The ability to make simple repairs like sewing on a button is becoming a bit of a lost art. But picture this: you are on your way to an important event. You take two steps from your front door when you hear a pop, and then the dreaded ping, ping, ping as something small hits the driveway and bounces away. And it’s that button, the one that leaves a perfect view of your belly button or bra. So, what do you do? Do you know how to sew a button back on to a shirt? Fortunately, it's actually super easy!
Fixing a button like a boss
Using the existing thread from your missing button as your guide, pull your needle up through the back of the shirt to the front. Choosing any of the four holes on the button, slide the button down over the needle and set it on the front of the shirt. Try to keep the holes in a square pattern.
Loop the thread over the button and bring the needle down into the hole diagonal from the first hole. Pull the needle through to the back of the shirt and pull the thread taut. This becomes your first stitch.
Insert your needle as closely as you can to your starting point and bring your needle up through the first hole and loop over to the same diagonal hole, pulling the needle down into the back of the fabric. Pull the thread taut. This becomes your second stitch. Repeat a third time.
This time, as you insert your needle through the back of the shirt, bring the needle up and through the empty hole beside your starting point. Loop your thread up and over and bring the needle down on the diagonal hole (the only other one that doesn’t have thread in it). Pull the needle through to the back of the shirt and pull the thread taut. Repeat twice more.
Knot your thread as closely to the back of the fabric as possible. Trim with scissors.
Voilà! Button reattached!
Now that you've mastered the art of button repair, you're well on your way to other simple fixes like mending a hole in your sock or putting a drawstring back in its rightful place!
