How to Attach Buttons to a Knitted Project

How to Attach Buttons to a Knitted Project

It might seem that attaching a button to a hand knitted project is a simple straightforward task. But if you’ve ever tried to do it, you probably know that quite a few things can go wrong affecting the look and the durability of your beautiful knitted garment.

For many years I avoided knitting cardigans solely because I was afraid to ruin it when I attach buttons. Having a background in sewing, I knew that sewing a button onto a loosely knitted (and most hand knitted fabric has a much looser texture than a machine knitted one) fabric will cause stretching and sagging.

Back then, I didn’t know how to prevent it. Now, many cardigans later, I do and I’m happy to share this simple method with all of you, my friends.

If you are looking for a way to make a reliable buttonhole that does not stretch, take a look at this tutorial. I used this method to make buttonholes in the band featured in the video tutorial above.

P.S. After this tutorial was published, I’ve got a message from Iris with a clever trick that she uses when she attaches buttons to her projects – instead of attaching the thread to the fabric, attach it to the support button using the same “thread-in-the-loop” method featured in this tutorial.

Then insert the needle from back to front into the fabric (around the marked spot) and into the functional button. The rest of the process is the same as the one explained in the video and photo tutorials.


The full step-by-step photo tutorial about this method, is a part of the Knitting Collection #6. Once you order your copy of this collection, you will instantly receive a “big PDF” (370 pages!) with this and 43 other tutorials included in the collection.

You will also receive one e-book and two knitting patterns as a special bonus, so go ahead and get it all right now before you forget 😊


What type of projects do you knit most often? Choose up to three options. Thank you 🙂
How to Attach Buttons to a Knitted Project | 10 rows a day
How to Attach Buttons to a Knitted Project | 10 rows a day
How to Attach Buttons to a Knitted Project | 10 rows a day

If you enjoyed this tutorial,
here’s something else you might find helpful:

“Matching Cast Ons and Bind Offs” Book

Discover six pairs of cast on and bind off methods that form identical edges on projects worked flat and in the round.

“Neat Side Edges” Book

Learn twelve ways to make side edges of a knitted project nice and tidy. Plus, ways to fix side edges, and a way to improve edges of finished projects.


Happy knitting!

Maryna Shevchenko - www.10rowsaday.com