Due to arthritis, my grandmother lost the ability to button independently, but she insisted on dressing herself anyway and made modifications to ensure her success. She believed, “life is a school and the world a classroom” in which to learn. She used two-methods to improve her buttoning skills. She not only adapted her favorite button-down dress shirts to velcro closure, but she also used a button hook, which will be a future blog post.
Adapting a button down shirt to velcro closure is a custom-made approach to getting dressed that worked for my grandmother and it may work for you too. Here’s how she did it! You may also need to recruit a friend who sews or perhaps find a Tailor or Seamstress in your local area.
What’s needed:
Thread, a sewing needle, scissors, and velcro; preferably non-sticky back.
Step 1: Remove button.
Step 2: Sew button-hole closed (View From Front Button Placket).
Step 2: Sew button-hole closed (View From Inside Button Placket).
Step 3: Sew button onto top of closed button-hole.
Step 4: Sew hook velcro underneath button-hole and sew loop velcro on opposite side of placket.
Step 5: Press hook and loop velcro together. Complete all steps for remaining buttons, and you’ve just adapted a button down shirt to a velcro closure shirt.
Congratulations! You now have the “know-how” to convert a button down dress shirt to a velcro closure dress shirt. Now, you can wear your favorite shirts while also making getting dressed simpler and easier. Velcro closures are especially helpful for those who need a one-hand method of dressing.
How-To-Tips:
-Try non-sticky back velcro as sticky back velcro may gum up your sewing needles.
-Try “iron on” velcro which will eliminate the need for sewing.
Thanks! This is so helpful 💖 I am 35 years old and having a masectomy ( cancer triple negative stage 4 but i am beating cancer 😄🎉) in about 3 weeks. This will help me very much to get dressed after surgery.!
Dear Kelly, much strength and encouragement to you during this difficult time in your life. I hope adding velcro fasteners onto your wardrobe eases your ability to un/dress while allowing you to do more and be active in your recovery. Please keep me posted on your progress and best wishes, And, please let me know if there’s anything else I can address in my blog that might be helpful.
Glad to have found your tutorial on how to make the adaptation for my almost 92 yo dad who’s having a hard time with buttons.
I will attempt this using a neeedle and thread as I’m not good with a sewing machine.
Wish me luck!
Dear Gina, you may also consider buying “Iron On” Velcro/Fasteners that are heat activated fabric adhesives and perhaps then just add a stitch or two by hand, if needed, to keep in place. They come in a package of 12-rectangular Velcro squares, and come in a variety of colors–white, black, and tan. I certainly wish you and your dad much success. Please let me know if you have further questions. Thank you and stay healthy!
Glad to have found your tutorial on how to make the adaptation for my almost 92 yo dad who’s having a hard time with buttons.
I will attempt this using a neeedle and thread as I’m not good with a sewing machine.
Wish me luck!
Thanks a lot for these very useful tips on how to convert a normal shirt to a velcro closure! Looking very much forward to convert, in the first run as a Christmas present, at least a couple of my 86 year’s old father’s shirts. He cannot button them on his own and is always depending on others to do it. What a freedom 🙂
Great information about how to adapt button down shirts to velcro closure. This will be helpful for my friend who has arthritis and trouble buttoning. Thank you for sharing.