I've never really relished the idea of making buttonholes. I think it's a phobia dating back to school sewing lessons. I can remember the sewing machines we had at school. They were mainly Husqvarna and Benina and all of them basic models. They had straight stitch, could go forwards or backwards and could zig zag but that was about it. Although you could select a buttonhole stitch, you had to stitch it manually. This entailed measuring the button with a ruler and then judging both length and width by keeping the button sitting to the side of the foot. Then you had to remember to change the setting on the machine for step 1, 2, 3 or 4 depending on what side of the buttonhole you were on. I always found it a bit hit and miss. Well, more miss really. Anyway, since those early days of sewing, I have avoided buttonholes with a passion. The mere thought of a buttonhole would make me quake. My current Janome is nearly ten years old and in all that time, I have n...