Re: Singer 7462


SusanM wrote:
I recently purchased a new Singer (been using an old singer for years,
just had straight & zigzag and reverse) that has a lot of bells and
whistles that I am thoroughly enjoying, but I am having a bit of a
problem with the button hole feature.

Now, I have never had a machine that did button holes before, let alone
sew on a button, so I am not sure what the specifications are for this.
But I gotta believe that you should be able to sew a button hole on
more than one piece of material.

My problem is that when I have a front and back piece of material with
fusing in-between the material and try to sew a button hole at the
perscribed spot in the sewing instructions, the material slugs and
instead of completing the stitch, it sews in one place. I read the
manual forwards and backwards and the only thing I found in there
referencing the button hole function (other than it having one and how
to use it) was to place the darning plate over the feed dogs to enable
the user to have more control over the material. Yeah, right! That
doesn't help either...I almost need pliers to grab the material and
pull it through as it stitches...not quite, but you get the idea.

I don't know what to do other than tear out the seams and sew the
button hole first then go back and sew the seams...does anyone have any
idea on how I can get around this, or can anyone point me to a trouble
shooting guide that actually tells me something?
---
DON'T pull the fabric through the process--you'll not only
bend/break needles, but you risk throwing the timing off, and worse.
You could bend the needle bar out of alignment.
Did you get a manual with your machine? Go over the steps for using
the buttonhole foot. Likely you are forgetting one step in the process.
Not knowing which model you have, I am making a guess, based on the
stable of Singers I have. All of them require the setting of 2 or 3
knobs, either atop the machine, and/or on the front stitch control
panel. It might be that you haven't set the machine for zig-zag mode,
or that the stitch length is in the 0 to 3 range.
Check the pressure knob, be sure it isn't torqued down so tight that
the fabric cannot move.
Also, a little trick with 2 of my machines--you have to place the
top thread under the _top part_ of the buttonhole slide foot, (nnot
beneath the foot) then place it to the right, and gently hold the tail
ends as you begin your buttonhole, or the thread gets drawn into the
plate hole beneath, resulting in snarly thread knots.
Be sure the top tension is adjusted for the fabric you are sewing,
heavier fabric requires both a larger needle, and a higher tension
setting. Also, some machines will not sew well with heavy thread in
both top and bobbin. In such case, you use the heavy thread on top, and
a regular weight in the bobbin.
Once you've gone through the snalr mess a time or two, you
definitely must remove the face plate, and thoroughly clean the area
beneath the feed dogs. Any bits of thread can keep you from getting a
decent stitch.
HTH.
Cea

.

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