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What kind? (Moderated by Deepika)
Posted on: 9/27/05 9:02 AM ET
I'm making a top of silk shantung. It is underlined with polyester organza (Don't ask! I took bad advice - should have used silk organza.)
Anyway, I can't decide what kind of buttonholes to use. The buttons are 3/4" since this is a jacket-style top that I will wear buttoned up. I've been experimenting with bound-buttonholes (cutting away the poly organza so it doesn't mess me up), but I'm worried that I'm too inexperienced with them to be able to accomplish 6 of them. On the other hand, I experimented with machine buttonholes, and the silk makes it really hard to get throught the feeddogs/presser foot evenly and smoothly every time.
What do you do? Any anecdotes based on your own experiences?
Thanks,
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Anyway, I can't decide what kind of buttonholes to use. The buttons are 3/4" since this is a jacket-style top that I will wear buttoned up. I've been experimenting with bound-buttonholes (cutting away the poly organza so it doesn't mess me up), but I'm worried that I'm too inexperienced with them to be able to accomplish 6 of them. On the other hand, I experimented with machine buttonholes, and the silk makes it really hard to get throught the feeddogs/presser foot evenly and smoothly every time.
What do you do? Any anecdotes based on your own experiences?
Thanks,
------
Jean
Posted on: 9/27/05 2:32 PM ET
In reply to meanjean
Is the fabric slipping? I'm not sure what you mean regarding your machine buttonholes.
Anyway, my suggestions for the machine buttonholes include:
Increasing the presser foot pressure and/or using a smaller, "pointier" needle like a microtex (sp?) in a relatively smaller size like a 10, and/or try using a piece of tear-away stabilizer underneath (on the feed dog side) which may help prevent slippage.
The bound buttonholes get easier and neater with practice. You could do several to test it out.
HTH and good luck!
-- Edited on 9/27/05 3:33 PM --
------
Anyway, my suggestions for the machine buttonholes include:
Increasing the presser foot pressure and/or using a smaller, "pointier" needle like a microtex (sp?) in a relatively smaller size like a 10, and/or try using a piece of tear-away stabilizer underneath (on the feed dog side) which may help prevent slippage.
The bound buttonholes get easier and neater with practice. You could do several to test it out.
HTH and good luck!
-- Edited on 9/27/05 3:33 PM --
------
Liz
Posted on: 9/27/05 2:41 PM ET
I'd definitely go with the bound buttonholes. They look wonderful in silk shantung. As far as the uneven feeding of the fabric, have you tried sewing with a scrap of tissue or pattern paper between the fabric and the feed dogs? I have found that often helps with slippery fabrics. It also adds some stability. For that matter, you could use a tear-away stabilizer as well.
HTH!
Ann
HTH!
Ann
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