Elongate the life in your wardrobe of your favourite staple following our step-by-step guide.
Few garments say so much with so little as a cotton shirt, and no matter how many seasons pass or trends come and go, it always has a place in your wardrobe. What do you need to extend its life and look after it without having to consult an expert? An iron, a needle, some thread, bicarbonate of soda, hydrogen peroxide, washing-up liquid, a wooden hanger and a little patience.
Take note, follow the step-by-step guide and let your cotton shirt speak for itself for another season.
Bear in mind that cotton responds very well to heat, so it just needs a bit of guidance and care. Start with the collar, running the iron from the inside, following the natural curve of the garment, and you’ll see that it will take shape on its own. The cuffs? Iron them flat and open, first one side and then the other. For the body, gently turn the shirt over and follow the shape of the armholes. And finally, for between the buttons, just use the tip of the iron. Before putting it away, hang it on a hanger – always a wooden one – and let it cool down. It will make all the difference.
Sewing on a loose button is very easy. All you need is white thread and a medium tension setting. The trick is to leave a couple of millimetres between the button and the fabric. That way, it will still be easy to fasten as time goes by.
It’s normal for yellowish stains to appear with regular wear, but don’t worry – the solution is very simple. Just mix equal parts bicarbonate of soda, hydrogen peroxide and washing-up liquid, soak the garment, and wait for about thirty minutes. Oh, and before you heat the shirt, make sure it’s completely dry and that the stain has disappeared entirely.
You’ll need to be patient again, but a hole in your cotton shirt can be fixed – you just need to learn how to darn. The aim? To make the hole go unnoticed. Using a needle and thread the same colour as the shirt, cover the hole by sewing parallel stitches to close it up. Then, sew perpendicular stitches to reinforce it. You’ll see that, thanks to this new weave, a new fabric is created.
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