HOW TO INSTALL JEANS BUTTONS AND RIVETS

installing rivets and buttons into jeans

Here is a simple guide to show you how to install the buttons and rivets available in the Miss Maude Sewing Store. 

installing rivets in jeans

you will need: 

​a solid metal surface (the bottom of a cast iron pan will work!)
a hammer
an awl or other sharp point - ie a nail. 
​wire cutters (for rivets only)
​your rivets and buttons
​extra fabric, rivets and buttons to practice

It is recommended that you practice on a scrap on denim (the same number of layers as your finished garment), before you try installing on your garment.

using an awl to install jeans buttons

1.   Using your awl or nail, make a whole in your fabric just big enough for the button/rivet tack to be pushed through. 

installing rivets with a hammer

2. Push the tack through from the back of the garment to the front.   Make sure you are using the correct tack.  For buttons, the shafts have ridges on them, for rivets the shafts are smooth. 

back of rivet on jeans

using pliers to cut rivet screws

3.  FOR RIVETS ONLY.  Use your wire cutters to cut the shaft so that it protrudes about 1-2mm from the fabric. 

installing rivets with a metal block

4.  Place your button/rivet face down on your metal surface.  Place the shaft of the tack into the centre of your button/rivet.

installing rivets in jeans with a hammer

5.  Lightly hammer the back of the tack.  Check that it has engaged evenly into the button/rivet.  Pull out and adjust if necessary. 

6.  Hammer firmly another two or three times on the back of tack to secure.  There should be no movement or turning of your button/rivet if correctly installed.

installing rivets in denim

Installed rivets on denim with topstitchine

2 comments

Hi Lisa

Just checking that by stud do you mean rivet? if you do then the rivet needs to be flush against the fabric/leather and not twist or move at all, otherwise it will loosen over time. To remove the stud – you either able to pull it apart with some pliers, or cut through the post with some wire cutters or similar.

We always recommend practice installing the rivet on scrap that is the same as final layers of the project. If needed, pack out the fabric with additional fabric washers, or cut the rivet post to accommodate for thickness of the fabric being used. (Details on how to do this are on this blog post)

If double headed rivets, I’d be inclined to add additional ‘fabric washers’ as needed. Again, test on scraps first.

If you have further questions please feel free to call the store and we will be happy to talk through any queries that you may have!

thank you

Caroline

Caroline from Miss Maude February 10, 2022

Thanks. What if the stud doesn’t lie flat after hammering, and is already bent/indented by the hammer?

Lisa February 10, 2022

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