Knot for upholstery buttons

[Tisme]

I've got new foam for all the cushions on my boat and am putting the covers back on. I know that there is a knot that upholsterers use to tighten up the buttons, but I can't find info on it.

I've searched Google but the only instructions I can find are as much help as the assembly instructions for flat pack furniture.

I assume that it's some kind of variation on a rolling hitch, but I can't get that to work very well.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

 

[sailorman]

a few round turns the 2> 3 half hitches on top of round turns.
i have a very long upholsterers needle thst makes the job easy, try & avoid button holders with metal, they usually rust in my humble experence
roger

 

[stephenh]

Oddly enough it's called an " upholsterers button knot " !!!! and it is very simple.
I can send you a picture if you pm me your address -
Sorry - don't have a scanner.....

 

[machurley22]

Alternatively, you could type "upholstery button knot" into google and get lots of sites like this or this.

 

[Tisme]

Thanks but I had already found those two and hadn't found them to be much help. One seems to use a special tool which I don't have. The other talks about a slip knot , but doesn't say what type of slip knot.

I understand that there is a special knot which the experts use. It is self tightening and does the job very well.

Thanks for the reply though

 

[Tisme]

Thanks for the offer. I don't want to put you to the effort and coast of sending me something by snail mail........ unless it becomes necessary!

Let's leave this to run for 24 hrs.

Thanks very much for the offer though.

 

[VicS]

The first of the two links given by machurley22 is the way it is done but the illustrations, at least the second one, do not make it clear enough.

The first one is Ok. the button is in the centre of a length of (whipping) twine and both ends are threaded through the needle.

This is pushed through the cushion making sure that it emerges at the correct spot.
(Mark both sides of the cushion before you start)

What the 2nd photo does not show is both ends of the thread coming through the cushion. One of these ends is threaded through the 2nd button and then tied in a half hitch around its self. This is what is shown in the second photo.

Snug the half hitch (slip knot if you prefer) up to the button and the pull on the other end, which is not shown, until both buttons are pulled into cushion to the desired extent.

Next tie the two ends emerging from under the button together as shown in the third photo. Use a reef knot, snugging each half down under the button.

Finally trim off the excess twine as in the fourth photo and tuck the ends away under the button.


BUT if you are fitting several buttons to the same cushion don't do the final tying off untill all the buttons are in place and you are satisfied that you have pulled them all down by an equal amount.

If your cushions are not reversible don't use a proper button on the back. See machurley22's second link for the alternatives.

I hope this helps. It really is simple and you will be wondering what the problem was once youv'e done one! In fact the only problem with the instructions in the first link is that it only shows one end of the twine in the second photo. You could get a book on uphostery from the public library but it is so simple it's hardly worth the bother.

PS I learnt from a professional at evening classes.

 

[Tisme]

Thanks, that's clarified it!

You've added the bit that I couldn't work out when I first saw that site....hence my comment about flat pack assembly instructions.

Thanks everyone!