Date: 8/11/09 10:48 AM

Last year I purchased and have been using a Singer professional buttonholer for vertical zig zag machines #102575. While I love it and it is so much easier than the button holes on my Scandinavia 200, the quality isn't nearly as good as some of the examples I've seen. I have it set up on a Necchi (basic student model, left behind when my husband's ex walked out on him-hah!). It looks to me like the stitch length is too far apart but I have it positioned correctly (#1 slot) on the buttonholer and the instructions tell you not to adjust the stitch length on the machine. Here's my example. buttonholes

FYI in the quest for the really perfect buttonhole I recently purchased the model 102878 but the results are the same. I've also tried using heavier thread and a doulble thread in the needle. Not much difference from what you see in the example picture. In addition, I went tried to find a longer screw for my S200 as that's why it doesn't work on my regular machine. No luck.

What do you think? Is it the buttonholer? Is it the machine? Could it possibly be the operator???

-- Edited on 8/11/09 10:52 AM --

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http://www.leanmeansewingmachine.blogspot.com/

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Date: 8/11/09 12:24 PM

Have you oiled it according to the instruction book directions? I did that before I used my older black Singer buttonholder in the green rectangular box. Are the feed dogs covered by the cover plate?
Melissa in Reno

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Melissa
Kenmore 19606, Singer 15-91, 201-2, Tiffany Singer 15-30, Brother EX660, Kenmore 158.504, Janome 9102 D, 2 New Home NLBs, Singer 600e, Singer 503, Singer 500, Singer 401, White Family Rotary, Kenmore 158.1060, Kenmore 158.1400

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Reply to melly298
Date: 8/11/09 12:26 PM

I have oiled it but I just dropped the feed dogs. Maybe the cover plate will make a difference. Will have to try that next.
Thanks!

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http://www.leanmeansewingmachine.blogspot.com/

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Date: 8/11/09 2:31 PM

With mine I find that going around the buttonhole twice rather than once makes a big difference. oops I see you're still getting not-the-best results going around twice.
-- Edited on 8/11/09 2:32 PM --

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Tricia
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The advantage of being a beginner is, nobody has told you "That can't be done." This is also the disadvantage of being a beginner.

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Date: 8/11/09 4:12 PM

To adjust the stitch length on this device, you have to unscrew the screw behind the stitch length selector, then move it to one. It's possible that someone tried to force the adjustment without loosening the screw first. You may want to open it up and see if something has been bent or broken. You should be able to get a very tight satin stitch.

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Reply to Soolip
Date: 8/11/09 5:57 PM

That's what I thought too! I've opened it up and checked the mechanism. Nothing that I can see appears to be wrong. Plus, when I tried it on the second model I had the same problem. Anyone think it might be the machine? (I'm trying to justify investing in a different used machine and this could be just the excuse I need!)

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http://www.leanmeansewingmachine.blogspot.com/

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Date: 8/11/09 6:02 PM

I'm stumped. Maybe join the Vintage Singers group, or the Singer Attachments group in Yahoo groups. Bill Holman will know what to do.

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Reply to leanmeansewingmachine
Date: 8/11/09 8:18 PM

Try making your stitch length shorter; like maybe 2.5 or 3 on a new machine; 12 or 10 on an older one. Also, without looking at it, there is another adjusting knob on the side. I believe that one goes from one to three; put it at 2.5 and see what happens.

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"With God as my witness, I will never wear ill-fitting panties again!" (PR Member during the Panty Sewalong)
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Reply to Soolip
Date: 8/11/09 8:29 PM

Soolip, can you get your stitch length all the way over to "1"? Mine only goes about halfway over. I've loosened the screw and all; it just doesn't go over fully to the left.

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GingerThreadsRM

Pfaff 7550, Kenmore 19606, Kenmore 19233, Singer Featherweight 221, Singer 301, Singer 15-91, Singer Treadle, Janome Hello Kitty, Janome Sew Mini

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Date: 8/11/09 8:45 PM

You should be able to get it all the way over to one, but there may be some variation in the way these are made. Either way, you should be able to achieve a reasonably tight satin stitch — much tighter than Lean Mean's scans.

I'm wondering if it has something to do with the Necchi's needle taking a deeper plunge than an older Singer? I mean, if the motion of the needle, which drives the buttonholer, has a longer path, would this affect the stitch length in some way? I guess the test would be to try it on a Fashion Mate.

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