Kids Butter Wouldn’t Melt Tee: How a Bunnings Tantrum Turned Into a Viral Sensation
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Some of my favourite Stitch Nest creations come from the most unexpected moments and our Butter Wouldn’t Melt tee has the most nostalgic origin story of them all.
It started on what I thought would be just another normal day at Bunnings. My daughter, who was around two at the time, was in full toddler meltdown mode you know, the kind where they go limp on the floor, screaming, while you’re trying to keep your cool and not block the aisle.
As I tried to calm her down, an older lady walked past, gave me a kind smile, and said with a laugh: “Butter wouldn’t melt.”
The second my daughter saw someone looking, she snapped out of it, stood up, and acted like nothing ever happened.
I instantly laughed, partly out of relief and partly because that phrase hit me right in the heart. It was something my grandparents always used to say to me, and now my dad says it to my kids.
That’s when it clicked this needed to be on a t-shirt
From Family Saying to First Market Stall
In November 2024, I brought the very first batch of Butter Wouldn’t Melt t-shirts to Spring Fest Ballarat.
The reaction? Incredible.
People stopped in their tracks, pointing at the shirts and laughing, saying things like:
“Oh my gosh, my mum used to say that to me!”
“I say that to my grandkids all the time!”
One person even exclaimed, “By gee, my grandparents used to say Butter Wouldn’t Melt to me!” and that stuck with me. It showed me just how universal and nostalgic this little saying really is.
When a TikTok Video Changed Everything
A few months later, in February 2025, I decided to share the backstory on TikTok.
The video was simple just me telling the story of that Bunnings tantrum and why this tee meant so much to me and my family.
And then… it went viral.
Within days, my phone was blowing up with orders, notifications, and messages.
Hundreds of Butter Wouldn’t Melt tees were sold and shipped all across Australia. I couldn’t believe it this little family saying had resonated with so many people, far beyond Ballarat.
Why It Will Always Be the Original
Since then, I’ve noticed similar designs popping up, and while imitation might be flattering, there’s something extra special about knowing this is the original.
The Butter Wouldn’t Melt tee was born from a real-life parenting moment, stitched with love right here in my home studio. Every shirt I make carries that story — from a tantrum in the Bunnings aisle to a viral TikTok sensation.
For me, this design isn’t just about cute words on a shirt.
It’s about family, nostalgia, and those sayings that get passed down through generations.
It’s a reminder that even in the chaos of parenthood, these little moments can turn into something beautiful.
Get Yours Before They’re Gone
Our Butter Wouldn’t Melt tees continue to sell out quickly thanks to their viral moment and they make the perfect gift for parents, grandparents, and anyone who loves a cheeky throwback saying.
