How to Fix a Gaping Shirt

Co-authored by Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA

Last Updated: January 9, 2020 References Tested

A gaping shirt can be super annoying and may make you feel unprofessional. Fortunately, you have several options for fixing it! If you’re in a pinch, use a quick fix to solve your fashion faux pas temporarily. Alternatively, sew on a snap or hook-and-eye closure to keep the gap closed. As another option, add a button or 2 inside the button panel on your shirt to secure the gap.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Doing a Quick Fix

1
Close the hole with a safety pin for a simple solution. With your shirt buttoned-up, hold the gaping area together using 1 hand. Hold an open safety pin and insert your arm through the top of your shirt. Use the hand that's inside the shirt to push the pin through the inside of both shirt panels, then push it back through both panels. Secure the safety pin on the inside of your shirt to keep your shirt together.^{[1]
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- It’s unlikely that people will notice the safety pin. If it's super noticeable, take it out and try inserting it again so that there's less pin visible.
2
Apply fashion tape to both button panels to keep the gap closed. Fashion tape is a special double-stick tape that’s strong enough to hold your clothes together. Pull off a strip of fashion tape that's the length of the shirt section that gapes. Stick 1 side of the fashion tape on the inside of the panel with the buttonholes. Then, apply the other side of the fashion tape to the front side of the panel that has the buttons. Press the 2 pieces of tape together to close the gape.^{[2]
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- The fashion tape should hold for the rest of the day. However, it’s not a long-term fix.
Tip: Any strong double-stick tape will work!

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3
Wear a camisole under your shirt and leave it open at the top. The easiest way to fix a gaping shirt is to embrace the gape. Instead of trying to stop your shirt from gaping, leave the buttons open. Wear a camisole under your button-up shirt to cover up your chest or cleavage. Then, unbutton the top 1-3 buttons of your shirt if the gape is over your chest. If the shirt gapes lower down on your torso, leave it completely unbuttoned.^{[3]
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- For instance, you might wear a lace-top camisole for a feminine look. Alternatively, wear a muscle tank in place of a camisole.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Adding a Snap or Hook

1
Mark the center of the gape on each panel with a fabric pencil. Lay out your shirt and expose the inside of the panel that has the buttonholes. Then, find the spot exactly between the buttonholes on the section that’s gaping. Use your fabric pencil to mark the inside of the button hole panel so you know where you want to add a snap or hook-and-eye closure. Use a measuring tape to find how far from the upper button hole your mark is, then measure from the top button on the button panel to find the same spot on the other panel. Mark the front facing side of the button panel where you’ll attach the other end of your snap or closure.^{[4]
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- A snap is typically easier to close, but it may pop open more easily. You might prefer a hook-and-eye enclosure if you have a very large chest.
2
Use a needle and thread to sew on the 2 parts of a snap closure. Place 1 side of the snap closure over your mark on the side that has the button holes. Push a hand-sewing needle through the holes around the closure to secure it. Then, use your needle and thread to attach the other snap on the mark you made on the button side of the panel.^{[5]
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3
Sew on a hook-and-eye closure as another option. Use a hand-sewing needle and thread to attach the hook onto the inside of the panel that contains the buttonholes. Then, sew the eye enclosure onto the front-facing side of the button panel.^{[6]
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- When you button up your shirt, secure the hook-and-eye closure after you close the button below it and before you close the button above it.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Sewing on a Button

1
Lay out your shirt and flip the buttonhole panel over to expose the inside. To keep your new button hidden, sew it on the inside of the panel flaps. You’re going to sew the new button on the side of your shirt that has the buttonholes. Place your shirt on a flat surface and expose the inside of the flap with the buttonholes.^{[7]
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- Choose a button that's the same size as the buttons on your shirt or smaller. You'll need to cut a buttonhole for the new button, and a large button will require you to cut a longer hole.
2
Put the button equal distance between the buttonholes. Use a tape measure to find the spot that's evenly between the 2 existing buttons that surround the gape. Then, mark this spot with a fabric pencil. Place the button on the mark so you can sew it there.^{[8]
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3
Insert a thread that matches your shirt into a hand-sewing needle. Cut about 2 ft (0.61 m) of thread. Then, push the end of the thread through the eye of a hand-sewing needle. Pull about 12 in (30 cm) of thread through the needle, then make a knot at the end of the thread.^{[9]
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- The thread may be slightly visible from the outside of your shirt, so hold the thread up to your shirt to check that the color matches.
4
Sew the button onto your shirt using a cross stitch. Hold the button in place as you insert the needle through the tiny holes in the button. Then, cross the thread over the buttonholes. Make several passes with your needle and thread to secure the button to your shirt.^{[10]
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- If you're using a 2-hole button, push the needle and thread up through 1 of the holes, then loop the needle over and through the second hole. Make several passes with your needle to secure the button to the shirt, then knot and snip your thread.
- For a shank button that has only 1 hole, loop your needle and thread through the hole on the back of the button. Pass your needle through the hole at least 10 times to make sure your button is secure. Then, knot and snip the end of the thread.
- If you have a preferred stitch for attaching buttons, it’s okay to use that instead. Your button won’t be visible, so you don’t need to worry about it looking different from your other buttons.
5
Tie the thread behind the button on the inside of the button panel. Pull the thread tight, then make a loop with it. Pull your needle through the loop and pull it all the way through to make a knot. Make a second knot to secure the button.^{[11]
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- If you knot the button on the other side of the panel, it'll be visible when you’re wearing your shirt.
6
Snip off the excess thread to finish attaching the button. Position your scissors right above the knot you made with the thread. Cut the thread to finish your button stitch. Check that your button feels secure.^{[12]
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- If your button is loose, add more stitches until it feels like it’s sturdily attached.
7
Cut a hole for the new button. Line up the shirt panels, then use your fabric pencil to mark where the new button meets the other side of the panel. Fold the shirt horizontally over the mark and use your fabric scissors to cut a small, button-sized hole.^{[13]
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- Start with a hole that may be too small for your button, then lengthen the hole as necessary. The hole needs to be just big enough for you to button the shirt. Otherwise, the button may slide out and be ineffective.
8
Stitch around the buttonhole to prevent fraying. Insert your needle through the base of the buttonhole. Then, sew up the side of the buttonhole using a circular pattern. When you reach the top of the buttonhole, reverse directions and sew down the other side. Finally, tie off the thread at the bottom of the hole and snip off the excess thread.^{[14]
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- This prevents your buttonhole from getting bigger.