Struggling with buttonholes on my bernina

[Calculu$]

I've been trying to get consistent buttonholes on my bernina and I'm starting to feel like I'm overthinking (or underthinking?) something basic, the machine does the first side beautifully, then suddenly the second side comes out uneven or too tight, like the fabric is not feeding properly, 'm using the automatic buttonhole foot and letting the machine do its thing, but results are inconsistent..if that's the word, I've Tried different stabilizers, adjusted the pressure foot tension and even changed thread brands just in case—but nah, no avail, I'm working mostly with light cottons and linens right now so I cant even blame thickness

What'd you think I'm doing wrong or not getting and does anyone manually reset or tweak the length between sides?

 

[thread2stitch]

Tweaking the length manually kinda defeats the purpose of the auto foot.
I suggest that after sewing the first side, gently push the buttonhole foot back towards you just a hair before starting on the second side.
It sometimes happens that the fabric shifts just enough during the turn for the sensor to misread.
Also make sure your fabric isn't pulling or dragging on the table at all, especially with lightweights.
Even a tiny bit of resistance can mess with the feed!
Let me know if this helps!

 

[Marla Sandridge]

When was the last time you took your machine in for a cleaning and tuneup? It sounds like it needs a tuneup and if you sew a lot like a lot of us do, I take mine in yearly for a cleaning as well.

 

[sw33tspot]

@Calculu$ On modern Bernina models, the automatic buttonhole foot has a small electronic sensor.
If the sensor is dirty or not fully engaged, it can make one side of the buttonhole inconsistent because the machine isn't getting a clear signal on how far to feed the fabric in reverse.
Try taking the foot off, giving the connection a good clean with a small brush, and making sure it clicks into place securely when you put it back on

 

[Jillian]

On my auto button hole foot, it requires you put a button in the rear of the foot. That area slides up and down to hold the button and controls the size it will sew.
To use it manually, you need to change to manual mode on the machine selection.

 

[sewcreativeme163]

I've been trying to get consistent buttonholes on my bernina and I'm starting to feel like I'm overthinking (or underthinking?) something basic, the machine does the first side beautifully, then suddenly the second side comes out uneven or too tight, like the fabric is not feeding properly, 'm using the automatic buttonhole foot and letting the machine do its thing, but results are inconsistent..if that's the word, I've Tried different stabilizers, adjusted the pressure foot tension and even changed thread brands just in case—but nah, no avail, I'm working mostly with light cottons and linens right now so I cant even blame thickness

What'd you think I'm doing wrong or not getting and does anyone manually reset or tweak the length between sides?

To get great buttonholes every time, make sure your fabric is pulled tight and the needle is in the right spot. Also, be sure the automatic buttonhole foot is lined up right, and adjust the fabric guide to match how thick your fabric is. You usually don't need to change the length between the sides by hand, but you can tweak the buttonhole size and length on your machine to get it just right.

 

[Marla Sandridge]

If I were you I would take my machine in to your dealer with a few samples of your problematic buttonholes and have them look at it. It sounds like the machine is having a problem not you!

 

[SunstoneRiver180]

Just circling back on this thread as it has some great info for a common Bernina issue.

@Calculu$ I know it's been a few months but I'm curious if you ever solved your inconsistent buttonhole problem? The advice from @sw33tspot about cleaning the electronic sensor on the foot is usually the #1 culprit for the exact issue you described.

Another factor that can cause inconsistent feed is the bobbin. It's worth testing with a freshly wound bobbin and ensuring there's no lint buildup creating drag under the throat plate. If you're still around, it would be a huge help for the community to know what the final solution was!