This sewing machine, along with its cousins the Janome TM30 and Elna 450, have a “memorized” buttonhole feature. You basically program a 4-step buttonhole for the first buttonhole and the machine memorizes it. Every other buttonhole afterwards will be created automatically to match the first one. They’re okay. I simply prefer my buttonholes a bit denser.
The compatible accessories listed for these machines include the R (automatic buttonhole) foot and buttonhole stabilizer plate. I have those in my collection of sewing machine accessories! Yes, they do work with the Elnita EC30 and make a beautiful buttonhole (with some modifications).
Elnita EC30 Buttonhole Stitch Settings:
Stitch #17
W = 5.0
L = .3
Upper tension lowered to 3
Slightly finer thread in bobbin (60 wt) – same color as top thread
Before stitching, be sure to interface the fabric where your buttonhole(s) will be sewn. You will position your fabric BETWEEN the buttonhole foot and stabilizer plate. Place your button in foot R and snug it up just as you normally would to make a one step buttonhole. There’s no lever to tell the machine when to reverse direction, so you’ll have to watch and be ready to hit the reverse button when the moving part reaches the stoppers at the rear and front of the sliding track. To me, it’s actually easier to use this foot to make a buttonhole than the foot that comes with the machine.
Buttonhole length is measured top to bottom inside the the bartack ends.
How long should your buttonhole be? A general rule of thumb is to add 1/8″ to your button size. I prefer to add 3/16″. My 3/4″ buttonhole needed to be 7/8″ to 15/16″ in length. Guess what? It was!
Come Stitch With Me 