Sewing on a shirt button is a skill everyone should learn, as buttons often come loose or fall off even from our favorite shirts. Fortunately, the process is quite simple, and with the following 12-step guide, you’ll be able to sew on a shirt button in no time.

1. Gather your materials: You’ll need a needle, thread (preferably one that matches the color of the fabric), a spare button, and a pair of scissors.

2. Cut a length of thread: Take approximately 18 inches (45 centimeters) of thread and cut it from the spool.

3. Thread your needle: Insert one end of the thread through the eye of the needle and pull it through until its two ends are equal in length.

4. Knot the end of the thread: Tie both ends of the thread together using a secure knot to prevent it from slipping through the fabric when sewing.

5. Position your button: Line up your new button with the buttonhole on your shirt, ensuring it’s centered where the old button used to be.

6. Begin stitching: Insert your needle through the back of the shirt, bringing it up through one hole in the button. Gently pull until you feel resistance from the knot at the end of your thread.

7. Create a “shank”: To prevent strain on your fabric and allow room for the buttonhole to slip around your newly sewn button, place a toothpick or similar sized object between the button and fabric to create space while sewing.

8. Stitch across diagonally: Push your needle back down through another hole diagonal from where you first inserted it into the button (usually in an “X” pattern). Pull tightly so that there’s enough tension to keep your button secure but also enough looseness to not break or damage any threads.

9. Repeat as needed: Continue to sew through the buttonholes, alternating diagonals with each pass until you have made at least four passes for each set of diagonal holes.

10. Remove the toothpick: Once your sewing is complete, gently remove the toothpick or object used to create the shank.

11. Secure your sewing: On your last stitch, bring the needle up through the fabric but not through the buttonhole. Instead, wrap the thread around the shank under the button a few times to secure it and then insert the needle back down through the fabric.

12. Tie off your thread: To finish, make a small knot in the thread on the backside of your shirt and trim off any excess thread with scissors.

Now you know how to sew on a shirt button in 12 simple steps! Remember, practice makes perfect – so keep this skill handy for whenever you find a loose or missing button on your favorite shirt.