The Sewing Place

Machine Talk => Machine Accessories => Topic started by: badgermat on September 09, 2020, 10:35:24 AM

Title: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: badgermat on September 09, 2020, 10:35:24 AM

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
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: wrenkins on September 09, 2020, 10:42:39 AM
@Roger 's probably your man for this.  :)
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Acorn on September 09, 2020, 10:47:17 AM
They do wonderful buttonholes, and can certainly be used with lots of machines.  @Roger is one of the people who knows a great deal about them - although there are others on here who do as well.

I believe that a low shank Greist buttonholer will work with any low shank machine, but please wait for someone else to confirm (or contradict) that!  I suspect it may not be that simple...

[Cross-posted with wrenkins.]
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Roger on September 09, 2020, 11:12:19 AM
Hi all,

Griest buttonholers, theres 2 types, one is more flexible and you alter the 2gauges on the side (one is length and the other is width) and the other type takes a template.

I prefer the template type. They are very straight forward to use. You use standard straight stitch align the device a little fiddly and gently let it go. I usually go round the buttonhole twice altering the bite so it doesn’t stitch into the same place as the previous one. These devices are well known for their consistency and being easy to use.

Griest made buttonholers and ingenious devices for all the main brands (he was an inventor for Singer, and decided to get more credit for his work by going alone).

It is a little hit or miss, because the boxes aren’t clear if the device is for a low or slant shank and the angle is hard to tell. But in general I’ve found the black metal Griest buttonholers in the U.K. are straight/low shank.

There are up to 11 templates for the device, 5 straight buttonhole 5 keyhole buttonhole and 1 eyelet. But eyelets are incredibly rare and hard to find, so if you stumble upon one enjoy it.

But yes a low shank buttonholer should work on any low shank machine, although maybe not easily on Bernina because of their specialist feet, but there maybe an adapter.

I have heard of people with modern machines buying a hand crank 15 or 99 for £10-15 and using it just for buttonhole devices...
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: badgermat on September 09, 2020, 12:01:19 PM

Yowzer ... loads of information here, and super quick too.

Many thanks @Roger and everyone else.

My only supplementary question is how to tell the difference between the template and gauge types?

The current eBay listings aren't entirely clear on that point.

Thanks though, it sounds like I could go either way without regret :)

bm
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Roger on September 09, 2020, 12:43:44 PM
Hi Bm,

Both types are good, but gauge ones usually look like this:
  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  
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:
  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  
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.
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Efemera on September 09, 2020, 12:54:13 PM
 @badgermat i have one for sale if you’re interested.
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: badgermat on September 09, 2020, 13:09:55 PM
Hi Bm,

Both types are good, but gauge ones usually look like this:
  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  
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:
  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  
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
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: badgermat on September 09, 2020, 13:13:31 PM
@badgermat i have one for sale if you’re interested.

Brilliant, yes I'm interested :)

PM sent.

bm
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Roger on September 09, 2020, 13:20:31 PM
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.
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Efemera on September 09, 2020, 13:25:31 PM
Brilliant, yes I'm interested :)

PM sent.

bm
I’ll post a picture..
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: badgermat on September 09, 2020, 13:30:01 PM
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
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Efemera on September 09, 2020, 13:39:15 PM
The only thing missing is the screws to attach the feed dog cover to your machine base but ant attachment screw would work.
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Kwaaked on September 09, 2020, 13:51:10 PM
I have a manual if you need a scan of it. 
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: badgermat on September 10, 2020, 23:54:34 PM
I have a manual if you need a scan of it.

That would be brilliant, thanks.

bm
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Manuela on September 11, 2020, 08:05:48 AM
@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. As Roget said, the template creates the teardrop/keyhole for you, all you to is to admire this little marvel of mechanical engineering.
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: badgermat on September 11, 2020, 09:02:57 AM
@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
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Starryfish on September 11, 2020, 11:45:54 AM
I just looked on ebay for one of these devices. There was one from Canada cost about £6 with £53 postage. :faints:
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Efemera on September 11, 2020, 16:02:28 PM
It’s on it’s way @badgermat ....
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Kwaaked on September 11, 2020, 19:19:45 PM
I'll get a scan (or photos) of my manual tomorrow when I go to the shop.
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: badgermat on October 03, 2020, 01:16:12 AM
I'll get a scan (or photos) of my manual tomorrow when I go to the shop.

I am now the proud owner of a vintage Greist buttonholer (thanks Efemera), but have no clue how to set it up.

If the offer of a scan of your manual is still open, I'd love to take it up.

Thanks

bm

Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Ploshkin on October 03, 2020, 07:52:58 AM
The Singer Featherweight Shop have a good video of one being used
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Roger on October 03, 2020, 10:09:22 AM
I just looked on ebay for one of these devices. There was one from Canada cost about £6 with £53 postage. :faints:

Hi @Starryfish
they can be found for less than that they're just usually miss listed and theres usually a fair few on ebay,
Happy to help if you're interested.
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Roger on October 03, 2020, 10:15:10 AM
I am now the proud owner of a vintage Greist buttonholer (thanks Efemera), but have no clue how to set it up.

If the offer of a scan of your manual is still open, I'd love to take it up.

Thanks

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 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/e0irabjh1h6m1d1/Greist%20Buttonholer.pdf?dl=0)

Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Greybird on October 03, 2020, 10:19:48 AM
@Roger I have been reading this thread with interest. Do you know if I would be able to use one of these with my Husqvarna Emerald 118? The feet for it just clip on and off.

I thought that, when my bank account is looking a bit healthier, I might possibly treat myself!
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Roger on October 03, 2020, 13:27:42 PM
@Greybird

I'm inclined to say probably no, because they are usually configured for standard low shank machines, and occasionally for slant shanks. However if you have a low shank adapter then it should work with that.

Otherwise I have heard of people getting a handcrank 99/66/201 specifically to attach one of these to for making buttonholes.
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: Greybird on October 03, 2020, 15:35:29 PM
Ah! I don't know if I have a low shank adapter - will have to research that. I wouldn't mind getting another machine for it, but I have nowhere to put it. As it is, the bookcase in our, very small, dining room has a sewing machine one side of it and an overlocker the other side. Woe betide any guest who wants to push their chair back!

Thank you @Roger !
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: badgermat on October 03, 2020, 22:12:45 PM
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 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/e0irabjh1h6m1d1/Greist%20Buttonholer.pdf?dl=0)

Brilliant, thanks heaps.

bm
Title: Re: Greist Buttonholer
Post by: badgermat on October 03, 2020, 22:16:05 PM
The Singer Featherweight Shop have a good video of one being used

I'll take a look, thanks.

bm