How do I sew a button on a knitted garment?

[MommaMoo]

Sheesh, this is driving me nuts. I can't find an explanation or a tutorial ANYWHERE for how to do this. Not online or in any of my knitting books. I finished a cardigan a long time ago, and every method I tried for attaching the buttons (shank) left them loose and precariously close to falling off, no matter how tightly I tried to get them on. Anyway, now I have a soaker that I need to attach buttons to, and I'm in the same predicament. I'm using small buttons with 2 holes. Do I use sewing thread or yarn? How do I knot the thread or yarn, since knots always seem to come loose? Is there a tutorial for this online, or is it explained in a book anywhere? Button sewing is so simple to do on regular fabric, but I can't figure out how to do it on knitted items.

[Jude-a-buddies-mom]

I don't know what the proper way is but I have just used yarn before and knotted it really tight and it held up okay. I have heard some people say they use thread and I'm not sure either how they knot it. Hopefully someone wiser than I can answer your question because I am also curious to know what the best way is.

[blazfglori]

I use yarn as well.

[MommaMoo]

I used yarn for my last project, and the knots always came loose. I called Theresa from Little Turtle Knits because the pattern I'm working on is her ribby wrap. She said she uses embroidery thread and ties it really tight. I think I'll try that. Thanks for the replies!

[JoyfullySubversive]

With needle and thread?











ETA: So, do I win anything?

[Kyamo]

I usually use thread, not yarn, because any needle small enough to go through the hole in my button I can't possibly thread with yarn. I have used 1 ply of the yarn before though.

I knot it by wrapping the thread around my pointer finger 3ish times, near the first joint. Then I roll the wraps off with my thumb, so the wraps get all twisted around each other. Then just pinch the thread loosely and slide your pinch towards the knot end, keep going once you hit the loops, until the loops tighten up into a loopy knot. Then I just sew on the button exactly as I would for normal fabric, although I am careful that I'm going around several strands of yarn in the knitting, or even through them, as if you're only anchored on one little strand of yarn, it would pull and get loose.

This is how I knot the thread for sewing buttons on fabric too, or any handsewing.

[MommaMoo]

Originally Posted by Kyamo

I usually use thread, not yarn, because any needle small enough to go through the hole in my button I can't possibly thread with yarn. I have used 1 ply of the yarn before though.

I knot it by wrapping the thread around my pointer finger 3ish times, near the first joint. Then I roll the wraps off with my thumb, so the wraps get all twisted around each other. Then just pinch the thread loosely and slide your pinch towards the knot end, keep going once you hit the loops, until the loops tighten up into a loopy knot. Then I just sew on the button exactly as I would for normal fabric, although I am careful that I'm going around several strands of yarn in the knitting, or even through them, as if you're only anchored on one little strand of yarn, it would pull and get loose.

This is how I knot the thread for sewing buttons on fabric too, or any handsewing.

Thanks for that info! I needed a more precise description.