"I Keep Losing Buttons!"

[Tarheel]

I'm sure all the above are good suggestions, but, personally, I use piper's black waxed hemp to sew my buttons on my argyle jacket and vest. It's something most pipers have in their pipe case. My buttons never come off.

I concur that waxed thread seems to last longer in the elements. I use the same in my sporrans when the stiches are exposed to weather.