The Sewing Place

Im new and button hole chissels

Debking5

Im new and button hole chissels
« on: March 13, 2018, 07:38:06 AM »
 :thread: hi there. Im new to this forum and looking for lots of help as a complete sewing newby!  At the moment im wondering when you buy a button chissel are there different chissel sizes? All i can find online is a standard button chissel.but surely buttons are all different sizes so wed need different size chissels? If anyone knows where i can buy a few different  size ones from please cam you send me a link?

Efemera

Re: Im new and button hole chissels
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2018, 07:44:03 AM »
I don’t know what others think about these but I’m not a fan and I’ve been sewing for decades.

Debking5

Re: Im new and button hole chissels
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2018, 07:51:08 AM »
O right!! Umm how do you make your button hole? What tools do you use?

Francesca

Re: Im new and button hole chissels
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2018, 07:54:04 AM »
A seam ripper is enough for me!

Nevis5

Re: Im new and button hole chissels
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2018, 08:02:32 AM »
I use a buttonhole chisel (I've never seen them in different sizes).  They come with a small wooden block which you put underneath your fabric to protect the working surface (a table, or some such) underneath from the sharp chisel blade.  After you've made your buttonhole (I always run a bead of Fray Check or something similar along the inside of the buttonhole to try and stop the stitches fraying), you put your block under your buttonhole and with the chisel upright, gently position it between the lines of buttonhole stitches and push down.

The blade should be sharp enough to cut through the layers of fabric and make a neat slit.  If your buttonhole is longer than the chisel blade, just move the chisel (and wooden block if necessary) along a tiny bit and push the blade in again, just a bit further along the buttonhole to make a longer slit.   Try not to let the blade cut the stitches at the end of the buttonhole.

Hope that helps.

UttaRetch

Re: Im new and button hole chissels
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2018, 08:17:59 AM »
Unpicker here too.  It is important, however, to place a pin across the end of the bar tack so that you don't go too far when you make the cut.

I don't know what equipment you have so far, but I consider the basics to be good, sharp cutting shears and smaller scissors, a tape measure, pins, said unpicker (seam ripper), markers (either pens or chalk), good quality hand sewing needles, and a seam guage.  Other equipment is, of course, an iron and ironing board.  I have been sewing for nearly 30 years and this is pretty much my basic kit.


BrendaP

Re: Im new and button hole chissels
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2018, 08:36:23 AM »
Yes, that's my basic kit too, except that I don't get on with seam rippers, I much prefer small, sharp scissors with pointed tips for both unpicking and for cutting buttonholes.
Brenda.  My machines are: Corona, a 1953 Singer 201K-3, Caroline, a 1940 Singer 201K-3, Thirza, 1949 Singer 221K, Azilia, 1957 Singer 201K-MK2 and Vera, a Husqvarna 350 SewEasy about 20 years old. Also Bernina 1150 overlocker and Elna 444 Coverstitcher.
http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.

UttaRetch

Re: Im new and button hole chissels
« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2018, 08:37:53 AM »
I have embroidery scissors and sometimes use them to cut buttonholes.

Ploshkin

Re: Im new and button hole chissels
« Reply #8 on: March 13, 2018, 09:03:39 AM »
I've never used a chisel either.  I use a seam ripper from each end of the buttonhole to the centre so there is little danger of cutting through the end (I never have to date, probably famous last words).
Life's too short for ironing.

Debking5

Re: Im new and button hole chissels
« Reply #9 on: March 13, 2018, 09:35:59 AM »
 <3 wow ty everyone for your replys!! That has been very handy! Ok so far my basic equipment is : seam ripper!! sewing machine (15 years old), 2 scissors, think 1 is shears, there huge, and a smaller pair, hand needles, pins, pencil marker for fabric (light blue)  threads, buttons, zips erm i think thats it. So looks like i need to buy the following: fray away bottle for button holes, chisel and board (ill try both methods ) and a seam gauger,? I have no idea how to use one of those or where to start? Any ideas of seam gaugers lol? I am a pure starter but really want to go into clothe making.

BrendaP

Re: Im new and button hole chissels
« Reply #10 on: March 13, 2018, 10:47:38 AM »
Fray Check is a contraversial one - some people swear by it for all sorts of things, others don't like the residual mark it leaves; goes yellow in time. 

Chisel and board is optional, and seam guage is just a specialist measuring device; very handy to have but you can manage with a good ruler.  A tape measure, if you don't already have one is much more necessary.  Even if you always think and measure in metric it is still worthwhile getting one with inches as well.
Brenda.  My machines are: Corona, a 1953 Singer 201K-3, Caroline, a 1940 Singer 201K-3, Thirza, 1949 Singer 221K, Azilia, 1957 Singer 201K-MK2 and Vera, a Husqvarna 350 SewEasy about 20 years old. Also Bernina 1150 overlocker and Elna 444 Coverstitcher.
http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.

Francesca

Re: Im new and button hole chissels
« Reply #11 on: March 13, 2018, 10:57:52 AM »
I put a thick metal pin at the end but quite a few mms in from the stitching, then rip to the needle. Then I use my little embroidery scissors to snip the final end bit and tidy the fabric out of the buttonhole.

Gernella

Re: Im new and button hole chissels
« Reply #12 on: March 13, 2018, 11:23:24 AM »
I used to to use a stitch ripper then small scissors but then I bought the little Clover chisel.  I didn't know there were different sizes, I just start in the middle and move it along.  You need a nice block of wood underneath as well but it does work a treat especially if the fabric is on the thick side, boosted by interfacing.
Stash extension 2024- 6.1 meters
Left at the end of 2023 - 66 meters now (includes fabric found hidden out of sight)  Lining fabric not included

crafter

Re: Im new and button hole chissels
« Reply #13 on: March 13, 2018, 12:49:34 PM »
I have a chisel .................... somewhere?  Used it once I think and then went back to the seam ripper which works perfectly every time.

Cx

maliw

Re: Im new and button hole chissels
« Reply #14 on: March 13, 2018, 14:33:30 PM »
I too have a chisel that I inherited from mum but I still tend to use either a seam ripper + pin or small scissors. Old habits die hard, I never really saw the need for a chisel.
At leisure on the leisure penninsula