Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Machine buttonholes

I did test the buttonholes (of course). First with black thread, mainly because that was on my machine from a little in between job for a friend of my daughter. But it also helped to clearly see what the result of the buttonholes was. I also tried a buttonhole with a rounded end, but that is not my favorite on my machine, I don’t get that one quite right.

The first one on the left was the default buttonhole, center right with a different setting, top right with a filling tread. That was the one I chose to use, and I tried it with the right color thread too. This is the one bottom right.

And guess what happened? After 5 trial buttonholes with no problems the first one on the jacket went wrong!! I unpicked it and did it again, but what a pita!

On the picture below you can see the fill thread. You pull on the thread so that the closed side of the fill thread will be on the end of the buttonhole. This way it also reinforces the point that will get the most stress when the jacket is worn closed.

Here the thread is pulled through (on my machine it goes smoothly over the bottom thread, the upper thread usually gets a few stitches and can’t be pulled through anymore).

The tail ends are cut off and here is the front with all the buttonholes. I didn’t open the buttonholes yet.

13 comments:

  1. How annoying to do all that practice and then have the first button hole on the actual jacket go wrong! Your corded button holes do look nice though! I am looking forward to seeing your new jacket.

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  2. Oh, how awful to have a buttonhole go wrong on your gorgeous jacket! Been there. I'll be trying to "redesign" a jacket front soon to fix such a problem. Mine couldn't be unpicked. Your corded buttonholes do look beautiful.

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  3. It's 'Murphy's Law' that something tried before successfully 'has' to go wrong when it comes to the real deal. But I have to say your button holes look very good. I still have my chanel-style jacket 'waiting for me'... and corded button holes will be part of that as well. Thanks for letting us be part of your experience.

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  4. The same thing happened to me the last time I tried buttonholes. You get credit for not throwing out the whole project :)

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  5. Buttonholes. ARGGGHHHH. They are the bane of my existence. I have a manual machine that makes horrific buttonholes. For year I avoided making anything that needed buttonholes. Last year I splurged on a new Brother machine for the sole purpose of making buttonholes. Now I make them like crazy. They are perfect every time. Oooops. Did I juts jinx myself?

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  6. I've had the same experience with buttonholes. The machine I got for Sweetest Day makes wonderful buttonholes but as a precaution I always start the buttoholes on the bottom first! If I mess up it isn't at eye level.

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  7. Oh, I feel your pain. I think I could make 1000 practice buttonholes and have the first one on the good stuff wreck up! And it is always on good stuff that this happens -- never on a play outfit for grandchildren or something like that! I can't imagine how much fun unpicking a buttonhole on boucle must be!

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  8. The law of "Murphy" makes appearance again, I share your feelings of frustration, usually happens, but your jacket is being beautiful.

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  9. Isn't that how it always goes? That happens to me sometimes, too. Your final ones look great, though.

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  10. We all have these little bumps along the way I think. that is why all the testing is so important. Your jacket will be lovely.

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  11. I love corded buttonholes - they make such a big difference - and bummer about the first one misbehaving - we all know about that!

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  12. Ayy. Little did you know you would add +1 step to the 100-plus others!
    My serger skipped a stitch while I was coverhemming a neckline yesterday. it happens!

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  13. Hi Sigrid! Yes, buttonholes are
    so tricky. I thought it was just me that would do tests just fine then the machine would wreck the one on the garment. I like the idea of starting on the bottom from one of your commentors, I will have to remember that! Now...what Brother machine makes beautiful buttonholes? Please tell Kathy G! Thanks.

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