A button loop is a thread shank you create by wrapping thread around the stitches holding your button
A button loop is a small loop of thread that sits between a button and the fabric, giving the button room to move when you fasten it. Instead of sewing the button flat against the cloth, you build a gap underneath using wrapped thread. This prevents the button from pulling the fabric tight and makes the garment easier to button and unbutton.
The loop takes about five minutes to sew by hand. You need thread that matches your button or fabric, a needle, scissors, and the button itself. The technique works on any garment — shirts, coats, dresses, or trousers — and is especially useful on heavier fabrics where a flat button would strain the cloth.
Key Takeaways
- A button loop is created by wrapping thread around the stitches that hold your button, creating a small gap between the button and fabric.
- You sew the button loosely at first, leaving space underneath, then wrap thread around those loose stitches to form the loop.
- The wrapping thread should be tight enough that the button cannot slide along the stitches, but loose enough that the button moves freely in the loop.
- A button loop prevents fabric from bunching under the button and makes fastening easier on thick or delicate materials.
Sew the button loosely with four or six stitches
Start by threading your needle and knotting the end. Push the needle up through the fabric from the underside, coming out at the spot where the button will sit. Place the button on top of the fabric where the needle came through.
Push the needle down through one hole of the button and back into the fabric. Bring the needle back up through the other hole (or the next hole if your button has four holes). Repeat this motion four to six times, going in and out of the same holes. Each time you stitch, leave a small gap — about the thickness of a toothpick — between the button and the fabric. Do not pull the thread tight; the button should sit slightly loose on top of the cloth.
After your final stitch, bring the needle up through the fabric but do not go through the button. You should now have four to six loose stitches running under the button, with the button sitting a little way above the fabric surface.
Wrap thread tightly around the stitches underneath the button
With your needle coming up from below the button (but not through it), begin wrapping the thread around the loose stitches. Wrap the thread around these stitches two or three times, pulling each wrap tight. The wrapping thread should sit in the gap between the button and the fabric, creating a small shank of thread.
After two or three tight wraps, push your needle back down through the fabric, right next to where the button sits. This anchors the wrapped thread in place. Bring the needle back up on the underside of the fabric and make two or three small stitches in the same spot to find the thread. Knot the thread on the underside and trim it close to the knot.
Check that the button moves freely in the loop
Once you have finished, the button should move slightly when you wiggle it, but it should not slide along the thread stitches. If the button is too tight, the wrapping thread may have been pulled too hard. If the button slides too much, you may not have wrapped enough times or pulled tight enough.
The button should sit in the loop with a small amount of play — enough that the fabric underneath does not bunch when you fasten the button, but not so much that the button feels loose or unstable. Test the button by fastening and unfastening it a few times. It should feel smooth and should not pull the fabric.
Use a toothpick or matchstick to keep the gap even
If you find it hard to judge the right gap between the button and fabric, place a toothpick or wooden matchstick on top of the fabric before you sew. Sew the button over the toothpick, so the stitches go around it. The toothpick holds the button at the correct height. When you finish sewing, slide the toothpick out and wrap the thread as normal.
This method is especially helpful on small buttons or when you are sewing quickly. The toothpick removes the guesswork and ensures all your buttons have the same size loop.
Wrap with doubled thread for extra strength
On coats, heavy jackets, or buttons that will see a lot of use, use two strands of thread instead of one when you wrap the shank. Thread your needle with two lengths of thread knotted together at the end, or thread the needle and pull both ends through so you are working with a doubled strand.
Doubled thread wraps faster and creates a thicker, stronger shank that is less likely to break. The button will also sit more securely in the loop. This is worth the extra step on garments that will be buttoned and unbuttoned many times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my button has four holes instead of two?
Sew through all four holes in a pattern — either an X or two parallel lines — using the same loose-stitch method. You will have more thread running under the button, which creates a thicker shank. Wrap around all these stitches the same way you would with a two-hole button.
Can I use a button loop on a shank button?
No. A shank button already has a metal or plastic loop built into the back, so it sits away from the fabric on its own. You sew a shank button by stitching through the loop, not through holes in the face of the button. A thread loop is only needed for flat buttons with holes.
How tight should the wrapping thread be?
Wrap tightly enough that the button cannot slide along the stitches underneath, but loosely enough that the button moves freely inside the loop when you wiggle it. If you pull so hard the thread digs into the button, you have wrapped too tight. The button should feel stable but not rigid.
What happens if the thread loop breaks?
The button will sit flat against the fabric again and may pull the cloth when you fasten it. You can re-wrap the existing stitches with new thread, or remove the button entirely and sew it again with a fresh loop. Either way, the repair takes only a few minutes.