Things You'll Need
Buttons
Leather, glover's or sailmaker's needle
Heavy-duty thread
Thimble
Needle-nosed pliers
Sewing buttons to a leather coat takes a little pushing and pulling, but it's the same technique as sewing a button to any other type of coat. When you use a needle made specifically for leather and thread that's heavy enough to pass through the hide, your job will be much easier. Make sure your stitching is secure, knot the thread firmly and you won't be losing your buttons anytime soon.
Step 1
Mark the positions of the buttons on the wrong side of the coat using tailor's chalk.
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Step 2
Thread a leather, glover's or sailmaker's needle with heavy-duty thread.
Step 3
Push the needle through the leather from the wrong side of the coat, using a thimble. Pull it through on the right side with a pair of needle-nose pliers.
Step 4
Pass the needle through the loop on a shank button or through one hole on a flat button.
Step 5
Push the needle back to the wrong side of the coat, using the thimble. If you're sewing a flat button, push the needle through the second hole and then through the leather. Pull the needle all the way through on the wrong side using the pliers. Pull the thread tight for a shank button, but leave a little slack for a flat button to allow for movement.
Step 6
Repeat steps 3 through 5 until the button is secure.
Step 7
Place the backer button on the wrong side of the coat. Pass the thread through one hole, then the other.
Step 8
Push the needle to the right side of the coat, pull it through with the pliers, and pass it through the shank or hole on the button.
Step 9
Knot the thread several times and clip it close to the button.
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