Elna 2005 manual instruction for how to use the buttonhole setting, change the needle and change the foot

The instruction manual should have that information. If you don't have one, you can get it here:

Elna Sewing Machine Instruction and Service Manuals

Machines either have a needle that will move right or left or the zipper presser foot will adjust right or left.

Just stitch the buttonhole without the automatic buttonholer. That's how we do it with machines that don't have the buttonhole function. Buttonholes can be done on any sewing machine that has zig-zag capability. A left/right needle position would be helpful, but if that is not available, just be sure to sink the needle into the fabric BEFORE changing the zig-zag width.

How to sew buttonhole with an old machine

Sew Buttonhole without Buttonhole Foot by Create Kids Couture

Buttonholes without using special feet or cams YouTube

A transcript from the Elna SU manual reads as follows, and the manual can be viewed on line at http://sewingonline.co.uk/instructions/elnasp/

First make a few trial runs with a scrap of material exactly as the buttonhole will be stitched, with the machine adjusted as you intend to use it.
1. Use the embroidery and buttonhole foot. It can be chnged without a screwdriver by using the fixation screw.- With the stitch width knob at "0", turn the selector to zigzag "1".
2. De-center the needle to the left.
3. Set the stitch width knob at 2, with the solid mark on top.
4. Set the stitch length dial between 1/2 and 1/4.
5. a) Mark the desired length on the material.
b) Sew the first side of the buttonhole. Stop with the needle in the material and the mark (right).
c) Raise the foot and pivot the material round the needle. Lower the foot and raise the needle.
6. a) Set the stitch width knob at 4.
b) Sew a few stitches. Raise the needle.
7. a) Set the stitch width knob at 2.
b) Sew the second side and stop just short of the length of the first. Raise the needle.
8. a) Set the stitch width knob at 4.
b) Finish off the buttonhole by sewing a few stitches. Raise the needle.
9. a) Set the stitch width knob at "0".
b) Sew a few stitches to fasten the threads, holding the material back by hand.
10. Open with the buttonhole knife, which you will find in the accessory box.

sure, put on the buttonhole foot after putting a button into it and using the screw knob to set the length you want.
Turn stitch length knob and stitch width knobs to zero, (always set them to zero first to avoid wear on the stitch selection mechanisim) then turn the left stitch selector knob to the blue button hole symbol. Now turn middle knob stitch width, to the blue buttonhole symbol. Now turn right knob stitch length to blue 1, sew down the first side of your buttonhole until foot slide in the buttonhole foot reaches end stop. raise needle and turn stitch length to blue 2, and sew three bar tacks across buttonhole. Again, raise needle and then turn stitch length to blue 3 and sew back down otherside of buttonhole until you reach the end stop. Needle up, turn length know to blue 4 and sew three bartacks to end. there is a last blue symbol dot on stitch length knob, this will sew a stitch in place to tie off the ends. Raise pressure foot, remove your work and draw top threads to underside with a needle, and tie off or use a dot of fray stop. Done! if you don't have a manual you could email me and I'll send you a copy of mine, tallygirl98 at yahoo dot com.

You haven't listed the model of your machine so its hard to give you step by step instructions as there is variations in how buttonholes are done. Some machines have a 4 step sequence on a knob, it may be colour coded with a little buttonhole symbol.

Other computerised machines you just select the buttonhole style and pull down a lever behind the needle bar which lines up with the special buttonhole foot to trigger the return stitching down the buttonhole side.

Have a look in your accessories and see if you have a buttonhole foot like this
If so, remove the current pressure foot and put this on, clip it onto the little metal bar you see near the front of the foot. Now put your button into the back ratchet bit of the foot, you pull it out, place the button in there and close it up firmly to hold the button in place. This helps to give you the right length buttonhole.

Now you need to start the buttonhole stitching sequence and sorry, but I don't know what your machine's is, you really need to check the manual for this bit. It may be a 1,2,3,4 sequence on a dial and probably stitch length set to 0.5 so its a closed up satin stitch.

But you stitch the butttonhole in the folowing sequence:
near bar tack, reverse down right hand long side, far bar tack, then back up left hand long side, then a couple of stitches in place to finish off.

The buttonhole foot will sit firmly on your fabric and the inner part of it will move backwards as the machine stitches, then comes back to the front again.

The computerised machines will have a little lever you pull down and these will trigger on a lug on the buttonhole foot to start the reverse stitching at the right length buttonhole. Sometimes they will stitch both long sides in the same direction too, so sequence is near bar tack, down right hand side, far bartack, then it will stitch back to front in little straight stitches, then do the left hand long side to the back and finish off.

On early machines, you actually set the stitch length to 0.5, and stitch width to 2 for sides and 4 for bartacks and made the buttonhole yourself by stitching down one long side, leaving the needle in the fabric and pivoting the work around, then stitching the bartack, then the other long side, then final bartack all manually. It can be done but obviously the new programmed ones are far easier and give consistently similar buttonholes on a garment.

ALWAYS, interface the fabric to be buttonholed, you'll never get a good practice buttonhole without interfacing in a sandwich between two layers of fabric so no point practicing without it.

And, never cut your buttonhole with the seam ripper unless you pin across the two ends first to make sure you don't have a woopsy moment and rip through the end bartack. I use a buttonhole knife and block of wood to cut and it ensures you never have a cutting disaster.

I also pull the thread tails through to the underside with a needle afterwards, tie them off and add a dab of fray stopper to make sure the buttonhole never unravels, then trim the ends off close.

I hope this helps you but obviously getting the manual to your machine would be a big help too.

you can down load a manual from this link
http://safemanuals.com/user-guide-instructions-owner-manual/ELNA/6005-_E

Is this the duplex model with the base that fits into a sewing cabinet?

My Elna booklet lists a SP "air electronic" duplex (CL.39), if so, then it would be same stitches as the 38, yellow front panel, 7 built in stitches and automatic knob with blue markings for buttonholing.

Here is the SU manual images for buttonholing, should be exactly the same for the SP.

Instructions are:
use buttonhole foot. turn the 3 dials to buttonhole marked in blue (stitch selection, width and length).
Mark length of buttonhol on the material. Place work under foot with the mark in the middile fo the foot, the start being directly below the needle. sew the first side, raise the needle. Turn stitch width dial to 2, blue. Sew a few stitches for bartack. Raise the needle.
Turn stitch width dial to 3 blue. sew the second side. stop just short of the first side. Raise the needle.
turn the stitch width dial to 4 blue. sew a few stitches for bartack. Raise the needle.
Turn stitch width dial to "fastening off stitch" blue dot. Sew a few stitches, holding back the material by hand. Raise needle, lift pressure foot and remove work, triming off threads.
Open the buttonhole with your seam ripper (put a pin across the end to avoid any nasties).

http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/30879220-elna-2003-2005-2007-sewing-machine-instruction

Put the tension settings back to the mfg's suggested setting.

Re-thread the machine with the presser foot up and there will be no more loops.

I do not have a buttonhole foot, but I can tell you how I do it with the zig zag foot on the Singer 132Q machine.

1. Mark the spacing and size for the buttonholes with chalk or marking paper. This consists of a straight line with a perpendicular line at the top and bottom that lets you know how big to make the hole. There is probably a pattern piece to let you know what the spacing should be, and you can get the size of the hole for the top and bottom line by laying the button you are going to use on top of the line you draw with the pattern.

2. Make sure the bobbin has plenty of thread.

3. Put the zig zag foot on the machine.

4. Set the stitch size to 1 or maybe a little less. You want a tight stitch to hold the hole together.

5. Start at the top of the buttonhole with the perpendicular line barely visible in the zig zag foot. Think of it as placing the "T" made by the mark in the "T" made by the opening in the zig zag foot.

6. Set the needle pattern to #1 of the buttonhole pattern (2nd from the top). Make sure it is toward the top of the number to insure you get a wide zig zag stitch. If you are getting a narrow stitch, you may have to fiddle with it, but it will work. Stitch 4-6 times making sure the stitch is wide, and end on the left side of the stitch.

7. Change the needle pattern to #2 of the buttonhole pattern and zig zag stitch down to the bottom mark. Do not pull the fabric or you will stretch the stitch. Make sure your last stitch is on the left hand side.

8. Change the needle pattern to #3 of the buttonhole pattern (same as #1), and zig zag stitch 4-6 times ending on the right side this time. Make sure the stitches are wide.

9. Change the needle pattern to #4 of the buttonhole pattern and straight stitch back to the top mark. Be prepared to hand roll the needle the last few stitches to make sure you do not pass the top stitches you have made.

10. Change the needle pattern to #5 of the buttonhole pattern and zig zag stitch back to the bottom mark. Hand roll the last few stitches and end on the left side.

11. Raise the foot and remove the fabric. You are now ready proceed to the next buttonhole or cut the buttonhole open with a small pair of scissors or a seam ripper. Make sure you do not cut any of your stitches.



Make sure you practice on some scrap fabric of the same thickness (2 layers of fabric plus pellon) to make sure you have the size right before you sew the buttonholes on the garment.

GOOD LUCK.