1. STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS Basic Hand Sewing

2. Thread the Needle If you like, you can double the thread to make this job quicker. Simply pull it through the needle so that there is an equal length of thread extending from both sides.

3. Tie a knot at the end of the thread. One way to tie a knot is to wrap the thread around your finger as shown,roll the thread between your fingers, and pull it tight. If you doubled the thread, tie the ends together. Leave a long tail of thread, whether you are doubling the thread or using a single thread to sew the button

4. Position the button. Line the button up with the other buttons on the garment.

5. Push the needle through Push the threaded needle up through the fabric and through one hole in the button. Pull the thread all the way through on each stitch.

6. Place a pin under the center of the button hold it there until the next stitch helps keep it in place. When the pin is withdrawn later, it will allow the slack necessary to create a "shank" so that there will be space between behind the button for the material that will need to go there when the garment is buttoned.

7. Button with stitching in an X. On a 4-hole button choose the one diagonal to the first hole if you want the threads to cross in an "X" formation.

8. Button with parallel thread pattern If you want two parallel lines of thread showing, choose the next hole that is opposite the first

9. Bring the needle up through the fabric and button. Bring the needle up through the first hole (for a 2-hole button) or a new hole (for a 4-hole button) and pull the thread all the way through the fabric

10. Push the needle through the next hole Still holding the pin in place, pull the thread all the way through. Once that is done, the pin will be kept in place by the thread. In this photo, the button was lifted up to show what's going where, but it's best to hold the button in place so it does not move.

11. Repeat the sewing process Repeat the sewing process enough times to make sure the button is securely in place. On 4-hole buttons, make sure that the stitches have been made evenly, so that all four holes are equally used.

12. Come up between the fabric and the button. On the last stitch, push the needle through the material, but not through a hole in the button.

13. Go between the button and material Pull the thread out into the area between button and material, remove the pin and pull up the button a little.

14. Wrap the thread around the "shank". Wrap the thread six times around the thread between the button and the material to reinforce the shank you have created.

15. Back down through the material Push the needle back down through the material.

16. Back stitch to tie off the thread Make three or fourbackstitches to secure the threadbackstitches

17. Cut off the excess Trim the excess thread

18. Basting stitch Similar to a running stitch with very long stitches. Used as a flexible alternative for pinning and for gathering, it can be pulled out easily.

19. Running stitch A simple stitch used for gathering seams Should create a dotted line http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uDlK7dOc5s&safety_mode =true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uDlK7dOc5s&safety_mode =true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

20. Back stitch A very strong stitch used to repair seams. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEohtXIoOww&safety_mod e=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEohtXIoOww&safety_mod e=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

21. Overcast stitch A very strong tough stitch to put two edges together, mostly to prevent fraying

22. Whip stitch A basic over-and-over stitch can be used to form a hem or seam

23. Blanket stitch Insert the needle pull the thread through most of the way, and then put your needle through the loop from the back to the front. Insert the needle to the left of your last stitch and repeat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QQovb4SGyo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJht13Bcw-U

24. French knot

25. Pin cushion options

26. References http://www.wikihow.com/Sew-a-Button Video Clips http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg0pfdIRBgw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrSs_DiJ-ZA [[Image:Sew_button_1.jpg|thumb|description]]