I’m not alone, I’m sure, in remembering the lessons of my grandmother’s sewing basket. It was a hoard of needles, thread and buttons. I remember seeing her nimble fingers at work when she stitched back on a lost button from my shirt, I was amazed how she could turn some small thread into something so secure. When I was an older, I learned how to sew a button back on myself and it’s a skill that I have appreciated on many occasions over the years.
But I’ve been thinking recently: does anyone still “sort” their laundry? Does anyone even know how to sew a button back on? These questions just keep coming to me. It’s the kind of thing that seems so simple, and yet even as the world moves toward disposable goods and fast fashion, fewer and fewer people know the basics of mending and repair. Including my little sister.
When I think about it it’s logical. Clothes are cheaper than ever, and when a button comes off, it’s often more convenient and less expensive to buy a new shirt than take time to sew it back on. But there is a price to this convenience. We’re adding to the larger issue of waste, and we’re becoming increasingly disconnected from the skills that were once a source of pride to our ancestors.
Sewing on a button is a tiny step toward self-reliance. It’s a lesson in showing that we can protect ourselves and our belongings. It’s trying to feel a sense of control over our existence, even if only a little bit. And it is not as hard as you think it is.
You just require a needle, some thread and a little patience. First, pick a thread that closely resembles the color of the garment and thread it into the needle. Go back down through the other side of the button and fabric, then wind the thread and needle around the threads and through the holes in the button several more times. Draw up the thread and leave a small loop. Next, pull the needle through the other hole of the button through the fabric. Repeat the process through the holes until you reach all the way through the button. Pull the thread through and tie off the knot and cut the extra off. And voila! You’ve sewn a button back on. Easy peasy.
However, if you’re still not sold, hear me out: Figuring out how to sew a button back on can mean CASH in your pocket. Clothing is expensive (OMG, and it gets more expensive every single day!!). And even a small fix can give new life to a garment that will last years. When you learn to do this simple task, you’re not just helping to save the environment, you’re helping to save some of your hard-earned cash. That’s exactly what I keep telling my sister. She’s in her teen years. Whenever she sees me sewing a button, always mentions how difficult it seems, but in reality it is not.
I’ve learned that sewing buttons back on is just the start. There are a myriad of other skills we can acquire to be able to say we’re making a dent in the self sufficiency plan. Knitting, crocheting and embroidery are just some of them. These are abilities that not only can help us fix broken and torn things in our lives but also help offer a form of creative expression and a sense of achievement.
Personally, as someone who was shown how to sew a button back on by my grandmother, I can attest to the satisfaction and feeling of usefulness that attends doing a little fix on my own. A small gesture, but it makes me feel in control of my stuff and my life. And, while I appreciate the convenience of throwaway commodities, I also understand there is a price. We need as a society to reconsider our relationship not just with what we consume, but with disposability, with the things that our ancestors regarded as key capabilities. In so doing we can minimize not only our carbon footprint, but also regain a sense of ‘can do’ and ‘self reliance’.
Well, does anyone still know how to sew a button back on? The straight talk: Not all that many people, sadly. But we can all learn. It is a small but significant gesture toward a more sustainable future. (Or maybe, who knows, by learning this simple skill, we will be spurred to learn more.) Perhaps then we’ll mend our clothes instead of discarding them. Perhaps we’ll start sewing our own clothes, or farming our own food, or learning a new competency. The opportunities are unlimited.
For me, this is about me taking control of my own life, and being kinder to the planet, and that I remember the simple, smart things our own grandparents used to do. So when a button pops off one of my shirts, I no longer cast it aside. I take a deep breath, locate a needle and reattach it. It’s a good feeling — like I’m doing something important. You should try it too, little sister.
