Threads for sewing on buttons

[soloula]

I've got a massive big button box that I love to rummage through to find the perfect button for my finished knits but I often find I don't have threads to match the colour to sew them on. How do you get get round this without having a big box of threads to match? I've got a wee set of maybe ten threads in basic colours but quite often have to resort to splitting an embroidery thread to get a better match (which even then often isn't great).

[PigeonPie]

Whilst embroidery thread isn't great it can be made stronger by waxing the thread with bees' wax.

[SoupDragon]

Sometimes a contrasting colour can look good.

However, I have a thread collection to match the size of my button collection :)

[StEdmundsPippins]

I was once told by my Needlecraft teacher at school that if you didn't have a perfectly matching thread when sewing cloth, then use the closest to it in a darker shade.

Eg when sewing mid pink cloth, use a darker pink shade.

Maybe you could apply the same to your buttons?

[BlueCowWonders]

I got a pot of lots of thread in a display of Christmas presents last year. -i think it was the shop going for a vintage look. None is very long, but just right for buttons.