A plain button up shirt or other garment can be transformed into a charming one with one simple change — sprucing up the buttons.
You can change the buttons altogether if you have some extras, which could make a piece of clothing more interesting. They don’t even have to match — mismatched buttons can look whimsical and quirky.
If you don’t have extra buttons, don’t worry. You can use the buttons the piece came with, and still add your personal flare.
To jazz up a garment with a button transformation you will need:
- garment with buttons
- embroidery thread
- needle
- scissors
Pick a color of embroidery thread, cut a length of about 12-16 inches, and separate the threads into two or three sections, depending on the size of your button. Thread your needle and tie a knot at the other end.
Depending on how the buttons are sewn onto the garment, and how you want the finished project to look, you may be able to leave them on and just add a few stitches for aesthetics. But more likely you will need to cut them off and re-sew them in place.
The way you sew the buttons back on will give the item a new style. You can create a geometric pattern with the thread, or little flowers or other designs.
To make a geometric pattern think outside the box — or button, as it were. If you have a button with two holes; bring your of the remaining two. Repeat for the last hole. These stitches are what will secure your button onto the garment.
You may want to repeat again on each to make the greenery thicker, especially if you have a large button.
To make the flower itself, use a colored thread of your choice and bring the needle and thread up through the top hole. Make a French knot by wrapping the thread around the needle twice, then putting the needle through the same hole in the button and slowly pulling the rest of the thread through the two wraps. Pull it securely, to tighten the French knot.
To hide the securing knot you can bring the needle through the fabric again, but not through the button, and tie a knot under the button.
This is relatively easy way to change the style of a garment, and add your own personal flare. The best part is that it can be done more than once, so you can change the design any time you feel like it.
