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 never even as much as looked at the buttonhole
foot. It's been stowed away in the little cardboard accessory box that came with
the machine. That is - until yesterday.
I woke up yesterday with an urge to sew a
project. You know how it is. There is an overwhelming, intense, yearning to stitch.
A burning desire to use up some stash and create something useful with it.
I decided to set myself a challenge. My stash
box was overflowing and was in some serious need of clearing out. So, the challenge
was to only to use items that I already had. Going out to buy more wasn't an option.
I've had this pink fabric for years and I was
delighted to find out that there was just enough to make a single duvet cover and
pillowcase. Cool. Unfortunately, I didn't have any popper tape or press studs. Not so cool. It
meant that I would either need to leave the opening free from any form or fasteners
or... can you sense my panic - use buttons.
OK, after three deep breaths, a cup of tea,
a comforting chocolate biscuit and a bit of a sit down, I went looking for the
buttonhole foot.
Not that it's that easy to miss. It's the longest
foot I've got.
I was a little stumped at this point as I hadn't
a clue what to do with it, besides popping it on the machine that is.
Manuals are funny things aren't they? When you
don't need them you can put your hand right on them. As soon as you need to look something up they are nowhere to be found. It's as though they have sprouted legs and started playing hide and seek. I spent nearly 2 hours searching through boxes
looking for it. I gave up in the end and
watched some videos on YouTube.
Load the button into the space at the back end
of the buttonhole foot.
Pop the front end of the foot on the machine.
Lower the little bar thingy from behind the
presser foot
So far so good.
Set the machine on button holing... now the
scary bit. Push down on the pedal. Eek!
Oh wow - it just does it! The little bar thingy measures the button and the
machine automatically sews each side of the buttonhole. It even auto stops and gives
a cute little "ping" when it's done. It's a bit like the "ping"
my car gives me when I try to open the driver's door with my lights on.
Why have I not tried buttonholes before? Why didn't anyone tell me buttonholes could be so simple?
Why have I not tried buttonholes before? Why didn't anyone tell me buttonholes could be so simple?
I did still have a bit of a technical hiccup though.
My bobbin ran out of thread halfway through
a buttonhole which was a bit annoying.
Now, if I could just have a little "ping"
to let me know when the bobbin thread is due to run out - I'd be tickled as pink
as the duvet cover.
Bye for now
Olly
Facebook.com/olwenwhite/
instagram.com/olwenwhitewrites/
Twitter @OlwenWhite
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