PatternReview.com online sewing community
Online Sewing Class: Bust Adjustments
Register Today!
Join our community of 579,262 sewists!
SIGNUP Membership is free and includes 1 free lesson
Login |
Join our community of 579,262 sewists!
Signup | Login
To participate in the PatternReview.com forums please Login or Join PatternReview
12 
Member since 1/23/06
Posts: 249
Send Message
Posted on: 4/18/09 6:36 PM ET
In my last two projects (both jackets) I used a medium weight woven cotton fabric with stretch (maybe 2% spandex?).

My 1955 Singer with buttonholer attachment gave me fits on both projects. I gave up and went with sew-on snaps with buttons on top. As this happens to be the fashion, it looks fine, but I'm feeling very limited! I specifically keep this Singer because the buttonholer attachment makes such beautiful buttonholes!

Things I've tried:
-Changing the thread on top and then on bottom (using Gutterman thread).
-Using a different bobbin (both bobbins are metal and are the correct bobbin)
-Put in a new sharp Singer needle
-Put in a new ballpoint Singer needle
-Tissue paper on top
-Tissue paper on bottom
-Moving the feed dogs up and down a bit
-Heavier interfacing to further stablize fabric

I'm getting partial buttonholes - zigzag stitches catch for a bit, and then they don't. There's no pattern that I can see to this problem. I just did a test buttonhole on uninterfaced muslin and it looks fine....

Any suggestions welcome!

More and more fabrics have some stretch so I want to tackle this and get it resolved.

~Linda (redsquid)
------
redsquid (Linda)
  
Member since 4/11/02
Posts: 10809
Send Message
Posted on: 4/18/09 7:09 PM ET
In reply to redsquid
Quote:
-Put in a new sharp Singer needle
-Put in a new ballpoint Singer needle


Try Stretch needles. They are made for modern knits.
------
--
"I base my fashion sense on what doesn't itch." — Gilda Radner
http://stitchesandseams.blogspot.com
  
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 13492
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 4/18/09 8:16 PM ET
In reply to redsquid
I also have found that stretch needles will often solve the most mysterious problems. In your situation, I'd add Space Tape to my sewing kit. This stuff can be magic with difficult, twitchy, shifty, or sleazy fabrics (getting all moral here). The price you pay is just picking out a few shiny little shiny bits with your tweezers afterwards, but no biggie.
------
Elona
  
Member since 2/13/09
Posts: 56
Send Message
Posted on: 4/18/09 9:07 PM ET
Use a small paintbrush to saturate the areas where you want to make buttonholes with some Solvy dissolved in water according to the directions on the package or some Sew Perfect. This makes the fabric board stiff once dried. That should allow you to make the buttonholes with no fuss. Both products rinse out with water.
  
Member since 1/23/06
Posts: 249
Send Message
Posted on: 4/20/09 5:54 PM ET
Thanks everybody - these are three great suggestions!

~Linda
------
redsquid (Linda)
  
Member since 2/2/03
Posts: 52
Send Message
Posted on: 4/20/09 6:28 PM ET
In reply to redsquid
Hi,

Stretch needles are not recommended for some vintage singer sewing machines. They can damage the hook. So try all the other suggestions, and maybe someone will know if you can use a stretch needle for your machine.

Margaret
  
Member since 4/8/02
Posts: 8572
Send Message
Posted on: 4/20/09 6:59 PM ET
In reply to redsquid
I recently used this product on a stretch polyester. It stabilized the fabric perfectly and disappeared in the washing machine. Solvy and Sew Perfect would probably do the same thing.
------
“Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it annoys the pig.” -Robert Heinlein and Ann's father. Thanks for the reminder, Ann.

Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handbasket?

Matthew 25:40 (New International Version)
The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'



  
Member since 12/13/07
Posts: 826
Send Message
Posted on: 4/20/09 9:10 PM ET
Tear away or washaway stablizer on the back may help better than tissue paper. Microtex needles can do better than "knit" needles with the ball point.
  
Member since 2/16/06
Posts: 3174
Send Message
Posted on: 4/20/09 9:19 PM ET
You could also try some spray starch--it washes out.

Em
------
From what others have said, the nasty message came from Fitting Woes, NOT Misc Hot Topics or the Civility thread.

  
Member since 8/31/05
Posts: 945
Send Message
Posted on: 4/20/09 11:25 PM ET
In reply to redsquid
I assume you tried a buttonhole on a different fabric to ensure that your attachment is indeed working correctly.
------
Betwixt mine eye and heart a league is took…. (Shakespeare)
  
12 
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Selected Reviews, Classes & Patterns
Metro Textiles
NYC Fabric Store
Specials!
Discovery Fabrics
High Performance Fabrics
Specials!
Fancy Frocks Fabrics
Fine Designer Fabrics