466 Part 5 Sewing Techniques Attaching Buttons Attach buttons using a double strand of thread. Sew-through buttons have two to four holes through which you sew. You will need to create a thread shank to allow space for the buttoned garment to lie smoothly. Shank buttons have an attached loop on the back that forms a shank. They need only a small thread shank. Some sewing machines will sew on buttons. Here are some quick guidelines for sewing buttons: • Sew-through buttons. Place your button on the marking and put a pin or toothpick on the top. From the garment underside, bring the needle and thread through the fabric and button, over the pin and back through the fabric. Repeat this action fi ve or six times. Remove the pin or toothpick and pull the button up. Bring the needle up between the garment and the but- ton and wind the thread around the stitches several times to make a shank. Bring the needle and thread through to the garment underside and secure. • Shank buttons. Bring the needle and thread up through the fabric from the underside to the top, through the shank, and back through the fabric loosely. Repeat this action fi ve or six times. Bring the needle up between the garment and the button and wind the thread under the button to form the thread shank. Then bring the needle and thread through to the under- side and secure. Snaps Use snaps to hold overlapping edges together at locations where there is little strain. Snaps have two sections, the ball half and the socket half. Snaps come in various sizes. Use large, heavy snaps on sportswear, coats, and jackets. To sew on snaps, follow these steps: 1. Place the ball half of the snap on the underside of the overlapping section. 2. Using the overcast stitch, take three or four small stitches close together through each hole. Make sure stitches do not show on the right side of the garment. 3. Carry the thread under the snap from hole to hole until all ball sections have been attached. 4. Fasten the thread ends securely with a couple of stitches. 5. To mark the position for the socket part of the snap, overlap the edges. Push a pin through the center hole of the ball part. 6. Attach the socket part at this location using the overcast stitch. A pin inserted in the hole in the socket part of the snap will help hold the snap in place as you sew. Hooks and Eyes Hooks and eyes are more secure than snaps. Use them on parts of garments where there is extra strain. Use small sizes at neck edges and larger hooks and eyes on waistbands for pants, shorts, and skirts where there is more strain. The eyes are either round or straight. Use a round eye when the two edges just meet. If the edges overlap, use a straight eye.