Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • Sewing buttons on a quilt >
  • Sewing buttons on a quilt

  • Sewing buttons on a quilt

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 07-22-2014, 04:36 AM
      #1  
    Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Join Date: Jul 2014
    Posts: 4
    Default Sewing buttons on a quilt

    Hi! I'm new to the Quilting Board - and "sew" glad I found it!

    I just finished a quilt to be given to my mom as a gift and want to sew some buttons on it. I'm trying to decide if I should machine sew them on or hand sew them? I guess I'm hung up on if I machine sew them, then I'll see the threads on the back (does it really matter?). If I hand sew them, what is the best way to do this so you won't see the threads (needle size, length, etc).

    Thanks!
    oh2sew is offline  
    Old 07-22-2014, 04:45 AM
      #2  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Dec 2010
    Location: Michigan
    Posts: 3,334
    Default

    Well, if you're going to sew them on by hand you could hide the thread knots the same way you do when you are hand quilting. Make a small knot and put the needle into the top fabric about an inch away from where you want the button to be. Bring the thread out at the spot where you'll put the button and pull the knot into the fabric.... it's kinda scary the first time you do it but if your knot isn't big it will pop inside the quilt pretty easily. Then, you'll want to sew in the button. When you're ready to finish, make a small knot again, close to the stopping point on the thread. Put the needle in at the button and glide your needle about an inch away and pop it back out.

    There will be others giving you ideas of how to do this as well, I'm sure. There are tons of ways to get things done.

    And, WELCOME from Michigan. Hope you enjoy your stay here. We all love newbys..... and pictures. We LOVE pictures.
    nanna-up-north is offline  
    Old 07-22-2014, 04:47 AM
      #3  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Dec 2010
    Location: Michigan
    Posts: 3,334
    Default

    Oh, I forgot to mention..... use a thin needle. I use betweens, size 9 or 10. And, I'd use regular sewing thread.

    Good luck.... be sure to snap a pic to show all of us.
    nanna-up-north is offline  
    Old 07-22-2014, 06:21 AM
      #4  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Jun 2011
    Location: Southern California
    Posts: 19,127
    Default

    I always sew buttons on as the last thing. I would had stitch them with a heaver thread such as quilting or carpet thread. Bury the thread end into the quilt batting.
    ManiacQuilter2 is offline  
    Old 07-22-2014, 08:26 AM
      #5  
    Senior Member
     
    Marcia_PA's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2010
    Location: western Pennsylvania & SW Florida
    Posts: 324
    Default

    I considered doing that on a quilt I made recently but haven't done it yet. I liked the method explained on this blog
    http://mrsmoen.blogspot.com/2014/01/...-on-quilt.html
    Marcia_PA is offline  
    Old 07-22-2014, 08:29 AM
      #6  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Feb 2013
    Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    Posts: 1,616
    Default

    Welcome from the Capital of Louisiana, Baton Rouge...
    omacookie is offline  
    Old 07-22-2014, 08:43 AM
      #7  
    Super Member
     
    ghostrider's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2009
    Posts: 4,688
    Default

    Why not just sew the buttons on before you sandwich the quilt top and quilt around them when you get to that point? Unless you plan to have the buttons as a dense embellishment, it should be fairly easy to quilt around them.
    ghostrider is offline  
    Old 07-22-2014, 08:46 AM
      #8  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Mar 2013
    Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.
    Posts: 16,105
    Default

    This is how I do it!!
    Originally Posted by nanna-up-north
    Well, if you're going to sew them on by hand you could hide the thread knots the same way you do when you are hand quilting. Make a small knot and put the needle into the top fabric about an inch away from where you want the button to be. Bring the thread out at the spot where you'll put the button and pull the knot into the fabric.... it's kinda scary the first time you do it but if your knot isn't big it will pop inside the quilt pretty easily. Then, you'll want to sew in the button. When you're ready to finish, make a small knot again, close to the stopping point on the thread. Put the needle in at the button and glide your needle about an inch away and pop it back out.

    There will be others giving you ideas of how to do this as well, I'm sure. There are tons of ways to get things done.

    And, WELCOME from Michigan. Hope you enjoy your stay here. We all love newbys..... and pictures. We LOVE pictures.
    tessagin is offline  
    Old 07-22-2014, 08:50 AM
      #9  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Mar 2013
    Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.
    Posts: 16,105
    Default

    Welcome to the board, from the Gulf!!
    tessagin is offline  
    Old 07-22-2014, 08:53 AM
      #10  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Jun 2010
    Posts: 1,325
    Default

    I have learned so much by coming to this board. Enjoy
    judylg is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    JENNR8R
    Main
    81
    04-04-2017 06:29 PM
    nls
    Main
    108
    11-17-2011 01:28 PM
    craftybear
    Links and Resources
    0
    05-16-2010 08:30 PM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter