Suspender buttons

[Feraud]

5 minute suspender buttons

I have a pair of RL khakis w/out belt loops that needed a suspender upgrade. Instead of sewing buttons I chose to add the metal stud buttons you see on denim. After searching high and low* I found these at a Joann's.
Simply eyeball the dimensions and hammer the tack through the back of the waistband.

A few taps later..

Back in business.

This makes one project down and ten to go.

*Thanks to MrBern for giving me tips on searching for these buttons. I absolutely could not recall the name of them!
Sources of buttons
http://www.atthefront.com/materials_UShard.htm
http://www.beltoutlet.com/bulobumebu.html

 

[Imahomer]

Gee, it turned out pretty good. How long did it take?

 

[carter]

Gee, it turned out pretty good. How long did it take?

lol lol lol

Feraud, Great tip! Thanks!

 

[MisterGrey]

Another nifty/quick option: The Buttoneer. You can pick it up at Joann's, as well . It's a little doohickey into which you insert a small, surprisingly durable plastic horseshoe, which is then compressed through the fabric of your clothes, pinning a button in place. I use it to put all of my suspender buttons on, and they have survived the rigors of both the washing machine and dry cleaning.

 

[Tomasso]

I have a few craft tools by Dritz.

BTW, nice job and remember to always measure twice before...........

 

[H.Johnson]

Am I the only one who enjoys sewing?

 

[John in Covina]

I think that both Duluth Trading and David Morgan have the hammer in suspender buttons.

 

[Feraud]

I wish I were better at sewing!

 

[Gatsby84]

Those look pretty swell on there. It's amazing they actually come enough to a package to do a pair of trousers.

-Allen

 

[MrBern]

WWII 13star tack button

FYI, ATF sells unissued WWII metal tack buttons.
http://www.atthefront.com/materials_UShard.htm

These were used on various coveralls & fatigues as well as tents.

 

[Feraud]

These were used on various coveralls & fatigues as well as tents.

A buck a piece is not bad for these originals.
They also have a repro version at .50 cents.

 

[Gatsby84]

How does one go about figureing out the proper spacing for suspender buttons? Is it just an arbitrary guess or some fancy formula or some in between method?

-Allen

 

[B. F. Socaspi]

How does one go about figureing out the proper spacing for suspender buttons? Is it just an arbitrary guess or some fancy formula or some in between method?

-Allen

I'd imagine you could line it up with a pair of suspenders.

 

[Orgetorix]

How does one go about figureing out the proper spacing for suspender buttons? Is it just an arbitrary guess or some fancy formula or some in between method?

-Allen

I usually do each pair 4" apart. One goes directly over the main pleat on each side, with its mate 4" to the side. The back ones go 2" on either side of the center back seam.

 

[LocktownDog]

That's great! Can't sew a lick, but I can hammer buttons like nobody's business. Will have to stop by the craft store this weekend.

 

[Edward]

I usually do each pair 4" apart. One goes directly over the main pleat on each side, with its mate 4" to the side. The back ones go 2" on either side of the center back seam.

I just sewed some on to a pair of trousers last weekend. I did it by reference to another pair I already have; checking them, they conform to your instructions exactly. Now I won't need to dig out another pair of trousers every time I want to stitch some braces buttons! lol

 

[Suitable]

An Amish shop called Gohn Brothers in north central Indiana (USA) makes inexpensive but very hard-wearing fall-front trousers ("broadfalls") out of denim and certain other sturdy materials. I bought a pair at the shop, but they also accept mail orders. For some religious reason that I don't recall, Amish men tend to wear broadfalls.

 

[Lensmaster]

An Amish shop called Gohn Brothers in north central Indiana (USA) makes inexpensive but very hard-wearing fall-front trousers ("broadfalls") out of denim and certain other sturdy materials. I bought a pair at the shop, but they also accept mail orders. For some religious reason that I don't recall, Amish men tend to wear broadfalls.

In any big Amish community you can find shops that sell these kind of pants, in denim and non-denim. I've always known them to be called barndoor pants. The Amish belief is to adapt new ideas when it improves their life and doesn't detract from their focus on God. Zippers never appeared to be any improvement over buttons so they have never been adopted.