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Member since 11/15/07
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Posted on: 1/16/21 4:51 PM ET
I am making a little girl’s dress with a back button closure for the bodice. it has an attached gathered skirt. Is there a rule regarding which side overlaps? I searched for some pictures online of back button closures and it seems like it can go either way, although, of course, buttons always go on the left on ladies’ blouses.
  
Member since 4/29/07
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Posted on: 1/16/21 5:23 PM ET
I don't think it matters, especially on the back of a child's garment. I've read that the "rules" for button placement came from a time when women, especially, had maids to help them dress. The maid would be facing the garment, so having the buttons on the left may have made it easier for a right-handed person to button them - in some cases, dozens of tiny ones. Not much of an issue these days!
  
Member since 4/4/07
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Posted on: 1/16/21 5:34 PM ET
I don't think it matters either, but in this case, I expect mom is going to be doing the buttoning. As I remember back buttoned dresses from my childhood, it's left over right.
  
Member since 9/13/02
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Posted on: 1/17/21 1:35 AM ET
Just for giggles:

I treasure the comment my 20-something DS made to me when one of my early shirt makes for him turned out to have the buttons on the "wrong" side. "Mom, puh-leeze. My masculinity isn't defined by which side the buttons are on."

(On the other hand, DH is utterly incapable of buttoning buttons that are on the "wrong" side. Just too many years of muscle memory.)
  
Member since 6/22/11
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Posted on: 1/17/21 6:41 AM ET
In reply to silversewist
you raised that young man very well!!

my DH hates jeans with a button fly...he has no muscle memory, can only operate a zipper.
  
Member since 12/13/08
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Posted on: 1/17/21 12:24 PM ET
In reply to Tanager
I second this, based on construction of back-buttoning doll dresses:


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~Elizabeth in the prairie
More Plans than Sense
PR's Most Relentless Babbler 2024
  
Member since 11/2/14
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Posted on: 1/17/21 12:31 PM ET
In reply to dr. liz
I remember these dresses when I was a little girl. I hated them. Consider a zipper or velcro. I am sorry to hear little girls are still be subjected to button back dresses. The only other part I hated more was the sashes in the back that always come untied. My mother took pity on me and but buckles on them instead.

Just my opinion, not meant personally!
  
Member since 7/16/07
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Posted on: 1/17/21 12:38 PM ET
In reply to silversewist
Quote:
I treasure the comment my 20-something DS made to me when one of my early shirt makes for him turned out to have the buttons on the "wrong" side. "Mom, puh-leeze. My masculinity isn't defined by which side the buttons are on."

That's a great comment. I didn't know until fairly recently that many baby/toddler patterns have the buttons on the "girl" side by default. I have several kids' sewing and knitting patterns like this -- intended for either gender, but the buttons are on the left side, with the buttonholes on the right side. It's easy to change this, if a person happens to notice in time, but I found it odd that the instructions didn't give both options. I also have a few Burda baby/toddler/young child shirt patterns intended specifically for boys -- in this case they put the buttons on the "boy" side.


-- Edited on 1/17/21 at 12:40 PM --
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my shield and my very great reward ~ Gen. 15:1

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~ Albert Einstein

People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be, not what you nag them to be. ~ Scudder N. Parker
  
Member since 10/26/08
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Posted on: 1/17/21 12:38 PM ET
Old adage, "Women are always RIGHT." Men button to the left.

ETA: For a woman's blouse, lap the right side (buttonholes) over the left; opposite for men's shirts.


-- Edited on 1/18/21 at 1:17 AM --
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Judy
  
Member since 7/16/07
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Posted on: 1/17/21 12:41 PM ET
In reply to Judy Kski


Although that would confuse me, if I didn't already know, since it doesn't say whether this refers to the button side or to the buttonhole side.
------
my shield and my very great reward ~ Gen. 15:1

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~ Albert Einstein

People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be, not what you nag them to be. ~ Scudder N. Parker
  
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