How to Sew a Shaft Button

A shaft or shank button is often the best choice for a jacket, dress or blouse. Rather than being flat, it's a rounded button attached to a shank, which stands out from the fabric once it's sewn in place. You can even make your own thread shank when you attach a flat button if you need a little space between the fabric and the button back.

Things You'll Need

• Shaft buttons
• Hand sewing needle
• All-purpose sewing thread
• Small pieces of felt or small, clear, flat buttons (optional)
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Mark your fabric for the proper button placement using a straight pin or a fabric marker.

2. Thread your needle, and knot the ends together to form a double strand of thread. All-purpose thread is suitable, but you may want to use a heavier button thread if you're sewing buttons on a heavy jacket that will receive a lot of wear.

3. Take two small stitches at the button placement marking, from the right side of the fabric, to secure your thread.

4. Center the button over the placement mark, and bring the needle up through the shaft. Working from the front of the garment, take a stitch in the fabric. Go back under the shaft to the other side, remaining close to the original mark.

5. Sew about four stitches, continuing to go over and then under the shaft. Secure the thread under the button by taking a few small stitches, tying a knot and cutting off the thread.

Tips & Warnings

• You may choose to use a small, round piece of felt or a small, flat, clear button on the underside of your garment to help protect the garment and prevent the shaft from sticking through the fabric. If you choose this option, hold it on the underside, and sew it in place as you sew on the shaft button.

• If you don't have a shank button, but need a shank for it to look right, you can make one from thread. Place a straight pin underneath a flat button, and sew it on as you normally would. Remove the pin, and wind your thread around the thread shank several times before you knot it off.