It's been almost exactly a year since I started this journey and I've made a few tings in that time. Laptop sleeves, tote bags, many, many alterations and some outfits for my grandson.

I've also managed a couple of complete garments. Few have warranted wearing, still less showing off. But I've finally completed two things I'm actually happy with. Well, more or less

First is a jumpsuit for my wife, made from an In The Folds Peppermint pattern  https://inthefolds.com/jumpsuit-pattern . Second is a shirt from a book pattern
www.amazon.co.uk/Gentlemans-Wardrobe-Vintage-Style-Projects-Modern/dp/1861087470 .

Lessons learned: fabric choice is everything, interfacing comes in more than one weight, never underestimate the aggravation of flat-felled seaming. Oh yes, and the biggie: before stitching, make sure you have things the right way around :/

bm

Theyre very straightforward, you slide the bottom towards you slip in the template and turn the big dial on the top until everything is at it lowest point and then test it to check placement and youre good to go... more or less:

here is also a copy of my manual for an older model:
Manual link

Brilliant, thanks heaps.

bm

Thanks everyone, some really helpful advice there.

I don't have an overlocker, so that's out for now. I am tempted though, if only for the shallow rush I'd get from having a new toy 

French seams are an interesting suggestion, though I've never tried one.

The Dave Coffin book looks great, so that's ordered.

@Mocarroll your YouTube link is excellent, easily the clearest demonstration of what's going on. Probably requires more precise machine work than I'm really capable of at this point, but I won't let that stop me  I have metres of cheap muslin to practice with.

As a completely incidental question, how is armscye pronounced?

bm 

@badgermat, you may want to check if you need an adapter though. I know you’d need an adapter when you want to use the buttonholer on a Bernina (Bernina to low shank adapter) not sure about Bernette.

Oh wisdom, you always arrive just a moment too late

As it goes, I've already thrown caution to the wind and purchased the Greist. If my optimism turns out to be misplaced, well that's another life lesson that I really should have learned over the last five decades.

bm

The template ones do Keyhole which sound like possibly teardrop, straight with a pronounced circle at one end?

But you may want to look for one with a full set of templates so you have the most options on keyholes.

Keyhole sounds exactly what I’m looking for - the same shape that I have on my suits.

Many thanks

Bm

Hi Bm,

Both types are good, but gauge ones usually look like this:
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And have more variety in size and width but will only do straight buttonholes.
Please notice the 2 gauges on the upward side

While template ones look like this:
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And will only produce the buttonhole for the template provided... but you can cheat a little by moving the template either forward or back in process. But I haven’t tried that myself.

They are both very tidy, in the template one please notice the templates upright in the box, the little screw and the feedplate cover, and manual.

Not all of this is necessary. The templates are very necessary, as is the device, but if you’re not picky most Sewing machines don’t need a feedplate cover as they can drop the dogs. Or the small screw to retain it. And you can probably find a digital copy of the manual... I may even have one. So there could be scope for an incomplete bargain... and sometimes there are some really good bargains to be found, because they are under appreciated, and not well known.

I guess the key question is: how can I achieve teardrop buttonholes?

My machine certainly allows dropping the feed-dogs (as it does square buttonholes). But I'm hoping for teardrop buttonholes.

Apologies if this seems like a dim question. It's probably just a matter of finding mutually understandable terminology.

bm

Has anyone here ever used one of these buttonholing attachments?

Probably getting ahead of myself, but I'm a bit underwhelmed by the 4-step buttonhole on my Bernette B33 and I saw a Greist thing on YouTube producing lovely teardrop buttonholes.

Do they actually do this and can they be used with domestic machines?

Enquiring minds, and all that

bm