How to Add Decorative Trim to a Button-Down Shirt

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Pop some pattern into your wardrobe by combining a floral and a plaid. Simply sew some fun, floral fabric to the button plackets and give a classic plaid shirt a fresh new look.

Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Things You'll Need

  • 1/4 yard of coordinating cotton fabric

  • Measuring tape

  • Sharp scissors

  • Iron and ironing board

  • Seam ripper

  • Pins

  • Sewing machine with a 90/14 universal needle and buttonhole function

  • Needle and thread

Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 1:

Use a measuring tape to measure the length and width of the shirt's button placket. Add 1/2 inch to both the length and the width measurements.

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Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 2:

Use a measuring tape to measure the length and width of the shirt's sleeve placket. Add 1/2 inch to both the length and the width measurements.

Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 3:

Cut two strips of cotton fabric to the match the button placket measurements, and cut 2 strips of cotton fabric to match the sleeve placket measurements.

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Tip

Be sure to pre-wash the cotton fabric to minimize future shrinkage. Use the washer and dryer settings that you plan on using with your shirt. You can also serge or zig zag the raw edges of the fabric before washing to prevent raveling and to keep your fabric from twisting up into a knot in the washer and dryer.

Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 4:

Use a hot iron to press under 1/4 inch on all four sides of each fabric strip.

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Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 5:

Use a seam ripper to remove the buttons from the button and sleeve plackets.

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Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 6:

Pin the wrong sides of the decorative strips to the wrong sides of the button plackets.

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Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 7:

Fold under the top of the strips to match the angle of the collar.

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Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 8:

Attach the decorative strips to the button plackets by sewing close to the edge of the button plackets around all four sides. Remove the pins as you sew.

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Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 9:

Pin the wrong side of the decorative strip to the wrong side of the sleeve placket.

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Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 10:

Attach the decorative trims to the sleeve plackets by sewing close to the edge around all four sides of the sleeve plackets. Remove the pins as you sew.

Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 11:

Reattach all the buttons to the button placket and the sleeve placket with a needle and thread.

Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 12:

Sew a new buttonhole directly on top of the existing buttonholes through both fabrics.

Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 13:

Use a seam ripper to open the new buttonholes.

Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Now you can roll up your sleeves, flip your collar and throw on a pretty necklace for a fresh and comfortable new look.

Image Credit: Beth Huntington

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