Button it!
Posted by Vanessa
May 16, 2008
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Alright everybody – a genuine question here. I’m about to use (by ‘about to’ I mean ‘before the weekend is out’) the button-holing function on my sewing machine to reattach an annoying button. Hardly thrilling stuff I know, but any tips? I’m slightly puzzled by the whole set-up. And I’m stick of hurting my thumb trying to sew it on by hand with a blunt needle.
9 comments Categories: about us
May 16th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
You’re using a sewing machine to sew on a button? That sounds like sheer lunacy to me! Do you really have such a magical machine that can do that? I think ‘button-holing’ means creating a hole in the fabric for the button to go through, not sewing a button onto fabric. I’m pretty sure that you still have to do that by hand (though I’m prepared to bow down to superior sewing machine knowledge -Kerry, Jo?).
If you want to re-attach buttons, I advise buying sharper needles. xx
May 16th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
I’m pretty such some machines do attach buttons for you, however mine isn’t that sophisticated so I can’t really help you! However, I will have a look around I’m pretty sure I’ve seen something about it somewhere.
May 16th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
http://www.wikihow.com/Machine-Sew-on-a-Button
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTpuj-pNjJA
Try these :) they may help you a little! (the second one has annoying music, but sometimes seeing it helps more than reading about it? It seems pretty good :)
May 16th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
In fact, my watching that youtube video, I’ve realised that with the right foot, I could get mine to sew buttons on too! Is it bad that I really want to get the right attachments now? I hate handsewing… I just don’t have the patience.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I have a book with advice about how to sew buttons on with a machine. However, it sounds like such a ballache that I’m pretty sure I’d do it by hand until such a time as I have 20 dresses, 30 suits and a hot air balloon under my belt.
Good luck though!
xxx
May 17th, 2008 at 8:01 am
For what it’s worth, my machine’s a very basic model and only came with the foot for sewing buttonholes, not buttons. I suspect that if yours is a cheapo one too, you might have a similar situation.
Erica – excellent use of an underused term there. You’re right, it does sound like a ballache.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
I’ve managed to sew buttons on with mine – it is so much quicker if you are sewing a whole row.
On my machine I have used the embroidery foot (which isn’t so different from the normal stitching foot). Lower the feed dog (the grips that push the fabric through), and place the button and the fabric below the foot, lower the foot to hold it in place. If you keep the button in place like this, the machine will just sew on the spot.
Set the stitch type to the zig zag one and (here’s the important bit) adjust the stitch width to fit the button, turning the wheel on the side of the wheel and checking where the needle comes down until you get it right in centre of the holes. Make sure you do this checking! If you press the foot pedal and the needle comes down on the button rather than the hole you might snap the needle.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:07 am
I know mine can sew a button on because when I had a lesson with my friend, she showed me how to do it with the machine. I helfully forgot though…. Mine had four positions for the needle so you change the position each time you do one stitch, if you see what I mean? Or at least I think so. Tomorrow is button day. So I’ll be checking through this advice again!
May 19th, 2008 at 9:24 am
This is amazing! Who knew that sewing machines could sew on buttons? (Well, everyone except me, it seems!)