Pattern Piece, 12.16.23 (Attaching a Button)

I was asked to read a Frog and Toad story the other day at a breakfast, about Toad and a button. Toad lost said button, from his jacket, while at play. He caused a whole day of tumult tracking it down, then bashfully reattached it after finally locating it steps away from where he started his fuss. I appreciated its encouragement to be thoughtful about the time of people who care about you, but what really made it resonate was my own recent experiences in button placement:

Step One: Marry someone who studied costume design.
This may seem excessive, but it really is the best thing for developing a curiosity about the craft of putting together and repairing garments. A good substitution might be a long-term partnership with a tailor, a close friendship with a hands-on fashion designer, or even a parasocial relationship with an especially crafty YouTuber.

Step Two: Buy an old coat.
An old coat will be better for learning to sew. It will have been through enough of life with its current set of buttons that it will not mourn their absence; because they made such strong memories together their attachment will be looser and less guarded. You’re welcome to buy a new coat, but it may take you longer to reach step three. 

Step Three: Pop the button thread.
My preferred way to do this is to put too much stress on the threads holding the buttons by using the buttons hundreds of times in the rhythm of daily life. Eventually the threads will expire. If you’re pressed for time, you can also do this step using a sharp implement like a pair of scissors or a pen knife.

Step Four: Visit a notions store in your local garment district for repair supplies.
Locate your nearest greatly diminished but still-vibrant clothing manufacturing infrastructure, then visit the industry’s vendors to secure some really great finishes. Wander into their storefront, and—it is very important that you forget to measure the size of the buttons you need—take a few laps before settling on a material or shape or construction you’ve never encountered before, in a size that feels comfortably familiar. Pick up a spool wound with something sturdy and some needles if you’re not planning to use a box of sewing supplies belonging to the person from Step One.

Step Five: Prepare the setting of the operation.
The first thing is to realize how difficult it is to get a rich man into the Kingdom of Heaven. When you manage to push the thread through the needle, knot it and pull a few inches from the spool before you set the button down in its place on the front of the coat. 

Step Seven: Initiate the procedure.
Hold the needle in the air. Mime the direction that the thread will first travel and put the needle in the position that will have it leave the end of the thread on the inside of the coat. Run the thread through the fabric, through the button, into the air, into another of the button openings, and back to the inside. Leave enough thread so that the button can reach through the button hole. Repeat. Pursue the hypnotism of putting the needle through the fabric at the same spot, every time. Repeat. Watch the collection of strands securing the button to the coat strengthen. Stop. Wrap thread around the strands. Repeat. Stop. Spur the needle through the bundle you’ve created, swing it around and pass it through again. Snip the thread as close to the bundle as you can. Snip the stranded other end of the thread as close to the fabric of the coat as you can.

Repeat until all buttons are replaced.

Tell me about a clothing repair you remember fondly.