Make buttonholes on your straight-stitch-only machine with a vintage attachment (3092 Views)

I've noticed many BurdaStyle members are making their creations with old-school straight-stitch-only machines they've inherited or thrifted. You can make gorgeous buttonholes on these machines by using a clever attachment... and even if you have a newer zigzag machine, you may want to try the attachment if you don't like your built-in buttonholes.

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COMMENTS (16)

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amarie Ï Posted 4 June 2008 at 8:58 PM
finally sewing again

EmilyKate, what a great how-to. You covered all the bases including strategies for ebay. So useful. I've been debating whether I should get a new machine that has more features and I could not justify it since I mostly sew for fun and really only need the upgrade for sewing buttons. A great and commendable howto
naughtylittlepony Ï Posted 5 June 2008 at 1:56 AM
making tiny legs (then the body)!

Yey, this is just what I needed. I really didn't like the idea of replacing one of my babies. (I am in the stupid position of having 3 machines, none of which do more that a straight stitch!). I have my eye on a button hole attachment on eBay at the moment. I would rather not have to sew all the button holes on my JJ blouse by hand.
Antigone Ï Posted 6 June 2008 at 10:44 AM
on a quest for cheap fabric

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!
EmilyKate Ï Posted 6 June 2008 at 4:59 PM
stoked about flickr up for swap!

I'm glad you guys liked it! Now don't all go bid against eachother on the same ones on ebay, you'll drive the price up :o)
angeldust Ï Posted 11 June 2008 at 7:08 AM
Making maternity wear and pyjamas!

VERY INSPIRING, I WANT TO GET AN OLD STYLE MACHINE NOW! I HAVE HAD LOADS IN THE PAST BUT THEY WERE NOT SUITABLE FOR MY WORKLOAD BUT I DO ALL MY BUTTONHOLES BY HAND AS MY BUTTONHOLER ON MY FAB TOP OF THE RANGE MACHINE IS RUBBISH!!!!
meta Ï Posted 23 June 2008 at 7:33 PM

Your lovely machine looks just like my lovely machine, a Singer 15-91. You can lower the feed dogs on these - tilt the machine back and there is a large screw that turns to move them up or down. With the feed dogs lowered, it isn't necessary to use the plate to cover them up.
EmilyKate Ï Posted 24 June 2008 at 9:43 PM
stoked about flickr up for swap!

Meta, I had no idea my machine could drop its feed dogs! I will have to try it, although I think that the plate cover, because it sorta sits up higher than the bed of the machine, kinda pushes the fabric up against the buttonholers foot-thing... I'll have to try both ways when I get home!! Fiddling with that plate cover is a pain in the neck...
janetzplace Ï Posted 24 June 2008 at 10:04 PM

Very nice tutorial.

I have heard that there is a way to embroidery with this attatchment? Not sure, but I know that I will be trying to use a buttonholer off of my 221.
Mirela Ï Posted 25 June 2008 at 10:41 AM
http://mirela.etsy.com

Thank you so much for posting this! Even though I sew with a computerized machine, I've heard about such an attachment for straight stitch machines, I always wanted to see one working. Very pretty old gal you have there!
EmilyKate Ï Posted 25 June 2008 at 10:50 PM
stoked about flickr up for swap!

Hi janetzplace, I read that too and what they're referring to with the embroidery is that you can kida do monograms with it. KINDA. What they mean is, because it basically does a line of close zigzag stitches, it can do a sort of satin stitch. maybe a maximum of an inch long. you could POSSIBLY stop-and-start this line and move the fabric around underneath it to kind of make it to doo lines that would form letters. But you would have many grey hairs before you finished :o)