingy fits under the button when you sew the button on by machine to make a shaft for you - there are even two different thicknesses.

Very clever.

Hanne > Yeah, tis the ONLY way I can do them.and I can even sew one on with a

I have used a toothpick but the ones I have are too fat, at least for the way I like sewing buttons to heavy fabric. I have a darner the is just the right size -- at least to me :-). When I have to use the needle, you can bet I am **very** careful and I have the option of setting the speed on my machine so it's always on slow for this type of button sewing! It's a great option and I am glad you thought to post for those who don't like the idea of using a needle :-))). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

I am sure my two machines would do it if I asked. But by the time one is brought out and set up, I would have the button on if done by hand ;) Besides, sewing them on by hand kinda reminds me of my mother sitting with her mending kit at night, darning and sewing.

I have been lucky enough to get most of my mother's buttons left when she passed [including my father's US Navy dress buttons], and also the buttons from a good friend's grandmother, and picked up a third batch from a lady clearing out her mother's estate nearby. So, I may have the button you're looking for!

G> Me too, Ginger! =A0I've had a machine that would do it for years, but hav= e

my dumb luck, I'd break a needle

I use a piece of "Scotch" (TM) tape to hold the button where I want it. It peels off easily.

A round wooden toothpick works nicely, too, to give that extra thread under the button.

Julia in MN

Next time you're grocery shopping, pick up a box of flat toothpicks. They work much better than the round ones for button sewing. One little box should last you at least a hundred years or more. Polly

"Tia Mary" I have used a toothpick but the ones I have are too fat, at least

So you are NO DUMMY, after all ; ) If you hadn't found the answer with Mr. Google you could always have asked us. Remember the only stupid question is the one that isn't asked. What is wrong with adding YOUR own touch to a project? First one I followed strictly according to directions ended up 'being OFF" enuf that I HAD to re-do the maple leaf stems on ALL of them and there wasn't ANY EXTRA fabric. I was NOT amused.

Now, I for one can not wait to see your finished Advent calendar. I've never made one.

Butterfly (Bought 'em, yes, but not made 'em)