What is a semi-automatic buttonhole in a sewing machine

Those who like to sew clothes often face such a problem as fastening the fastener. The button closure is the most popular right now, however the main difficulty starts here: buttonhole stitching. In this case, you should use one of the two functions of the sewing machine: "automatic loop" and "semi-automatic".

What is a semi-automatic buttonhole in a sewing machine

So, while sewing a piece of clothing, one of the most difficult tasks is wrapping loops, the appearance of which is influenced by many factors, among them:

• stitch density;
• symmetry;
• overcast width;
• quality of fixing and cutting.

Nevertheless, now it is not difficult to make a buttonhole. Some sewing machines have a “loop automatic” function, some have a “semi-automatic” function.

"Automatic" allows you to make the desired stitch without any difficulty. So, you need to insert the button behind the special foot of the sewing machine. After that, pull out the reverse lever; if you forget to do this, you will have to turn off the machine and dissolve the already made loops, spoiling the fabric. The next step is to set the needle at the beginning of the loop and press the pedal. The stitch size is calculated automatically during overcasting.

When choosing a machine, special attention should be paid to the foot: the mount should be strong so that during operation it does not move and does not quickly become unusable. The material in this case - metal, plastic, etc. - often does not play a big role. It is difficult to buy a spare foot: very often the height or some other parameter does not fit.

IMPORTANT! The button should not be more than 2.5 centimeters in diameter, otherwise you will have to make a loop manually.

The situation is different with the "semi-automatic": to trim the buttons you have to go through several stages:

1. Place the buttonhole foot.
2. Set the needle where the loop starts.
3. Turn on the setting "Semiautomatic device - mode 1".
4. Press the pedal - the machine will make the first stitch.
5. Complete the remaining 3 settings.

Changing the settings, the user does different actions: first, a line forward, a stitch to fasten at one end of the loop; a line back, a stitch for fastening on the other end. Naturally, before this it is worth taking measurements, that is, mark the beginning and end of the loop on the fabric. The sewing machine with the “automatic” function does all these actions at a time independently.

As you can see, wrapping with a "semiautomatic device" is a complicated matter: you need to switch 4 different modes, however, it is quite rare to do this. In addition, in this way it is possible to control the density of the stitch, which is almost impossible in automatic mode.

REFERENCE! Historically, the loops on male and female clothes are located differently: on the left side for men, on the right - for women.

Advantages and disadvantages of the automatic loop execution mode

The obvious advantage of automatic mode is the speed and ease of looping. However, not everything is so simple: carefully looking at what has been done, a person can easily see that the stitches on different sides of the button were uneven. In fact, this is the problem of any sewing machine except those controlled by the built-in computer and embroidery machines. This phenomenon is associated with the fact that the speed of advancement of the fabric by the sewing machine is lower than the one with which it does it forward. Other reasons that are involved in this are the condition of the foot, the quality of the fabric, its thickness, etc.

In order to make this difference not noticeable, sewing machines in most cases are equipped with a backstitch control. With its help, it is possible to equalize the difference in the speeds of the machine forward and backward. It may seem that such accuracy is useless, but sometimes it can ruin the whole look of clothing. Therefore, when buying, it is advisable to pay attention to whether this regulator is included in the configuration or not. The ideal option is to try the machine by making one loop in the store.

Which is better: automatic loop or semiautomatic device

So, if you have to make a lot of buttonholes, it makes sense to buy a sewing machine with an “automatic machine”, but remember that such a device will cost much more. In most cases, you need to make such a loop only once or twice a month, so a “semiautomatic device” is a more adequate choice, given the price.

It is believed that a better result can be achieved only with electronic machines that make up to 10 types of such loops; for example, with a peephole or with rounded edges. In addition, it is possible to enter the necessary characteristics of the loop into the computer, and the machine will do them with amazing speed.

The best result, according to professionals, can be achieved using a buttonhole machine that cuts the loop on its own, without touching the stitches. So, as an option, they sometimes offer the purchase of such a device and an ordinary sewing machine - it will cost about the same as an electronic machine. Another option is to do a sewing, if you use a good cloth, in the studio.

In the end, it all comes down to the fact that the choice of the right machine depends on the needs of the buyer - if he needs to make a lot of such loops: more than 20-30 a day, and of good quality, then it is advisable to purchase a machine with an "automatic". Otherwise, "semi-automatic" will be the best choice: it will save a lot.