# Re-attach a shirt button? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 29, 2005, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-attach-a-shirt-button/328501 "2005-10-29T20:30:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-attach-a-shirt-button/328501/1 "2005-10-29T20:30:16Z")
So, the top button (yes, the top one, the MOST VITAL BUTTON) on my dress shirt popped off last night, and I was wondering if anybody could tell me how to re-attach it. I own a sewing kit, but have no idea how to use it. So, how do I put the button back on the shirt? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-attach-a-shirt-button/328501/2 "2005-10-29T20:36:53Z")
I have to nominate this for the easiest GQ ever. [http://www.ehow.com/how\_4604\_sew-button.html](http://www.ehow.com/how_4604_sew-button.html) ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-attach-a-shirt-button/328501/3 "2005-10-29T20:40:04Z")
I found a couple of helpful links. The first one has diagrams: [http://www.buttonsplus.com/howto/index.html](http://www.buttonsplus.com/howto/index.html) [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2001838256\_clothbutton17.html](http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2001838256_clothbutton17.html) ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-attach-a-shirt-button/328501/4 "2005-10-29T21:02:52Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I have to nominate this for the easiest GQ ever. > > [http://www.ehow.com/how\_4604\_sew-button.html](http://www.ehow.com/how_4604_sew-button.html) For some reason, whenever I googled “Reattach a shirt button” it would either take me to humorous articles bemoaning guys’ lack of knowledge in the arcane field of button reattachment, or to medical websites about reattaching stuff that didn’t appear to be shirt buttons. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-attach-a-shirt-button/328501/5 "2005-10-29T21:04:58Z")
This is one of the reasons I got married. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-attach-a-shirt-button/328501/6 "2005-10-30T04:51:01Z")
OMG! Links?! they have links for sewing a button?! Just tell the poor man! I will. Just put the thread through the hole in the needle, tie a knot in the end of the thread then push the needle through the back side of the shirt, and through one of the holes in the button, then back throught the other hole in the button, then againe through the shirt. rinse and repeat. I swear some folks were raised by howler monkeys, and not in a good way… ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-attach-a-shirt-button/328501/7 "2005-10-30T04:56:56Z")
_Hey Mom, can I borrow your sewing machine? It seems mine doesn’t exist._ Seriously though, when you do it, make sure you use string that’s the same colour as the button. Some people got rather annoyed when I attached a black button with red string. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-attach-a-shirt-button/328501/8 "2005-10-30T05:26:11Z")
> [@Palooka](#): > > _Hey Mom, can I borrow your sewing machine? It seems mine doesn’t exist._ > > Seriously though, when you do it, make sure you use string that’s the same colour as the button. Some people got rather annoyed when I attached a black button with red string. Seriously? Are they the same people who colour-coordinate their socks with their ties and arrange their mugs so the handles are exactly perpendicular to the counter on which they sit? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-attach-a-shirt-button/328501/9 "2005-10-30T05:49:53Z")
> [@csharpmajor](#): > > Seriously? Are they the same people who colour-coordinate their socks with their ties and arrange their mugs so the handles are exactly perpendicular to the counter on which they sit? No, I don’t do that. But I do want the thread to match the button, or at least not clash dramatically with it. I always put a sewing pin across the top of the button while I’m sewing it on, to give the thread shank enough length to button easily, if the fabric is fairly thin, as it would be on a dress shirt. For something like fleece or a thick wool coat, I’d use a matchstick or two. I’d also use a small button on the back, in order to secure the outside button. My grandmother taught me to wrap the thread around the thread shank between the button and the cloth, and to tie the end several times. She also taught me to put a dab of clear fingernail polish over the threads of buttons of store bought clothes, because she said that they were likely to unravel. She was right, too. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-attach-a-shirt-button/328501/10 "2005-10-30T08:31:43Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > OMG! Links?! they have links for sewing a button?! Just tell the poor man! I will. > > Just put the thread through the hole in the needle, tie a knot in the end of the thread then push the needle through the back side of the shirt, and through one of the holes in the button, then back throught the other hole in the button, then againe through the shirt. rinse and repeat. > I swear some folks were raised by howler monkeys, and not in a good way… Now hold up a minute. Many men aren’t friends with a needle and thread, like you and I are. Plus, many a ham-fisted guy can’t possibly do the fine work we can. Give the gentleman a break for at least trying to figure it out. And, I’ve found it to be my experience that men folk do better with diagrams, rather than instructions. Case in point? Kid’s Christmas toys… putting it together… Honey where’s the Instructions? " OH … I threw that in the trash … " 😛 btw i’m a big fan of yours 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-attach-a-shirt-button/328501/11 "2005-10-30T09:51:53Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > Now hold up a minute. Many men aren’t friends with a needle and thread, like you and I are. Plus, many a ham-fisted guy can’t possibly do the fine work we can. Give the gentleman a break for at least trying to figure it out. And, I’ve found it to be my experience that men folk do better with diagrams, rather than instructions. > > Case in point? Kid’s Christmas toys… putting it together… Honey where’s the Instructions? " OH … I threw that in the trash … " 😛 > btw i’m a big fan of yours 🙂 Oh dear! you misunderstood. I was OMGing at the people giving him a website to chase after. I guess the comment about howler monkeys was over top though, huh? I apologize. thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-attach-a-shirt-button/328501/12 "2005-10-30T12:09:33Z")
_I’m a maaaan, yes I am, and I can’t help but love to sew. Sew sew sew._ /goes back to patching up his slippers ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-attach-a-shirt-button/328501/13 "2005-10-30T21:41:21Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Oh dear! you misunderstood. I was OMGing at the people giving him a website to chase after. Actually, the first link did it for me… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-attach-a-shirt-button/328501/14 "2005-10-30T22:52:09Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > _I’m a maaaan, yes I am, and I can’t help but love to sew. Sew sew sew._ > > /goes back to patching up his slippers Worst disconnect between screen name and post content EVER!! ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-attach-a-shirt-button/328501/15 "2005-10-31T04:46:00Z")
Maybe it’s The Gay, but I patch all my own clothes/sew buttons back on.