Yesterday, the green woolen pants I wear daily in cold weather had their first major catastrophe in five years of overuse - the top button came off. I've sewed many a button back on in my life, but I've never been terribly happy with the result. Professionally-attached buttons always seem to have just the right amount of play, whereas mine tend to hug the fabric too closely. I googled this page and had to scoff at the non-sewing advice, which seemed pretty obvious to me. Anyway, I read on, and a few stitches in time later, the button was resecured!

On the outside of my pants, rather than the inside, where it was supposed to be. Obvious indeed.