I first came across this simple tip a couple of weeks ago via Emmie on My Oh So Vintage Life and it's now my favourite sewing tip EVER! It's a trick to eliminate gaping between buttons on shirt dresses, specifically at the waist. This is at its most noticeable when you sit down and invariably end up displaying the two inches of flesh you'd rather never saw the light of day again.
Emmie's tip is sew an inward facing button in the offending area - the trick is to sew it on the inside of the button band so it's invisible from the front. Gahhh!!! Such a simple tip, but so effective!
Secret button sewn on the inside of the button band (LHS), with buttonhole on the opposite side |
I can also confirm that it works for the dreaded boob gape - as soon as I discovered this tip I put it to the test on my Granville Shirt. I absolutely love this shirt, but thanks to my own slapdash methods of button placement (trying to eyeball them rather than measuring properly), it's always gaped at the bust point. It hasn't stopped me wearing it and it's not actually that noticeable, but it is a pain to keep fiddling and pulling the front of my shirt.
Here's the BEFORE picture…
And here's the AFTER picture….
Yay, no gaping!
When the shirt is buttoned up, the internal button and buttonhole are completely invisible from the front. Just to remind you, the hidden button is between the second and third button down.
This solution may be blindingly obvious to lots of you, but it certainly wasn't to me, so please indulge me! Sorting out a dreaded waist or bust gape is just so satisfying! Two further shirt dresses have also been given the same treatment at the waist with great results. Thank you Emmie, for showing me the light!
What were the sewing tips that changed your life? Please share, I'd love to know! x
This is such a clever solution even for ready made clothing! I usually get the gape at my mid-section which is not my finest attribute!
ReplyDeleteYes, I have a few RTW items that would benefit from the button trick too! x
DeleteGenius...funny how the simplest things escape me, and then when it's explained I have a Doh! moment..thanks for passing on x
ReplyDeleteThe simplest things ALWAYS escape me! x
DeleteAmazing!!
ReplyDeleteI know! x
DeleteAbsolutely Genius! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! x
DeleteThis is so obvious yet in 40 years of sewing FBAs I've never thought of it. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteIt IS obvious isn't it?! Good to know it's a revelation to an experienced FBA stitcher! x
DeleteI saw this tip and thought it was simply The Best Thing Evah!
ReplyDeleteIt IS the Best Thing Evah! x
Deletegenius.
ReplyDeleteI know! x
DeleteThat's genius! I will definitely be following suit.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that only occurred to me recently is that when you finish topstitching (or any kind of stitch) and the end won't be covered by a seam or hem, you can use a needle to thread the tail on the outside to the inside, and tie it up there. That is probably obvious to everyone else, but I am very excited to no longer have stubby little tails on my pockets and flies!
FAB tip! thank you! x
DeleteCertainly something to keep in mind if needed. Pure genius. Your blouse looks much better with it; but you always do a superb job on your garments.
ReplyDeleteAw thank you! x
DeleteClever :-) I like this alot.
ReplyDeleteSo do I! x
DeleteBest tip ever! This is ALWAYS a problem for me (and the "girls") Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAh good, glad to have helped shine the light! x
DeleteWhat a great idea!
ReplyDeleteIt really is! x
DeleteI never had a 'sewing tip that changed my life' before, but this might be it!
ReplyDeleteIt's life changing for me, I can tell you! x
DeleteThank you for sharing such a great sewing tip. I would have never thought to do this on my own.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! I would never have thought of it on my own either! x
DeleteSimply genius!!
ReplyDeleteGeorge
Definitely genius! x
DeleteBrilliant! Nuff said :-)
ReplyDeleteYay! x
DeleteAren't the best ones always the most obvious... Once you know them?! :-) Fab tip, thank you!
ReplyDeleteExactly! Once you know them! x
DeleteSo simple it's brilliant... only one shirt dress but this treatment will be sooo useful!
ReplyDeleteAh I hope so! x
DeleteMagical. Wow.
ReplyDeleteWow indeed! x
DeleteHaha I LOVE the pointing picture!! Such a great tip :-)
ReplyDeleteI know, what a halfwit! It's such a brilliant tip isn't it?! x
DeleteGreat tip! Thank for sharing
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! x
DeleteGreat tip - never thought of this even when grappling with a safety pin to close the gap (never successful) - will definitely use this one! Thanks for sharing 😃
ReplyDeleteI've tried the safety pin trick before, nowhere near as effective as a button though! x
DeleteThat is a great tip! I've learned so many wonderful tips the last couple of years but my current fave is this one from Lisa G, to get perfect corners when attaching facings and waistbands. Just made myself some perfect denim corners on a Beignet using it, and am chuffed indeed.
ReplyDeletehttps://notesfromamadhousewife.wordpress.com/2013/07/19/perfect-corners-on-waistbands-yes-you-can/
Oooh I've seen variants of this tip before but this version is the clearest yet. Will definitely be trying it, thanks! x
Deletewhat a clever idea!
ReplyDeleteIt is, isn't it?! x
DeleteLove it !!!
ReplyDeleteYay! x
DeleteYes - this is a game changer! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a game changer for me! x
DeleteOh my goodness, that's one of those tips that is so obvious when you see it - however I would never have thought of doing that! I would have fiddled around with my button placement forever, and then put up with the gaping and hated it every time I wore the shirt. Genius! Thanks for sharing this tip with us.
ReplyDeleteYep, that's exactly what I was doing too! Thanks. x
DeleteBrilliant,,, thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIt's a pleasure! x
DeleteHa, ingenious! And thanks for sharing the photos of evidence, there's nothing quite like seeing it work for real.
ReplyDeleteAh good, I always like seeing evidence too! x
DeleteBrilliant! Someone also suggested to me that I could start the placement of buttons with that critical one first, then space out the rest.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's what I always normally do too and it works a treat. I usually measure carefully for the critical button but this time I thought I knew better and eyeballed it instead - big mistake, hence the gaping! x
DeleteThis is the best tip I've seen in a long time! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteNo problem, it's a great tip, so glad I found it! x
DeleteGenious! Thank you :))
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! x
DeleteGenius, the simplest tips are the best. I'll be using this.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the simple ones are definitely the best! x
DeleteWhaaat? Such a good idea!
ReplyDeleteI know, it's fab! x
DeleteThis is FANTASTIC! :D
ReplyDeleteHave to agree there! x
DeleteThis is a great tip. I literally NEVER wear a button-down top or dress because of this. I will have to try it out.
ReplyDeleteAw, let's hope this tip gets you wearing button down dresses again! x
DeleteGreat tip and I love your skirt. Thank you for sharing. ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you, it was my pleasure! x
DeleteThat is AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteI have safety pins in most of my RTW shirts and I have to struggle to get them over my head, so I don't have to struggle with putting the pin back in.
I've resorted to safety pins with RTW shirts in the past, hopefully this should solve the problem! x
DeleteThat's genius! I never would have thought of it so thanks for sharing. Love your tie top in the previous post and what a clever boy you have. Next stop Savile Row?
ReplyDeleteHaha, probably, knowing him! And thank you! x
DeleteI'm totally with you on this one! Absolutely brilliant tip! Thanks you and thank Emmie.
ReplyDeleteBloody genius!
ReplyDeleteBEST TIP EVER!!! Thank you so much for sharing x
ReplyDeleteAmazing! This issue has been putting me off sewing shirts for a long time
ReplyDeleteAmazing! This issue has been putting me off sewing shirts for a long time
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant! I have been sewing all my life (I'm 63), have made everything from casual clothing to wedding gowns and have never seen this tip before - thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteNo peep...Mmmm!!
ReplyDeleteKate M
This is great! Thank you. 😊👍🏻
ReplyDelete