Ever since we first started designing the Yanta Overalls, we knew we had to make a pair of traditional overalls out of denim, with classic overall hardware. We love a button closure, of course, but there is just something so nostalgic and timeless about overall buckles! Today we want to show you how to install overalls hardware.

Helen recently finished her classic denim Yantas, which we just had to share on the blog. You can see them in their full glory here.

If you are intimidated by installing this sort of hardware, don’t be; like many things in sewing, installing overalls hardware is actually pretty easy and straightforward when you break it down into steps.

There are lots of different variations on overalls buckles and buttons; some have a separate piece for strap shortening, some have it all built into the buckle, etc. We used one-piece overalls hardware for our Yantas. Closet Case Patterns has a fantastic tutorial on installing overall buckles for their Jenny Overalls pattern that uses two-piece overalls hardware. Make sure to check it out!

For this tutorial, you will need:

Overalls hardware (buckles and buttons)
A hard surface for hammering (we used our mini anvil, but you can use a cast-iron skillet)
An awl
A hammer

First, make sure your Yanta straps are the right length for you. We lengthened ours by 10″ from the original pattern piece to make sure we had tons of wiggle room.

First, slide the buckle onto your strap by inserting the strap under the first bar and over the middle slider.

Next, flip your strap over to the wrong side and insert the end of the strap back into the middle bar of the slider. Make sure to give yourself some slack to ensure it’s easy to pull the strap through.

Pull the strap though, and you have installed your first buckle! Repeat for the second buckle.

Once both buckles are installed on the Yanta straps, we can install the buttons. These buttons are constructed in the same way as a jeans button; they consist of a front button piece and a ribbed post that pops in from the back of the garment to secure the button.

First, mark where your buttons will go. The buttons should be inserted in the corner of the bib, just inside the topstitching. It’s very important that the buttons are as even as possible, so be careful when measuring and marking where the buttons should go!

Before inserting the button, we need to create a little hole in the bib for the post of the button. Carefully insert your awl into the bib on the backside of the marking that you made. Remember that the awl is sharp, so please use caution! Slide the bib up the awl about halfway to create a hole that is the proper size.

Once you’ve punched both buttonholes in the bib, it’s time to hammer in the buttons. Insert each post into the hole you made from the backside, so that the pointy end is coming out of the front of the bib.

Set your button flat side down on your hammering surface. Gently place the pointy end of the post into the hole on the back of the button, and hammer in place. Repeat for the second button.

That’s it! The overalls hardware is installed and ready for you to wear! We just left the ends of our straps loose, but you can shorten them once you are sure about the length and secure them in place with a few hand stitches.

We just love these Yantas with overalls hardware! For more pics of Helen wearing her denim Yantas, check out this post here.

Do you have any tips for installing overalls hardware? Let us know in the comments!