Comments on: Making Handsome Machine Buttonholes

By: Top 10 Sewing Tips – Historical Sewing

Top 10 Sewing Tips – Historical Sewing — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 22:55:53 +0000

[…] you ever accidentally cut your fabric with your seam ripper when cutting open buttonholes? Do your bonnet ties suddenly have fringe on the ends when they should be a smooth […]

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:28:01 +0000

My buttonhole output is about 75/25, with the handworked buttonholes saved for really special projects because of the time involved. If you only have a straight stitch machine, however, do not despair: I think the finest, most even buttonholes are made with the old Singer or Griest attachments. The attachments are plentiful and inexpensive and can be found in lots of online bidding sites or local charity shops; there is a bit of a learning curve but if you put in the time and the practice, you will have buttonholes that are superior to most of those made by contemporary zig-zag machines. The attachments are made for both straight stitch and zig-zag machines; all of them work equally well.

By: May

May — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:32:20 +0000

My 1930 singer hand crank singer only dose forward and backward. I am guessing that zigzag stitch was the preserve of the professional for quite a while.

Incidental The 1930’s machine is far more reliable than my 2004 Phaff.

By: Laura Perry

Laura Perry — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:32:20 +0000

I don’t know when the modern zigzag machines were first made (the ones where the needle moves back and forth to make the stitch) but my grandmother had an Atlas sewing machine she bought in the early 1950s. It had a zigzag attachment that clamped onto the fabric and jerked the fabric back and forth to make the zigzag stitch. She never used it to make buttonholes because it was too difficult to control.

By: Jennifer Rosbrugh

Jennifer Rosbrugh — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 03:19:43 +0000

Joanne, that is a good question. I searched a bit but couldn’t find much. I did discover that the zig zag stitch machine was patented in 1873.

Not knowing exactly, my guess is that buttonholes continued to be finished by hand well into the 20th Century. Hand buttonholes are much more professional looking and wear nicely.

By: JOanne Mackin

JOanne Mackin — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:45:50 +0000

When did they start making machine button holes?

By: Sewing Blanket Stitch Instructions

Sewing Blanket Stitch Instructions — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:44:03 +0000

[…] Making Handsome Machine Buttonholes — Experiencing 19th C Fashion … 7. To disguise the machine stitches, after the hole is cut open, go over each side with a quick blanket stitch You'll have the strength of the machine stitch but the look of a hand-finished opening. […]