How to Sew a Button on a Suit

Co-authored by Maudy Paden

Last Updated: April 1, 2024

If your suit is missing a button, don't worry! In this article, we'll explain the easiest way to sew a missing button back on so your suit looks perfect again. Keep reading for our complete guide!

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Make sure the button is the right shape, length and colour. If a button has just fallen off, you can sew it back on again. If you can't find the missing button, choose a button matches the others.^{[1]
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Use a light pen or pencil. Mark a cross about three quarters of the size of your button.^{[2]
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Find something the same colour as the suit. Also make sure that it is the same thickness as the rest of the thread on the suit.

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How do I make sure the button doesn't fall off?

Maudy Paden
Sewing & Tailoring Expert
Maudy Paden is a Sewing & Alterations Specialist based in Sarasota, Florida. She provides a tailoring concierge service, where she offers in home/office fittings and pick up/delivery for alterations. She has over 30 years of sewing experience. Before starting her business in Florida, she ran her clothing alteration shop for 14 years in Vermilion, Ohio. Maudy has a wide tailoring repertoire; wedding dressings, formalwear, suiting, professional clothing, off-the-rack, ready-to-wear, clothing repairs, and patches all fit her skill set. In all her work, she follows the high-quality standard outlined by the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals. She received an MA in Lay Ministry at Trinity Lutheran Seminary and a BA in Religious Studies from Wittenberg University.

Maudy Paden

Sewing & Tailoring Expert

Expert Answer

To sew a button securely onto a piece of clothing, position it where desired and thread the needle, bringing it up through one of the buttonholes from underneath the fabric. Decide whether to sew parallel lines or create a crossed pattern over the button. Opting for efficiency, consider using four strands of thread on the needle, allowing you to sew through all four buttonholes simultaneously. Once all holes are sewn through, ensure the threads are tight and secure, then tie a knot on the underside of the fabric to finish. This method ensures the button stays firmly attached and reduces the likelihood of it coming loose over time.

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Question

How do I sew a button on a post?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

Buttons on a post cannot be sewn back on. Most post buttons are a form of rivet that is mechanically punched through the fabric. Putting in a replacement requires a new rivet or repair adjustment of the hole in order to sew on a regular button. Check with a local tailor for help.

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