Stitches

A question for those who crochet or knit clothing?

How do you secure buttons (with regular sewing thread) to an article of knitted or crocheted clothing? How do you secure thread to yarn? Is there another way to do it? The reason I cam asking is because it seems like it would be easy for the thread to come loose from the yarn. Thread--or even a few strands of yarn--would be thinner than the yarn and I would think it would come un-weaved from the yarn easier.

Public Comments

1. is this a trick question? super glue or staples. real answer... sew it.
2. Just double your thread or use buttonhole twist and sew on as you normally would. If they are large buttons, you can put small ones on the back of the fabric for support and to keep the thread from pulling through.
3. The correct thread to sew on buttons to knitting or crochet is with the same yarn that is is made from. If the yarn is very thick you can split the strands lengthways and use part of it. Apparently you will lose points when you "show" your work if you use sewing thread to sew on buttons. I just stitch the button on the same way that you would sew buttons on fabric but leave a long thread at the beginning. When I have finished I simply sew the ends into the back of the article so that they cannot be seen. I rarely lose buttons with this method.
4. Sewing a button with regular sewing thread may eventually cut the yarn, since the thread is so thin. Try using a strand or two of your yarn, the same you used to knit or crochet your item. I saw a blanket once, and am supposed to repair it. How, I don't know, since the lady who made it joined the squares with regular sewing thread. After many washings, the thread eventually cut through some of the yarn, and just unraveled in other places. It's a mess, but I'm going to try it. Use the same yarn you made the piece with, and you'll have no regrets! Hope this helps!
5. I use embroidery floss or perle cotton in a color to match the button. I also use a second, flat button, especially if the decorative button for the outside has a shank, and put the flat button on the inside of the garment and sew the buttons on together through the knitting, trying to be careful to go around rather than through the yarns. If the thread is doubled and knotted, your first stitch then goes through the doubled yarn just above the knot and not into the yarn itself. The inside flat button helps to keep the outer button from pulling the yarn out of shape. My buttons stay on quite well with this method and don't cut the yarn.