| What is a button shank?
A button shank is the area that goes between the
button and the article of clothing. All buttons that are being used as
closures MUST have a button shank. the photo above shows buttons that
already have a button shank on them. If your button does not have one,
making a shank is very easy to do.
Once the button has been sewn on simply wrap the
thread around and around the area between the button and the fabric.
Keep wrapping until you have formed a thread shank the same size as the
button width. Then put the thread through to the wrong side of the garment
and make a knot.
These type of button do not
have a shank built in.
The purpose of a button shank is to allow
room for the button to move through the button hole. If a button is
sewn on nice and snug and there is no shank, the button will be extremely
difficult to get through the button hole. Sometimes even buttons with
a shank attached will need additional shank made by thread. Decorative
buttons on pillows, crafts, toys, and garments, do not need a shank since
they will not be used and are only there for show. |
