You need thread, a needle, and the button itself
Sewing a button back on takes about five minutes and costs almost nothing. You thread a needle, push it through the button holes and the fabric underneath, tie it off, and you are done. The button will hold as long as the original one did — longer, if you use thread that matches the fabric rather than the button.
You do not need a sewing machine. A single needle and thread, knotted at one end, is all the equipment that matters. The hardest part is usually finding the button you lost, or picking a replacement that looks close enough.
Key Takeaways
- Thread a needle, tie a knot at the end, and push it up through the fabric from the back so the knot stays hidden underneath.
- Push the needle through one hole in the button, across to the opposite hole, and back down through the fabric — repeat six to eight times until the button feels tight.
- Wrap the thread around the threads between the button and fabric two or three times to create a shank, then tie off on the back side.
- Use thread that matches your pants, not the button color, so repairs are less visible.
- A toothpick or matchstick placed under the button while you sew keeps the thread loose enough to wrap around later.
Thread your needle and knot the end
Cut about 18 inches of thread from the spool. If you have thread that matches your pants, use that — it will blend better than thread that matches the button. Pull the thread through the needle's eye until both ends are even, then tie a knot at one end by looping the thread back on itself and pulling tight.
You now have a single strand with a knot at the bottom. This knot will catch on the fabric and keep the thread from pulling all the way through when you start sewing.
Push the needle up through the fabric from behind
Find where the button should sit on your pants. From the back side of the fabric — the inside of the pants leg — push the needle up through the fabric and through one hole of the button. Pull the thread until the knot catches on the back of the fabric and stops.
The knot should now be hidden inside the pants, and the needle should be sticking out of the top hole of the button. If your button has four holes, pick the top-left hole to start; if it has two holes, either one works.
Sew back and forth through the button holes
Push the needle down through the opposite hole — if you went up through the top-left, go down through the bottom-right. Pull the thread all the way through until it is snug against the button, but do not pull so hard that you bend the button or pucker the fabric.
Push the needle back up through the first hole again. You are now sewing a diagonal line across the button. Repeat this back-and-forth motion six to eight times. Each pass should feel slightly tighter than the last, but the button should not be so tight that it cannot move at all.
If your button has four holes, after six passes through the first pair, switch to the other pair of holes and repeat three or four times. This distributes the stress and makes the button last longer.
Create a shank to keep the button from wearing through
A shank is a small gap between the button and the fabric. It prevents the thread from rubbing against the fabric and wearing through. To make one, place a toothpick or matchstick under the button before you start sewing — the thread will wrap around it instead of lying flat against the fabric.
If you forgot to use a toothpick, you can still create a shank after sewing. Push the needle up through the fabric but not through a button hole. Wrap the thread around the threads between the button and fabric two or three times, pulling gently so the wraps sit snug. This lifts the button slightly and creates the gap you need.
Tie off the thread on the back side
Push the needle down through the fabric one last time, but do not go through a button hole — go through the fabric only, an inch or so away from the button. Pull the thread snug.
On the back side of the pants, make a small loop with the thread and push the needle through it, then pull tight. Repeat this once more to create a knot that will not come undone. Trim the extra thread with scissors, and you are finished.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any thread, or does it have to match the pants?
Any thread will hold the button, but thread that matches your pants color will be less visible. If you do not have a match, dark thread on dark pants and light thread on light pants are both acceptable. Avoid thread that matches the button unless you want the repair to stand out.
What if the button has four holes instead of two?
Sew through one pair of opposite holes six times, then switch to the other pair and sew three or four times. This spreads the wear across all four holes and makes the button last longer than sewing through only one pair.
How tight should the thread be?
Pull snug enough that the button does not wiggle, but not so tight that you bend the button or pucker the fabric underneath. If the fabric bunches up around the button, you are pulling too hard — loosen it slightly and sew again.
What if I do not have a needle?
A sewing needle is cheap and available at any drugstore or fabric store. If you truly cannot find one, a safety pin or a straight pin from a sewing kit will work in a pinch, though it is harder to control and more likely to poke your finger.
Will the button stay on if I do not make a shank?
Yes, but it will wear out faster. The thread rubs directly against the fabric with every button and unbuttoning, which weakens it over time. A shank adds a month or two to the button's life with almost no extra effort.