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Home » WOTZA? Wednesday – What’s a Button Spacer?

WOTZA? Wednesday – What’s a Button Spacer?

June 26, 2013 by Nanny 12 Comments

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The Wotza question that I have chosen for this week came from Sharon.  Thanks Sharon!

Sharon asks:  “Nanny what’s a button spacer?”

To answer this question, I am going to talk about sewing buttons on.

Some buttons have a shank – that’s the little stem at the back with the hole in it.  We sew through the holes and the shank holds the button away from the garment so that when you do the button up, there is room for the buttonhole side to sit nicely under the button.

 

 Other buttons are flat – that is, they do not have a shank but have the holes in the button.


To answer Sharon’s question:  a Button Spacer is used when sewing a flat button. to create a ‘shank’.

I will demonstrate by sewing a flat button onto a garment.

1.  Take a length of thread (about an arms length)  and fold it in half so that you have the two ends together

 
 
2. Thread the needle with both ends of the thread, push it through the fabric where you want the button and pull through to the loop at the other end.
 
 
3.  Bring  the needle back up beside the loop

4.  Put the needle through the loop

 
5.   Pull the thread to tighten

This will give you a neat back with no knots to come undone!


This is where we meet the Button Spacer!!  

When I was taught to sew a button on, every home had a supply of matches because the households used wood fires for cooking and heating.  So my first button spacer was a match!  I’ve noticed that todays’ matches are smaller too! In the years since, I have used a wooden skewer, a large darning needle or whatever else I could grab quickly!

So take whatever you have selected as a spacer and follow along.  I will use part of a wooden skewer because it is larger for photos.

When I was taught, you did it this way.  Place your spacer beside the thread and stitch over the spacer a couple of times

 
  Then add your button and continue with the button sitting on top of the spacer.
 

6.  Nanny does it this way:  I could never see the sense of trying to hold a flat button on a rounded spacer……… so sit the spacer on top of the button!!

 
7.  Sew over the spacer as you sew the button on
 
8.  When you are satisfied that you have sewn enough, bring the needle to the button side but come up under the button not through the hole.
 
9.  Remove the spacer


10.  You will be able to see the loose threads formed by the spacer under the button now


11.  Holding the button away from the garment, wind the thread around the loose thread formed by spacer about 12 times 


– you will see that we have now made a ‘shank’!

12.  Take a small stitch under the button


13.   Pass the needle through the loop to fasten – I do this twice

14.  Take needle through to the back

15. Snip thread and admire your button sewn on using a spacer!

 

  •  

Thank you Sharon – that was another great WOTZA!!  

Don’t forget, if you have a WOTZA question you can email it to me at nannynotes2u@gmail.com


Until next time
Nanny xx

 

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Filed Under: LET'S SEW, SEWING/QUILTING, TIPS/TOOLS, TUTORIALS, WOTZA

Comments

  1. Mrs. Lucky says

    June 26, 2013 at 6:32 am

    Wow nanny, this is one great post. I have never heard of the term ‘shank’ either (so, thanks Sharon for the question) and I loved your demonstration. Excellent!

    Reply
    • Nanny@nannynotes2u says

      June 28, 2013 at 12:35 am

      Oh thank you so much Mrs Lucky! I’m enjoying Wotza Wednesday and I’m glad you found it useful too! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Jane from Lil Pip says

    June 27, 2013 at 4:21 am

    Well I’ve never heard this and your instructions are so clear and helpful. Thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply
    • Nanny@nannynotes2u says

      June 27, 2013 at 4:40 am

      Thank you Jane – you are so welcome! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Mel@Mellywood's Mansion says

    June 27, 2013 at 11:47 pm

    that’s a great wotza, I didn’t know that 🙂

    Reply
    • Nanny@nannynotes2u says

      June 28, 2013 at 12:39 am

      Thanks Mel! Funny the different things we learn along the way!! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Pam @Threading My Way says

    June 29, 2013 at 7:56 am

    Another fabulous tutorial, Margie!!! I’ve only used a spacer once, to sew on a button… didn’t even think to put the spacer on TOP of the button.

    Reply
    • Pam @Threading My Way says

      June 29, 2013 at 8:30 am

      Featured again today, Margie…

      Reply
    • Nanny@nannynotes2u says

      June 29, 2013 at 10:04 am

      Thanks Pam!! It’s always the simplest things isn’t it!! 🙂

      Reply
    • Nanny@nannynotes2u says

      June 29, 2013 at 10:05 am

      Thank you Pam!!!! How exciting!! 🙂

      Reply
  5. amy mayen says

    June 29, 2013 at 2:22 pm

    A great tutorial! I’m learning new things every day! I’m visiting from Threading My Way:)

    Reply
    • Nanny@nannynotes2u says

      June 29, 2013 at 10:12 pm

      Welcome Amy and thank you!! 🙂

      Reply

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