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How to Sew a Button on with a Sewing Machine
Date Posted:1 October 2026
Did you know your sewing machine can do more than sew buttonholes? Many sewing machines can also stitch buttons directly onto your project, making it quick and easy to attach a button securely.
To sew on a button by machine, you'll generally need a button sewing or button fitting foot, along with a zigzag stitch. The feed dogs are lowered or covered so the fabric stays in place while the needle moves from side to side through the holes of the button.
In this video, we'll show you how to position your button, set the correct zigzag width and safely check the needle position before sewing.
Before You Start
The exact settings and accessories can vary between sewing machines, so check your machine's manual to see whether it supports sewing on buttons and which presser foot is recommended.
Important: Before sewing, always turn the handwheel towards you slowly to check that the needle passes cleanly through both holes of the button. If the needle touches the button, adjust the zigzag width or reposition the button before using the foot controller or Start/Stop button.
Once everything is aligned correctly, a few stitches are all it takes to secure your button in place.
