I don't actually know how to make buttonholes. Yes, I won a Best of Show and went on to get a blue ribbon at the state fair on the button-up shirt I made in 4-H. But, I still don't know how to make buttonholes. It's something that I could learn to do if I really felt like I needed to, however I don't think I will concern myself with it because I have a MAGIC TOOL that does it for me (boy that makes me sound lazy doesn't it?)!
Meet my Singer Buttonholer (model 160506). I pop the regular foot off of my machine, snap this guy on, drop the feed dogs and put the pedal to the metal!
The templates (the little bits there on the left of the photo) control the size and the shape of the button holes. The switch you see on the side is the adjuster for the width of the stitch.
This buttonholer was in pretty tough shape when we got it but with some disassembly, cleaning, and some new white grease it now works like new.
For more vintage fun, check out Vintage Thingie Thursday hosted by Coloradolady!
26 comments:
This is one of the best vintage gadget posts ever! I love your wonderful Singer buttonholer and thanks for showing us how it works! :)
What a lovely invention! The old machines often make far better stitches than newer ones. Your Buttonholer is a treasure!
I can not make button holes either, maybe with a gadget like this, I could. This is really a neat tool. Thanks for showing us this today! Love it.
Have a great VTT!
Ah - - - the vintage Singer buttonholer. Back when my mom was teaching me to sew, I used one just like that.
It was rather new at the time - - - which tells you how OLD I am. :-)
Button, button, who's got the button? Fun item!
I'm glad I have my new machine - makes it so much easier to put in a button hole!!! Neat to look at your vintage one!
I remember using some kind of gadget to make buttonholes, but it didn't have templates.
Wish I had a buttonholer, but my machine has been broke for about 5 years, so I guess it wouldn't do me much good, would it?!
I've made many quilts in my life, many sewn decorative projects. (But I never learned to make a button hole either!) And you asked if that kitchen island in my house is an old Singer sewing machine? Yes, it most certainly is!
Brenda
That looks like the one my mom used to use! I'm working on a post for 4-H dress review! Maybe I'll get it up soon! Wasn't 4-H the best for turning out crafters!
That is a great button holer. ~Theresa
I never was into sewing, but you seem to have the right equipment to make it easy. Great post, and than you for dropping by my post.
a fabulous gadget indeed :)
I love seeing this buttonhole maker; this must be the grand-daddy to my 1980 Singer buttonhole maker. I'll have to show it sometime soon.
I have my mother's very old Singer...I do believe that attachment would work....!!! ha!
THAT is supercool! A bit intimidating if you ask me(I turn a knob and my machine makes the buttonholes for me), but a cool vintage thingie nonetheless!
what a super gadget.. never see on like yours.. thanks for sharing & happy VTT
I've used a buttonholer like that before. Probably the same model. I remember the little templates.
I love machine attachments! They sure can make hard things easy. Button holes are intimidating to say the least. Thanks to anyone and anything that makes them easier!
Oh, Oh, Oh! I LOVE my Singer button hole machine. I have the same model as you and a newer one. I had no idea there were more cams available! I'm going to have to look. Thanks!
Hi. Just wanted to add a bit.
before that wanted to mention that the buttonholer is one of the best accessories you'll ever have for your sewing machine.
anyway. to make the stitching more dimensional i always run the "cycle", at least, twice. you might also want to raise the upper thread's tension.
i had 5 home sewing machines, and an industrial one. one of which was computerized(worst thing i've ever bought) so the beauty of the buttonholer is way better than the one that computerized machine did.
(the only thing, and i think, many will agree, is the rounded end, instead of straight; though it adds some sort of uniqueness)
another thing i wanted to add, is try to use 2 different color treads, if appropriate obviously. works greatly on denim. (try to make the hole on the belt, before it's attached, otherwise thick edges will prevent full contact of fabric in the middle, where the actual stitches are made... (same applies to collar stand on a shirt, but at least the latter is not as thick).
and last thing... if you plan on using the buttonholer a lot. i do :) i bought a singer, ak series on a flea market for $10, well plus the cord with pedal for another 20) bought it for the sake of aesthetics, all metal, vintage you know. 1941. yeah, back to the point, i removed the feed dogs, so this way there is no need to put the cover on, which is honestly awful and keeps on moving, so this way i have a machine with more space between the attachment and the plate, noticeably more. and you eliminate the need to interchange the buttonholer and regular feet... removed the feed dogs today, as i almost made a hole by needle, as the bottom thread wouldn't catch on on a collar (for the first time)... works perfectly... The point is, if you have space(i don't anymore :) and ever come across a cheap, working! old singer machine, don't hesitate to buy one, and get the dogs out.
sorry for the longest comment, but i thought this would be useful, and at least i'd have a place to share this. i'm a guy, and half of my female friends can't even hold a needle, not even talking about guys...
and a question, i only have 8 templates, 4 that came in the box(the green one, with the black buttonholer, and a separate template box, which includes 1/2 inch, 5/8 keyhole, etc, the packages are standard). does anyone know if there are other template sizes. today i was specifically looking for 2/3, or 5/8 but straing, not keyhole....
thanks!!!
I.R.
p.s. looks like, my comment got posted with my mother's gmail acct. so in case anyone has comments my email is igorekdnepr@gmail.com
I love vintage sewing contraptions like the one you have there! I'm giddy just thinking about it :)
Does this buttonholer work on a Brother VX-1120 sewing machine?
Anonymous, I think it would. There are two different ones, one for a slant shank machine and one for a low shank machine. Make sure to get the low shank version (like mine, for example) and I think it would work just fine. Make sure you can either drop the feeddogs on the Brother or get a buttonholer that comes with the feeddog cover.
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