Making buttonholes

I have two of the old Singer type: one that just makes oval buttonholes and one that uses cams to make keyhole types in different sizes...

I also have 10 different styles of buttonhole on my magic HV Lily. After extensive use of both, my experience is that the electronic magical thing makes FAR better buttonholes. Many folk will say otherwise, but I strongly suspect that they don't get their machines serviced as frequently as they should. I have pictures of keyhole buttonholes from both. They aren't on my web site, but I can send you copies so you can see for yourself.

Don't get me wrong: the Singer gadgets do work well enough: I just wouldn't call them 'sell to customer' quality. If your Pfaff is an older mechanical with built in semi-automatic buttonholes, there may be not a lot of difference in quality from the separate gadget.

I use the Singer buttonhole attachments all the time.. I prefer the "mechanical" buttonholes to the "electronic" ones.. I find them to be more precise. (I do have a machine that does the "electronic" buttonholes, but I don't like them)

YMMV, me

The Pfaff 1400 series makes terrible buttonholes. So if that's the machine, the Singer buttonholer would do better. I have had good results with my buttonhole attachments - I have the older kind with the metal cams, and also the newer ones that have something like 21 plastic cams - including an eyelet. If the machine is set correctly, the attachment makes near perfect buttonholes. Always do a practice buttonhole before starting on the garment - don't proceed until all the adjustments have been made and tested.

Yep! I use the "Singer Professional Buttonholer" on my Singer 401 and make beautiful buttonholes.

-Irene=20

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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Kate, just curious, how often do you get your Viking serviced? Now, I realize you use your machine at a 'higher level' than I'd ever use mine... :)

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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Once every year to 18 months, depending on what I've done with it. It'll get done this autumn. Serger gets done at a similar interval.

Thanks, all, for the input. I have a line on a Singer mechanical bh attchment and I'll give it a whirl: cheaper than fixing the bh on the Pfaff 1212. My quality requirements are modest for now: bound holes for drawstrings to pass through on laundrybags I'm making for homeless people at a shelter. JPBill

The Singer or Greist attachments make very good buttonholes. If you can find one with an eyelet cam, you'll find that the most satisfactory, I think. It's possible to make a buttonhole on any machine that has controllable stitch width and length but it's fun to watch those things moving the fabric around as they do the work.

I've also used the buttonholer to make very flimsy buttonholes as a guide, so my hand-finished buttonholes that I make atop them look good.

Max