The Sewing Place
For Sale & Wanted => I saw this & I thought you may be interested! => Topic started by: Roger on January 28, 2018, 09:54:26 AM
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Just saw this on Gumtree:
Nice price- lovely looking machine loads of accessories and manual... too complex... pish... lol
https://www.gumtree.com/p/hobbies-collectibles/sewing-machine/1283536582 (https://www.gumtree.com/p/hobbies-collectibles/sewing-machine/1283536582)
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Gosh, just around the corner from my in-laws....
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@Roger: that's the machine my Mum has, complete with sewing cupboard, and is 'too technical' for me too. 0_0 I have been spoilt by my modern, computerised machine with touch button controls. However, the ruddy thing can't do a complete set of buttonholes without fouling up. I have three to unpick. :(
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The 401 (and 500) are probably the last great sewing machines made by Singer. They have masses of stitches, take cams (for embroidery stitching) are almost completely metal, have internal gear driven motors. And will very likely never wear out if they’re oiled and cleaned regularly. They’re dress makers (will do a lot of household work but don’t jam veg tanned leather through them) and have great visibility and foot clearance... but they are a little quirky.
@UttaRetch you can get a cam driven button holer that can make buttonholes easier and more consistent. - I would say give your mums machine a go, they’re not too bad and AK3 is the straight stitch setting:)
@manuela - if I had family that close I’d be tempted even tho I already have one :)
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'... cam driven button holer', what is this, please?
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'... cam driven button holer', what is this, please?
@UttaRetch - it is a marvelous contraption, not unlike one of the ones shown here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV6f1zntTBE
:)
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Hi UR,
Like this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RGJD4VYVU08
This demo is on an old machine, but it should work on any domestic straight shank machine... the plate isn’t necessary if you can drop your feed dogs, and you can set a modern machine to straight stitch and let it go (so I’m told I haven’t tested this on a really tech machine.
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Hi UR,
Like this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RGJD4VYVU08
This demo is on an old machine, but it should work on any domestic straight shank machine... the plate isn’t necessary if you can drop your feed dogs, and you can set a modern machine to straight stitch and let it go (so I’m told I haven’t tested this on a really tech machine.
Sorry Roger - I was waiting for you to post, and you didn't, so I did, and then you did... ! :S :fish:
Oh well - 2 videos are always better than one! Especially where buttonholers are concerned..!
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Snap! :)
These lovely devices need a good airing :)
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I live close enough to collect :devil:
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Roger - perhaps I`m being particularly thick but I still don`t really understand what these buttonholers are. Do you mean that a Singer buttonholer could be fixed onto any make of modern machine (I`ve got a fairly basic Janome)? Or would I have to get hold of a vintage machine too?
Could you perhaps be persuaded to write an idiot`s guide type post about them? (In words of one syllable without too many scary technical words in it). I am very interested as my machine does rubbish buttonholes and all of you vintage enthusiasts keen praising the buttonholer
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Thanks @Madame Cholet and @Roger. Might be worth investigation especially as I intend to keep my Mother's Singer.
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Roger - perhaps I`m being particularly thick but I still don`t really understand what these buttonholers are. Do you mean that a Singer buttonholer could be fixed onto any make of modern machine (I`ve got a fairly basic Janome)? Or would I have to get hold of a vintage machine too?
Could you perhaps be persuaded to write an idiot`s guide type post about them? (In words of one syllable without too many scary technical words in it). I am very interested as my machine does rubbish buttonholes and all of you vintage enthusiasts keen praising the buttonholer
The SInger buttonholers are for straight stitch machines, and are wondrous things to behold. Abfab in fact. I have been known to drag visitors into the sewing room just to watch me make buttonholes.
Here's mine in action [no idea if this will work]
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Can anyone tell me how to insert a video?
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Do you mean that a Singer buttonholer could be fixed onto any make of modern machine (I`ve got a fairly basic Janome)?
In theory yes, but in practice not always :\
I've just tried attaching a buttonholer to my 20 year old Husqvarna. I removed the snap-on foot and the ankle which the feet snap onto so that the needle bar was bare. I got the buttonholer into position so that the fork went around the needle screw and the buttonholer clamp was around the needle bar but I couldn't screw it on. Different threads :ninja: The Singer screw is thicker than the Husqvarna screw so it wouldn't go into the hole in the needle bar and the Husqvarna screw isn't long enough! I'm pretty sure that the SInger screw would fit onto your mother's vintage Singer machine.
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I still don`t really understand what these buttonholers are.
A buttonholer clamps onto the needle bar and it has a fork which has to be positioned so that it goes above and below the screw which holds the needle in place. It also incorporates a large foot which is ridged to grip the fabric.
With feed dogs dropped, or covered on older machines, the foot grips onto the top surface of the fabric but the fabric is free to slide about over the surface of the machine bed.
As the machine is operated the needle goes up and down as normal and it also moves the fork up and down. That in turn moves the innards of the buttonholer and causes the foot to move the fabric a little - side to side and backwards or forwards. There are knobs on the buttonholer to set the length and bight (width) or it uses drop in cams to set the length and shape. Once set up just wind the buttonholer to the furthest forward position, drop the foot and away you go. Good, identical buttonholes each time (unless you alter the settings or change the cam)
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Thanks Brenda!
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Thanks to Brenda from me too
If I decided to go down this route approximately how much would an old Singer and a buttonholder cost - and how easy are they to get hold of?
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Cam driven buttonholers usually sell at £10-25+ PnP. I actually have a spare one I got recently to clean up and test... I put them in the for sale section sometimes. From memory it’s complete, has a manual feed plate, screws, and the standard templates but the box is really fragile. Its a Greist one they made most of them.
I can put up some pics later.
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Roger and Arrow gave me a lot of useful advice on these a few months back when I was looking for one for my 401g.
Buttonholer advice (http://thesewingplace.org.uk/index.php/topic,2065.0.html)
I eventually found exactly what I was looking for on eBay. It was in the USA, but the total price including P&P came to only £26.50. It did take a while to find the exact thing in good condition.
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Helen Howes usually has buttonholers in stock, and they will be oiled, tested and ready to go.
http://www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/bigatts.html#buttonholers (http://www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/bigatts.html#buttonholers)
BH007 and BH006 are 'ordinary' Singer buttonholers, BH035 is a cam version.
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Sorry - still being thick - if I bought one of those buttonholers would I need an old Singer machine too?
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It’s not a clear cut answer because all the manufacturers have made tweaks and changes to differentiate themselves, (like slant shanks) so while most buttonholers are design to fit a domestic straight shank, there maybe some differences in shank shape, or fixing screw.
An old singer can be very inexpensive depending on what you fancy. The standard is a 201k I bought on for a £10 but they can go up to £100s depending on condition, or a 99k is very easily available.
I’m happy to help you with this sewingj if you want.
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Thanks Roger - I will ponder it for a while
I have got an old Riccar machine that does 4-step buttonholes which I haven`t used for ages. I might get that out and see how it compares with the Janome "automatic" buttonhole
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No worries, we’re always happy to help with vintage machine shopping if you decide you want one.