Home > Resources > Products We Love > Coats Secura Button Thread
Buttons are among the most basic methods of fastening one thing to another. They also make a pretty embellishment all on their own. We love them lots… until they come off. And, they almost always come off, especially from store-bought items, which often seem to be sewn with some kind of “quick release thread.” If you’re tired of buttons coming loose or popping off, you are going to love the new Secura Button Thread from Coats. It sews like regular thread, but the secret comes when you’re done sewing. Steam the sewn button from the back for just a few seconds and the heat activates the thread’s coating, allowing it to stick to itself. It doesn’t stick to the fabric or the button – just to itself.
Secura is a heat-activated polyester button thread. It creates a super tight seal that can eliminate the problems of loose or lost buttons.
We put it to the “tug test” on two different samples.
Our first sample was a store-bought shirt that was missing a front button. We removed the old thread remnants, threaded up our needle with Secura, and stitched the button in place. The thread sews beautifully, passing smoothly through the fabric. And, we were able to easily tie a nice, tight knot at the back. It feels no different from standard button thread.
With the button in place, grab your iron. You need to pre-heat the iron’s temperature to at least a polyester setting so it can generate a blast of steam. As always, make sure the temperature matches the fabric you’re working with. If your fabric cannot withstand steam heat, this may not be the best option for your project.
Working from the back, hold the iron just above the knotted thread. Steam and then continue to hold the iron just above the fabric for 10 seconds.
That’s it; the heat penetrates the thread and activates its ability to stick to itself. Once activated, the button lives up to its name, it is very secure. We pulled on the button with enough force to pop off a traditionally sewn button, but the Secura-sewn button didn’t budge. And, it did not stick to the button or the fabric – just itself.
Our second test was a larger button on a layered piece of quilting cotton to simulate sewing a button onto a project you’ve made yourself. This time we used a four-hole button. Again, we stitched the button in place just as we’d normally do with regular thread.
Then, we steamed from the back and held the iron in place for just 10 seconds.
We really pushed and pulled on this button when done.
The force did a great job of wrinkling the surrounding fabric but the button held fast.
Secura is currently available in White and Black (which is what we tested), and will soon be available in a full range of six neutral colors: White, Black, Smoke, Indigo, Praline, and French Roast. The thread’s special coating gives the darker thread colors a bit of a variegated appearance, but that disappears once it’s been heat activated and only the thread’s solid color remains.
One by-product of the heat activation is a tidier look from the back. The fusing helps seal the thread tails to the rest of the stitches so the thread looks a bit nicer overall.
Coats Secura can also be used in the top and bobbin to stitch on buttons by machine.
And, it can be used to attach beads, sequins, even snaps and hook-and-eye fasteners. It even works with metal buttons, which can be one of the worst offenders when it comes to loosening rapidly and popping off.
Coats tells us Secura is best for sew-through buttons and embellishments. However, we tested it with a shank button with excellent results
Just because it’s secured doesn’t mean you can never get it off. If you need to remove a button you certainly can. We used our seam ripper to cut through the thread, pulling the remnants from the fabric without a problem. Once the fabric was re-pressed, you can just barely see the remaining holes.
Watch the Coats video for additional step-by-step examples.
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What is the difference
What is the difference between this thread and ascolite termofusion yarn?
@Kuin – we reached out to our
@Kuin – we reached out to our friends at Coats for this question. Here is their reply:
Secura is a thread that can be used for sewing on the button, then securing it using heat and steam. The product you inquired about is used in industrial applications to wrap the button shank.
What are the secrets to
What are the secrets to sewing with polyurethane laminate fabrics? I want to use it for reversible rainware and cannot go around curves without huge wrinkly p;ileups.
Please help.
@ Ellen – below is a link to
@ Ellen – below is a link to our article on working with PUL and other “sticky stuff”
https://sew4home.com/tips-resources/sewing-tips-tricks/successful-sewing-laminated-cottons-oilcloth-and-other-sticky
HELP, please. Some time ago
HELP, please. Some time ago you had a project using printed bias tape. I cannot remember the company that was featured for this, but I am wanting to buy some printed bias tape, double fold. Do you or anyone out there know where I can look for this? ( I can make my own, but I wanted to find this resource first ) Any help will be most appreciated.
@norskie3 – So sorry, but we
@norskie3 – So sorry, but we don’t remember any articles that used a purchased printed bias tape. We make our own if we need a print option. A long time ago both Moda and Riley Blake offere some pre-made bias tape, but that is no longer available. You could try Etsy; sometimes there are sellers there who offer bias tape they’ve made for re-sale. Below is a link to one etsy shop that has quite a bit: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AggieandHarry
I had not yet heard of or
I had not yet heard of or seen this thread when I ran across some in my local JoAnn store. I immediately brought home one each of the black and white to give it a try. However, the holidays got in the way and I still haven’t tried it, but am very anxious to do so and appreciate your positive review.
@Sonja – We loved it; let us
@Sonja – We loved it; let us know what you think!
Thanks so much for the review
Thanks so much for the review! I’m definitely going to try it, because I have problems with this all of the time with purchased clothing.
@JanetG – You are so welcome
@JanetG – You are so welcome – it’s such a great new product!
Just pulling on a newly sewn
Just pulling on a newly sewn button isn’t much of a test, especially without a comparison with other thread. But hand sewn buttons usually fail due to thread wearing through not stitches coming undone. This thread looks too thick for machine use. Is it? Is there a reason this is better than using matching thread and, if you’re anxious, adding a drop of Fray Check?
@ Pegasusquilts – When the
@ Pegasusquilts – When the threads are sealed to one another that answers both the problem of stitches coming undone as well as the thread wearing through. Since this thread sticks only to itself – not to the button or the fabric, no chance of mess as there can be with a seam sealant. And, really – this seems stronger. As mentioned above, we did not test for sewing on buttons by machine, but the Coats folks did and had good results.
Hi ! I know this is an older article but I was reading the comments and I understand everything your saying but when you get to the part of mentioning about not having to use a seam sealant !? I’m totoally lost ! !? Lol for what purpose would a seam sealant let’s say without this thread !? How would that work and why please ? Ty so much for this awesome detail article ! I’ll be sure to but every color they have by now available in this type of thread ! As I love to have extra items… Read more »
Hi Tonya – The idea behind the seam sealant is to keep the thread from loosening after stitching on your button. Seam sealant would of do with regular thread what the Secura thread does on its own. Thanks!
Great tutorial as always!..
Great tutorial as always!…Got it at JoAnn, tried it , love it. Thankyou.
@Diane – Wow – that was fast.
@Diane – Wow – that was fast. So great you found and love it already!
where can you buy this thread
where can you buy this thread?
@dd – as mentioned above:
@dd – as mentioned above: “You can find Coats Secura in White and Black now at JoAnn Stores. If you have trouble locating it in your area, contact Coats via their Consumer Service phone line at 809-648-1479 or through their website: MakeItCoats.com. “
None of the buttons were sewn
None of the buttons were sewn on properly allowing space for the clothing to be buttoned except for shank which naturally has space. If thread tightens even more when steamed, clothing will have a puckered look when you try and button it.
@Cheryl – you can certainly
@Cheryl – you can certainly wrap the thread after stitching to create a bit of a “shank” on standard two-hole or four-hole buttons, and then heat to seal. The thread sews beautifully, just like standard button thread, allowing you to sew on the button in your preferred style.
I’m definitely going to look
I’m definitely going to look for this. What a fabulous concept!
@Lynne – Yes it is! Kind of a
@Lynne – Yes it is! Kind of a “where has this been all my life” product!!
Amazing – that’ it, simply
Amazing – that’ it, simply AMAZING. I can’t wait to get some of this thread just to try it.
@Sally – We thought so too!
@Sally – We thought so too!