Sewing Machine Case Kenmore

I need help using my sewing machine?

I learned to sew as a young girl, although now that I am on my own, I am unable to work a single machine. Here is what I need advice on.

Do you have manuals for either machine? I suspect at least the Singer was misthreaded. I suspect you forgot to hang on to the end of the top thread when fetching up the bobbin thread on the Kenmore.

Assuming you’ve got the manual for at least one of the machines (if not, try http://www.sewusa.com under threading and/or http://singerco.com/resources/operation_basics.html and
http://parts.singerco.com/html/inst_manuals.html ) then give the machine(s) a cleaning and oiling per the instruction manual. Use only sewing machine oil for oiling ($2 for a big bottle at Walmart) and a vacuum (not compressed or canned air) to evict the dust bunnies. Be sure to take out the needleplate and clean around the feed dogs and take out the bobbin case if it’s removeable.

Next, let’s assume the bobbin case is removeable. Load it with a bobbin full of thread, and pull out about 4″. Hang on to the end of the thread and let go of the bobbin case. Does it descend rapidly towards the floor? If so, the bobbin case is misthreaded or the bobbin spring has junk in it that is keeping it open or the bobbin tension screw has been set too lightly. If, however, the bobbin case just sort of hangs there and a little thread pays out each time you ticktock the case back and forth with the thread end, it’s probably fine. (Most newbies shouldn’t set the bobbin tension without some lessons from someone who knows what they’re doing… but I can try to talk you through it if there’s no other choice.)

Ok , put the bobbin in the bobbin case and the bobbin case in the shuttle, leaving that 4″ tail hanging free.

Next, you’re going to turn the handwheel and observe the feed dogs. What direction do you need to turn the handwheel to get fabric to feed toward the back of the machine. Note that — it’s the correct direction for normal sewing.

Using your manual, thread the top part of the sewing machine MAKING SURE THE PRESSER FOOT IS UP. This allows the tension disks to open, so you can actually get the thread between the tension disks (loops on the bottom of your fabric mean tension on top is too light).
You can drop the presser foot to thread the needle. (The thread takeup lever, that bobbing up and down bit, needs to be at its highest point during threading also.)

Next, set the upper tension to 4. That’s normal tension for most stitches on most fabrics, so we’re going to start there.

Turn the handwheel in the correct direction for normal sewing while you hold onto the tail of the needle thread. The bobbin thread should pop up.

EACH AND EVERY SEAM YOU’LL START THIS WAY:
Take both threads and hold them together behind the presser foot. You’re now ready to sew.

Take the work and put it under the needle.

Use the handwheel (turn it in the right direction!) to lower the needle
into the work.

Drop the presser foot.

Hold the thread ends with your left hand behind the presser foot — don’t let go.

Use the handwheel to take a couple of stitches

Drop the threads

Sew normally.

——-

Examine the straight stitch you produce. If there are still loops on the bottom of the stitching, tighten the upper tension slightly, perhaps one number, and try again. If you can’t get good stitching with the upper tension set between 2 and 6, a new size 80 needle, dressmaker weight thread in both bobbin and top, you’re probably in need of taking your machine in for a COA (clean-oil-adjust).

IF YOU SEE LOOPS ON TOP OF YOUR FABRIC, then the bobbin tension is too light. You’ve either got cruddlies or rust under the bobbin spring, or the bobbin tension screw needs tightening. This is ordinarily not something a user changes, as typically your machine comes back from its yearly COA with it all nicely set to factory specs, which we can’t do at home. However, if you must, put the bobbin case and a small screwdriver inside a plastic bag, and turn the bobbin screw to the right to tighten, left to loosen the tension. The bobbin tension screw is very short and has a tendency to hop out, never to be seen again, which is why the whole setup goes into a sealed plastic bag to work on. Do not turn the tension screw more than 1/.8 turn at a time — small turn, check the stitching, another small turn, check the stitching, etc.

Three book suggestions for you, from your library:
Carol Ahles, Fine Machine Sewing — first few chapters on needles, thread, tension, adjustments.
Gale Grigg Hazen: Owners Guide to Sewing Machines, Sergers and Knitting Machines.
John Giordano: The Sewing Machine Book.

Ahles will probably the be easiest to find (It’s been a bestseller for the publisher for years); Hazen and Giordano are out of print and you may need to borrow them on interlibrary loan.

VINTAGE KENMORE MODEL 1207 SEWING MACHINE

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1938 ORIGINAL KENMORE 83 SEWING MACHINE BOBBIN CASE COVER SLIDE PLATE & CLIP $13.05

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ORIGINAL 1954 KENMORE SEWING MACHINE BOBBIN CASE POSITIONING BRACKET & SCREWS $13.05

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1957 ORIGINAL KENMORE SEWING MACHINE 117.720 BOBBIN CASE POSITIONING BRACKET $13.05

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Vintage ORIGINAL Instruction Manual for Sears/Kenmore Model 1803 Zig Zag Sewing Machine Authentic vintage Sears/Kenmore Instruction Manual. Plastic comb bound with covers. It has information on the built in stitches, the buttonhole attachment and a parts list with illustrations as well as illustrations of the stitches that it produces. It also has basic information, cleaning and oiling and some trouble shooting information….