Learning to Use Bernina 350 PE | K Shannon
HOME ECONOMICS I BEGINNING SEWING COURSE MANUAL
Source: Symaster.no
Home Economics I
Beginning Sewing Course Manual
Learning to Use Bernina 350 PE
English 310
Dr. Kiddie
December 1, 2014
ii
Contents Table of Figures ............................................................................................................................................ iii
List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ iii
Key to Signs .................................................................................................................................................. iv
Safety Instructions ....................................................................................................................................... iv
Getting Familiar With Your Machine Before You Begin Sewing
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1
Terms ............................................................................................................................................................ 3
Preparing Your Machine For Sewing
How to turn on your machine ..................................................................................................................... 10
Threading Your Machine
How to load thread onto the horizontal spool pin ..................................................................................... 11
How to thread your machine ...................................................................................................................... 11
Winding, Inserting, and Removing a Bobbin
How to wind thread onto a bobbin ............................................................................................................ 16
How to remove the bobbin case from the bobbin housing ........................................................................ 19
How to insert a bobbin into the bobbin case ............................................................................................. 19
How to insert a bobbin case and a bobbin filled with thread into the bobbin housing ............................. 20
Removing and Attaching Presser Foot Soles
How to remove a snap-on presser foot sole from the presser foot ........................................................... 22
How to attach a snap-on presser foot sole to the presser foot.................................................................. 22
Removing and Inserting a Needle
How to remove a needle from your machine ............................................................................................. 23
How to insert a needle into your machine ................................................................................................. 23
Sewing
How to sew a 5/8-inch straight stitch seam using the seam guide ............................................................ 24
How to sew a zigzag stitch using the seam guide ....................................................................................... 26
Extras
How to start or stop sewing without using the foot controlpedal ............................................................. 30
How to temporarily sew in reverse ............................................................................................................. 30
How to adjust the width of a zigzag stitch .................................................................................................. 30
How to adjust the length of a straight or zigzag stitch ............................................................................... 30
iii
Shutting Down Your Machine
How to shut down your sewing machine ................................................................................................... 31
Help
Frequently asked questions ........................................................................................................................ 32
Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................................................... 32
List of parts referenced in this manual ....................................................................................................... 34
Index............................................................................................................................................................ 35
Table of Figures Figure 1 Accessories Pouch Contents .......................................................................................................... 2
Figure 2 Presser Foot Shaft and Sole .......................................................................................................... 3
Figure 3 Back View of Sewing Machine ....................................................................................................... 5
Figure 4 Side View of Sewing Machine and Foot Pedal .............................................................................. 6
Figure 5 Top View of Sewing Machine ....................................................................................................... 7
Figure 6 Front View of Sewing Machine ..................................................................................................... 8
Figure 7 Threading the Upper Thread ....................................................................................................... 12
Figure 8 Rear Thread Guide as Viewed from Behind the Machine .......................................................... 13
Figure 9 Hooking the Thread Around the Take-up Lever .......................................................................... 14
Figure 10 Taking the Thread Around the Lower Thread Guide .................................................................. 15
Figure 11 Taking the Thread Through the Curved Guide Above the Needle .............................................. 15
Figure 12 Rear Thread Guide as Viewed From Behind the Machine ......................................................... 17
Figure 13 Winding a Bobbin ....................................................................................................................... 18
Figure 14 Inside of the Bobbin Housing ..................................................................................................... 19
Figure 15 Thread Inserted Under the Plate of the Bobbin......................................................................... 20
Figure 16 Presser Foot Shaft and Sole ...................................................................................................... 21
Figure 17 Removing and Inserting a Needle .............................................................................................. 23
Figure 18 Seam Guide ................................................................................................................................ 24
Figure 19 Red Seam Guide Receiving Hole ................................................................................................ 25
Figure 20 Fabric in Position for Sewing ...................................................................................................... 25
Figure 21 Zigzag Stitches of Differing Widths ............................................................................................ 27
Figure 22 Seam Guide ................................................................................................................................ 27
Figure 23 Red Seam Guide Receiving Hole ................................................................................................ 27
Figure 24 Fabric in Position for Sewing ....................................................................................................... 28
Figure 25 Power Cord Wrapped Underneath the Foot Pedal For Storage .... .…………………………………………31
List of Tables Table 1 Key to Signs ..................................................................................................................................... iv
Table 2 Sewing Machine Parts: Back View .................................................................................................... 5
Table 3 Sewing Machine Parts: Right Side View ........................................................................................... 6
iv
Table 4 Sewing Machine Parts: Top View ..................................................................................................... 7
Table 5 Sewing Machine Parts: Front View .................................................................................................. 9
Key to Signs Table 1
Safety Instructions Use the sewing machine only for the
purposes described in this manual.
Use only the attachments provided
in your accessories pouch.
Never operate the sewing machine if
it has a damaged cord or
plug.
it is not properly working.
it has had liquid spilled onto
it.
Notify your instructor if any of the
above apply.
Never operate the sewing machine if
any of the air vents are obstructed.
Keep your fingers away from all
moving parts.
Never drop or insert any objects into
any openings in the sewing machine.
Do not pull or push the fabric while
sewing. This may bend or break the
needle.
Do not use bent or broken needles.
Do not disconnect the sewing
machine by pulling on the cord.
First, turn the power switch to “O”
(off), then grasp the plug and pull it
from the power outlet.
Turn the power switch to “O” (off)
when making any adjustments in the
needle area.
Caution
IMPORTANT List
Note
1
Introduction Welcome to the Beginning Sewing course for Home Economics I.
Upon mastery of the procedures in this manual, as a beginner home economics
course student, you will have the basic sewing machine operation skills for the
Bernina 350 PE.
You will be able to perform the following tasks which are required for a passing
grade in the Beginning Sewing course for Home Economics I:
Turn on your machine
Load a spool of thread onto the
horizontal spool
Thread the sewing machine
Wind thread onto a bobbin
Insert a bobbin into the bobbin
case
Insert the bobbin case into the
bobbin housing
Remove the bobbin case from
the bobbin housing
Attach a snap-on presser sole
Remove a snap-on presser sole
Remove a needle from the
machine
Insert a needle into the
machine
Sew a straight stitch
Sew a zigzag stitch
Shut down the machine
2
Figure 1
Accessories Pouch Contents
You will be supplied with a Bernina 350 PE sewing machine which includes a snap-
on presser foot shaft and an accessories pouch (see Figure 1) which includes the
following supplies:
Mettler no.100 (164 yds.)
spool of thread
Snap-on presser sole # 37
Snap-on presser sole # 20
Scissors
1 pkg. universal sewing
machine needles
Seam ripper
Seam guide Foam pad
Mid-sized spool cap Two empty bobbins
IMPORTANT: Confirm that all the supplies are inside the accessories pouch.
3
Terms Bobbin housing: The bobbin housing is the compartment in the white arm just
below the feed dog area of the sewing machine that houses the bobbin case and
the bobbin. The housing also includes the bobbin thread cutter located to the
right, inside the opening to the housing.
Presser foot: The complete presser foot includes a shaft and a sole (see Figure 2).
The presser foot sole holds the fabric in place while sewing and has an opening
for the needle to fit through. Different presser feet accommodate the movement
of the needle for different types of stitches.
Figure 2
Presser Foot Shaft and Sole
Right side of the fabric: The right side of the fabric refers to the “front” of the
fabric. Most fabrics have an obvious right and wrong side.
Seam: A seam is a line of stitching that holds two or more layers of fabric
together.
Seam allowance: A seam allowance is the area between the edge of the fabric
and the stitching (the seam) on the pieces of fabric that are being sewn together.
Common seam allowances for basic sewing are between 1/4” and 5/8”.
4
Getting familiar with your machine before you begin sewing
Locate on your sewing machine the parts listed in the following parts diagrams
and familiarize yourself with their functions as listed in the tables (see Figures
2,3,4, and 5 and Tables 2,3,4, and 5):
IMPORTANT: All sewing machine parts included in the sewing machine
parts figures (Figures 3-6) and tables (Tables 2-5) are in boldfaced type the
first time they occur in each set of instructions. When you encounter a
bold-faced term, you may refer back to these figures and tables to locate
the part on the sewing machine. However, it is important that you become
familiar with the location of the parts on your sewing machine so that you
do not have to repeatedly refer back to the diagrams.
5
Figure 3
Back View of Sewing Machine
Sewing Machine Parts: Back View Table 2
Name of Part Function
A Rear thread guide Guides the thread into position to feed into the thread take-up lever
B Presser foot lifter Raises and lowers the presser foot C Thread cutter Convenient mechanism to cut thread without
scissors D Stitch plate Flat metal piece below the presser foot that has
openings to accommodate the needle and the feed dog and markings to align the fabric
6
Figure 4
Side View of Sewing Machine and Foot Pedal
Source: Blog.Bambersew.com
Sewing Machine Parts: Right Side View
Table 3
Name of Part Function
A Power switch Turns the power to the machine on and off
B Power supply cord Provides power to the machine from an electrical outlet
C Foot control cord Takes power to the foot control pedal
D Foot control pedal Starts and stops the machine motor
7
Figure 5
Top View of Sewing Machine
Sewing Machine Parts: Top View
Table 4
Name of Part Function
A Foam pad Gives the thread a secure fit on the spool pin
B Engaging lever Engages the bobbin winder motor C Thread cutter Convenient mechanism to cut thread
without scissors D Stud Supports the thread during bobbin
winding E Rear thread guide Guides the thread during bobbin
winding and when threaded through the machine during sewing
F Mid-sized spool cap Stabilizes the spool of thread on the spool pin
G Horizontal spool pin Holds the spool of thread used for sewing
8
Figure 6
Front View of Sewing Machine
Source: blog.bambersew.com (photo only)
9
Sewing Machine Parts: Front View
Table 5
Name of Part Function A Bobbin winding spindle Holds the thread during bobbin winding B Bobbin engaging lever Engages the bobbin winder motor C Hand wheel Manually raises and lowers the machine
needle D Keypad Has buttons with numbers 0-10, #, and
clr for selecting types of stitches E Stitch length selection buttons Adjust length of individual stitches F Start/stop button Starts and stops the motor without use
of the foot pedal G Reverse button Forces the feed dog to operate in
reverse H Needle clamp knob Tightens and loosens the needle I Presser foot When lowered, stabilizes the fabric as
the feed dog moves the fabric underneath the needle
J Bobbin housing Compartment which holds the bobbin and bobbin case
K Feed dog Toothed plate which moves the fabric underneath the needle and controls the length of the stitches
L Needle Raised and lowered by the motor and pierces and takes thread through the fabric
M Thread take-up lever cover Protects the moving thread take-up lever and provides a thread guide
N Needle up/down button Controls the position of the machine needle
O Thread take-up lever moves up and down, pulling thread from the spool
P Screen Displays stitch width/length, presser foot number, stitch number, and needle position
Q Stitch width selection buttons Control the width of individual stitches
10
Preparing your machine for sewing
The first steps in preparing to operate a sewing machine are to learn where the
power supply cord and the power switch are located and how to use them to turn
on the machine (see Figure 4, page 6).
How to turn on your machine
Caution: These are the steps for turning on your sewing machine; however,
the machine should be turned off when you are attaching, removing, or
adjusting any parts.
1. Locate the power supply cord on the right side of the machine.
2. Plug the power supply cord into the outlet underneath your work space.
3. Locate the power switch on the right side of the machine above the power
supply cord with “l” for ON and “O” for OFF.
4. Press in the top of the button marked with the symbol “l”.
Note: The machine light will come on, the needle will vibrate, and the
machine will make a grinding sound. This is normal.
5. Unwind the foot control pedal and place it on the floor.
Threading your machine
Before you can begin to sew, your machine must have thread properly loaded
through all of the thread guides, the take-up lever, and the needle. This section
will show you how to load thread onto the horizontal spool pin and how to
position your thread so that it moves smoothly through the thread guides from
the spool to the needle (see Figures 5 and 6, pages 7 and 8).
11
How to load thread onto the horizontal spool pin 1. Slide the foam pad, white side first, onto the horizontal spool pin located
on the top of the machine.
2. Slide the spool of thread onto the horizontal spool pin.
Note: Place the spool so that the thread unwinds clockwise.
3. Locate the mid-sized spool cap inside your accessories pouch. This cap will
be about the same size as the end of your spool of thread.
4. Slide the spool cap, smaller side first, onto the horizontal spool pin snugly
against the spool of thread, but not so tight that the spool of thread will not
freely spin.
How to thread your machine 1. Turn the power switch off.
Note: When taking thread through any of the thread guides, it may be
helpful to hold the thread gently taught between your index finger and
thumb of each hand.
2. Raise the presser foot lifter to raise the presser foot if it has been lowered.
3. Load thread onto the horizontal spool pin (see instructions above).
IMPORTANT: Refer to the following diagram (see Figure 7) in steps 4-11
below.
12
Figure 7
Threading the Upper Thread
Source: Bernina 350 PE Manual
4. Pull the end of the thread loaded onto the horizontal spool pin across and
to the left of the top of the machine.
13
5. Hook the thread underneath the silver rear thread guide located on the top
back left of the machine (see (A), Figure 7).
Note: You may need to stand up to see exactly where to hook the thread
(see Figure 8).
Figure 8
Rear Thread Guide as Viewed from Behind Machine
a. Guide the thread through the notch in the white body of the machine
just beside the silver rear thread guide.
b. Take the thread under the sliver rear thread guide.
c. Bring the thread up, against the rear thread guide, toward the top of
the machine.
6. Bring the thread up over the top of the machine toward you, following the
arrow, through the slit (see (B), Figure 7) then straight down the front of
the machine.
Note: The thread should move freely through all of the thread guides. If
the thread does not move freely when tugged, remove it from all of the
thread guides and begin again.
14
7. Pull the thread underneath the silver thread take-up lever cover arm on
the left front of the machine (see (C), Figure 7) and alongside the arm, back
up to the top of the arm.
8. Raise the needle, if it has been lowered, by turning the hand wheel
clockwise.
Figure 9
Hooking the Thread Around the Take-up Lever
9. Take the thread through the slit at the top of the silver thread take-up
cover arm, back, then forward in the direction of the arrow. This will hook
the thread around the thread take-up lever (see Figure 9) located at the
top left of and just behind the thread take-up lever cover (see (D), Figure 7).
Note: It will be helpful to use both hands to guide the thread into the take-
up lever.
10. Take the thread straight down, again alongside the silver thread take-up
cover arm, but not against it.
11. Take the thread through the lower thread guide (see (E), Figure 7) located
just above the needle clamp knob.
15
Figure 10
Taking the thread around the lower thread guide
a. Pull the thread to the right, then take it behind the opening on the
right side of the lower thread guide located just below the needle
clamp knob (see Figure 10).
Figure 11
Taking the thread through the curved guide above the needle
16
12. Take the thread to the left of the needle and through the opening on the
left side of the curved thread guide (see Figure 11) just above the needle
(see (F), Figure 7).
13. Take the thread through the eye (opening) of the needle.
14. Take the thread through the opening in the presser foot and toward the
back of the machine.
15. Trim any excess thread.
b. Take the thread to the left of the machine, then in front of and across
the thread cutter.
c. Pull the thread down behind the thread cutter to trim.
Winding, inserting, and removing a bobbin
In addition to the upper thread running from the spool to the needle, your
machine must have thread coming from a bobbin located in the bobbin housing,
below the stitch plate. From your view, the machine needle appears to simply go
down into and back out of the fabric creating a neat row of stitching. But below
the work surface, a bobbin hook moves forward and grabs the needle’s thread
forming a loop from the thread, and then pulls the loop around the thread
extending from the bobbin. A stitch is formed when the two threads are pulled
taut as the fabric is moved forward by the feed dog.
This section will describe how to (1) wind thread onto a bobbin (2) remove the
bobbin case from the bobbin housing, (3) insert a bobbin into the bobbin case,
and (4) insert a bobbin case and a bobbin filled with thread into the bobbin
housing.
How to wind thread onto a bobbin 1. Turn the power switch off.
2. Load the spool of thread onto the horizontal spool pin.
a. Slide the foam pad onto the horizontal spool pin located on the top
of the machine.
17
b. Slide the spool of thread onto the horizontal spool pin. Place the
spool so that the thread unwinds clockwise.
c. Locate the mid-sized spool cap inside your accessories pouch. This
cap will be about the same size as the end of your spool of thread.
d. Slide the spool cap, smaller side first, onto spool pin snugly against
spool of thread, but not so tight that the spool of thread will not
freely spin.
3. Locate an empty bobbin inside your accessories pouch.
4. Place the empty bobbin on the bobbin winding spindle located on the top
of the machine, in front of the spool of thread.
5. Pull the end of the thread loaded onto the horizontal spool pin across and
to the left of the machine.
6. Hook the thread underneath the silver rear thread guide located on the top
back left of the machine.
Note: You may need to stand up to see exactly where to hook the thread.
Figure 12
Rear Thread Guide as Viewed From Behind the Machine
a. Guide the thread through the notch in the white body of the machine
just beside the silver rear thread guide (see Figure 12).
b. Take the thread under the silver rear thread guide.
18
c. Bring the thread up, against the rear thread guide, toward the top of
the machine
Figure 13
Winding a Bobbin
7. Bring the thread up and to the right about two inches, behind the silver
stud (see Figure 13).
8. Wrap the thread once around the stud in the direction of the arrow in front
of the stud.
9. Bring the thread to the right of the machine behind the bobbin winding
spindle.
10. Wrap the thread around the bobbin two to three times in the direction of
the arrow, then through the bobbin thread cutter located underneath the
bobbin engaging lever.
11. Gently pull thread against the cutter to trim excess thread.
12. Turn on the power switch.
13. Press the bobbin engaging lever toward the bobbin to start the bobbin
winder motor. The bobbin winder motor will shut off automatically when
the bobbin is full.
19
14. Lift the bobbin up from the bobbin spindle and pull the end of the thread
under the bobbin thread cutter.
Figure 14
Inside of the Bobbin Housing
How to remove the bobbin case from the bobbin housing 1. Turn the power switch off.
2. Open the door to the bobbin housing.
a. Pull down the door from the notch on the left side of the door.
3. Grasp the bobbin case latch (see Figure 14) between your thumb and index
finger of your left hand and pull the latch toward you.
4. Lift the bobbin case out of the bobbin housing.
How to insert a bobbin into the bobbin case 1. Hold the bobbin case with the opening facing you and the extending finger
of the case to the left.
2. Hold the bobbin so that the thread is coming from the bobbin clockwise.
3. Place the bobbin in the bobbin case.
4. Pull the bobbin thread up and to the left (counterclockwise) into the slot on
the top of the bobbin case.
20
Figure 15
Thread Inserted Under the Plate of the Bobbin
5. Continue pulling the thread in this direction until it passes under the plate
on the top of the bobbin case and then into the C-shaped notch just in front
of the extending finger of the bobbin case (see Figure 15).
Note: If the bobbin is threaded correctly, the bobbin should smoothly turn
clockwise as you gently pull on the bobbin thread. Be careful to grasp only
the bobbin case, not the bobbin itself, or the bobbin will not spin freely.
How to insert a bobbin case and a bobbin filled with
thread into the bobbin housing 1. Turn the power switch off.
2. Hold the bobbin case in your right hand with the extending finger of the
case pointing up and the opening to the bobbin case toward the machine.
Secure the bobbin inside the case with one finger.
3. Lift the bobbin case latch with your left hand.
a. Grasp the latch between your index finger and your thumb.
b. Pull the latch toward you.
4. Insert the hole in the center of the bobbin case onto the horizontally
extending pin in the bobbin housing as far as it will go.
21
Note: Make sure the bobbin case is securely in place or it may come loose
during sewing.
5. Release the bobbin case latch (see Figure 14, page 19).
6. Pull the thread to the right and down across the bobbin thread cutter
located to the right of the inside of the bobbin housing door.
7. Close the bobbin housing door.
Attaching and removing snap-on presser foot soles
Your sewing machine requires a presser foot to hold the fabric in place as the feed
dog guides it underneath the moving needle. Some presser feet, called standard
presser feet, consist of a combination of the presser foot shaft and the presser
foot sole (see Figure 16). Other presser feet consist of a presser foot shaft
equipped to receive a presser foot sole that is easily snapped into place. When
the sole is snapped onto the presser foot, the complete apparatus is referred to
as “the presser foot.”
This manual will provide instructions for the snap-on presser foot and two snap-
on soles. You will learn to change a standard presser foot in the Advanced Sewing
class.
Figure 16
Presser Foot Shaft and Sole
22
How to remove a snap-on presser foot sole from the
presser foot 1. Turn the power switch off.
2. Raise the presser foot.
3. Press in on the red plastic button on the back of the presser foot. The sole
will fall from the presser foot.
How to attach a snap-on presser foot sole to the presser
foot 1. Turn the power switch off.
2. Raise the presser foot.
3. Position the presser foot sole on the feed dog underneath the needle and
presser foot so that the bar across the presser foot sole lines up
underneath the opening on the bottom of the presser foot.
4. Press the presser foot lifter (see Figure 3, page 5) down to lower the
presser foot until the presser foot sole clicks into place.
Removing and inserting a needle
Your machine uses a needle for thread to pass through and form stitches.
Sometimes it may be necessary to remove a needle and install a new one. This
section will tell you how to remove a needle from your machine and how to insert
a needle into your machine.
Many different types and sizes of needles are available to accommodate various
thicknesses of fabric. For this course, we will use a universal needle that sews
most woven and knit fabrics.
23
Figure 17
Removing and Inserting a Needle
How to remove a needle from your machine 1. Turn the power switch off.
2. Grasp the needle with your left hand.
3. Turn the needle clamp knob counterclockwise with your right hand until
you feel the needle loosen.
4. Remove the needle (see Figure 17).
How to insert a needle into your machine 1. Turn the power switch off.
2. Turn the needle clamp knob counterclockwise 1-2 turns if it has been
tightened.
3. Place the needle (flat side toward the back) up into the needle hole to the
left of the knob, with your left hand (see Figure 17).
4. Push the needle as far as it will go up into the needle hole.
5. Turn the needle clamp clockwise until the needle is snugly held in place.
You will feel the needle set into place after you have turned the needle
clamp 2-3 times. Do not over-tighten the clamp.
24
Sewing
A straight stitch is the most common stitch used for everyday sewing. Many
garments require a 5/8-inch seam when sewing two pieces of fabric together. A
seam measurement is determined by the distance between the raw or folded
edges of the fabric and the line of stitching.
The zigzag stitch is used as a decorative stitch, but is also used on stretch fabrics
to allow the stitches to stretch with the fabric and is used around the raw edges
of fabric to prevent fraying.
How to sew a 5/8-inch straight stitch seam using the
seam guide 1. Turn the power switch off.
2. Thread the sewing machine if it is not threaded (see instructions pages 10-
16).
3. Attach presser sole no. 37 (see instructions page 22).
Figure 18
Seam Guide
4. Attach the seam guide.
a. Lower the presser foot lifter to lower the presser foot.
b. Hold the curved arm of the seam guide with your right hand so that
the straight bar is horizontal and pointing left and the curved arm is
pointing toward you (see Figure 18).
25
Figure 19
Red Seam Guide Receiving Hole
c. Insert the seam guide into the red hole on the right side of the
presser foot (see Figure 19).
Note: The seam guide should fit snugly into the red hole, so you will have
to exert pressure to fit it into the opening.
d. Press the seam guide in until the curved arm is lined up with the 5/8-
inch marking on the right side of the stitch plate.
5. Raise the presser foot lifter to raise the presser foot.
6. Turn the power switch on.
Figure 20
Fabric in Position for Sewing
26
7. Place the fabric into position for sewing (see Figure 20).
a. Fold in half (right side to right side) the 8” x 8” fabric square provided
by your instructor.
b. Hold the fabric so that the folded edge is on your right.
c. Place the fabric on the switch plate so that the folded edge is against
the seam guide and the top edge of the fabric is positioned directly
underneath the needle.
8. Lower the presser foot lifter to lower the presser foot.
9. Set the needle to stop in the UP position.
a. Press the needle up/down button until the correct position is
indicated on the screen by a needle and an arrow pointing up.
10. Press the foot control pedal to begin sewing.
Caution: Press the foot control pedal gently 1/2-3/4 of the way down to
keep the motor running at a slow speed. DO NOT PRESS THE PEDAL ALL THE
WAY DOWN.
11. Sew to the end of your fabric square.
Caution: You may gently guide the fabric with both hands, but do not pull
or tug the fabric as it passes underneath the presser foot. This will cause
faulty stitching and the fabric will bunch up under the presser foot.
12. Release the foot control pedal.
13. Lift the presser foot lever to raise the presser foot.
14. Cut the machine thread.
a. Lift the fabric square and move it to the left of the machine so that
the thread runs across the thread cutter.
b. Pull thread firmly against the thread cutter to cut the thread.
c. Trim excess threads on fabric with scissors.
15. Pull the machine threads toward the back of the machine.
How to sew a zigzag stitch using the seam guide
27
Figure 21
Zigzag Stitches of Differing Widths
Source: www.sewingschool.org
1. Turn off the power switch.
2. Attach presser foot sole # 20 (see instructions page 22).
Figure 22
Seam Guide
3. Attach the seam guide
a. Lower the presser foot lifter to lower the presser foot.
b. Hold the curved arm of the seam guide with your right hand so that
the bar is horizontal and pointing left (see Figure 22).
Figure 23
Red Seam Guide Receiving Hole
28
c. Insert the seam guide into the red hole on the back of the presser
foot (see Figure 23).
d. Press the seam guide in until the curved arm is lined up with the 5/8-
inch marking on the stitch plate.
4. Place the fabric into position for sewing (see Figure 24).
Figure 24
Fabric in Position for Sewing
a. Fold in half the 8”x 8” fabric square with the right sides of the fabric
touching each other.
b. Hold the fabric so that the folded edge is on your right.
c. Place the fabric on the switch plate so that the folded edge is against
the seam guide and the top edge of the fabric is positioned directly
underneath the needle.
5. Lower the presser foot lifter to lower the presser foot.
6. Turn on the power switch.
7. Set the needle to stop in the UP position.
a. Press the needle up/down button until the correct position is
indicated on the screen by a needle and an arrow pointing up.
8. Set the stitch number on the keypad.
29
a. Press 2 to select a basic zigzag stitch. The number 2 will appear on
the screen to indicate the stitch number.
9. Press the foot control pedal to begin sewing.
Caution: Press the foot control pedal gently 1/2-3/4 of the way down to
keep the motor running at a slow speed. DO NOT PRESS THE PEDAL ALL THE
WAY DOWN.
10. Sew to the end of your fabric square.
Caution: You may gently guide the fabric with both hands, but do not pull
or tug the fabric as it passes underneath the presser foot. This will cause
faulty stitching and the fabric will bunch up under the presser foot.
11. Release the foot control pedal.
12. Raise the presser foot lifter to raise the presser foot.
13. Cut the machine thread.
a. Lift the fabric square and move it to the left of the machine so that
the thread runs across the thread cutter.
b. Pull thread firmly against the thread cutter to cut the thread.
c. Trim excess threads on fabric with scissors.
14. Pull the machine threads toward the back of the machine.
Extras
This section will cover some extra functions of the machine that are not required
in the Beginner Course, but are useful to know after you have mastered the
required functions (see Figure 6, page 8 for a diagram of the parts used in this
section).
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How to start or stop sewing without using the foot
control pedal 1. Press the Start/Stop button on the front of the machine.
How to temporarily sew in reverse 1. Press and hold down the reverse button to sew a short distance in reverse.
The machine will sew in reverse as long as you continue to hold down the
button.
2. Alternatively, press and release the reverse button. The machine will
continue to sew in reverse until you press the reverse button again to
return to normal sewing.
How to adjust the width of a zigzag stitch 1. Press the appropriate stitch width selection button.
a. Press the right stitch width selection button to make stitches wider.
b. Press the left stitch width selection button to make stitches
narrower.
Note: The computer screen will display the stitch width setting across the
top left of the screen with numbers 1-5.5.
How to adjust the length of a straight or zigzag stitch 1. Press the appropriate stitch length selection button.
a. Press the right (down) stitch length selection button to make stitches
longer.
b. Press the left (up) stitch length selection button to make stitches
shorter.
Note: The computer screen will display the stitch length setting down the
right side of the screen with numbers 5-0.
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Shutting down your machine
When you are finished with your sewing session, you must take steps to ensure
the machine is safe until the next session. This section will tell you how to shut
down your sewing machine.
How to shut down your sewing machine 1. Turn off the power switch.
a. Press in the bottom of the button marked with the symbol “O”.
Figure 25
Power Cord Wrapped Underneath the Foot Pedal For Storage
1. Wind the foot control cord (see Figure 25).
a. Wrap the foot control cable around the spool located on the bottom
of the pedal.
2. Place the foot pedal on the table beside the sewing machine.
3. Unplug your machine from the wall outlet.
Caution: Always unplug your sewing machine after you are finished sewing.
The sewing machine is a computer and the electronic components could be
damaged during a sudden power surge or outage.
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Help
Frequently asked questions What is the difference between a presser foot and a presser foot sole?
Some presser feet consist of a combination of the presser foot shaft and
the presser foot sole. Other presser feet consist of a presser foot shaft
equipped to receive a presser foot sole that is easily snapped in to place.
The sole is the part of the presser foot which touches the fabric as it is
sewn, just as the sole of a shoe touches the floor. When the sole is
snapped onto the shaft, the whole apparatus is commonly referred to as
“the presser foot.”
How can I return to a straight stitch after I accidentally select a
decorative stitch?
Press the clr (clear) button once. If you have selected a buttonhole stitch,
press the clr button twice.
How can I remove faulty stitching?
Use the seam ripper included in your accessory bag to cut the stitching
loose from the fabric.
Troubleshooting When winding a bobbin, the thread is loose and loopy.
Check to make sure the thread is wrapped around the stud in the
direction of the arrow.
IMPORTANT: You will need to remove the thread from the bobbin that
is loose and loopy or the machine will not sew correctly.
The needle hit the presser foot and broke.
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Check the screen and the presser foot number (located on the top of the
presser foot sole) to make sure you are using the correct presser foot for
the stitch you are attempting to sew. If the opening in the presser foot is
too narrow for the type of stitch, the needle may hit the presser foot and
break. Remove the needle and insert a new one.
Check to make sure you have the correct needle installed for the type of
fabric you are sewing. Thicker fabrics require needles specific to the
fabric.
The machine has power, but the needle seems to be locked.
Check the bobbin case to make sure it is properly installed.
A number and a dash or two dashes appear on the stitch number area of
the screen.
The machine requires a two digit number if the # button was pressed
before the stitch number. Press any number to replace the dash, then
press the desired stitch number.
The fabric is bunching up underneath the presser foot.
The fabric may have been pulled or tugged during sewing. Raise the
needle with the hand wheel if it is in the down position. Raise the
presser foot. Cut the threads and remove the fabric from the machine.
Remove the stitching from the fabric with the seam ripper and begin
again.
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List of parts referenced in this manual Bobbin engaging lever Bobbin housing Bobbin winding spindle Feed dog Foam pad Foot control cord Foot control pedal Hand wheel Horizontal spool pin Keypad Mid-sized cap Needle Needle clamp knob Presser foot lifter Needle up/down button Power supply cord Power switch Presser foot Presser foot lifter Rear thread guide Reverse button Screen Start/stop button Stitch length selection buttons Stitch plate Stitch width selection buttons Stud Thread cutter Thread take-up lever Thread take-up lever cover
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Index Bobbin engaging lever, 9, 18, 34 Bobbin housing, 9, 19, 20, 21, 34 Bobbin winding spindle, 8, 9, 17, 18,
34 Feed dog, 3, 5, 9, 16, 21, 22, 34 Foam pad, 2, 7, 34 Foot control cord, 34 Foot control pedal, 6, 26, 29, 34 Hand wheel, 9, 34 Horizontal spool pin, 7, 10, 11, 12, 16,
34 Keypad, 9, 34 Mid-sized spool cap, 2, 7, 11, 17, 34 Needle, 9, 34 Needle clamp knob, 23, 34 Needle up/down button, 26, 28, 34 Power supply cord, 6, 10, 34
Power switch, iv, 6, 10, 11, 16, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 31, 34
Presser foot, 3, 5, 9, 34 Presser foot lifter, 11, 22, 24, 25, 26,
27, 28, 29, 34 Rear thread guide, 5, 34 Reverse button, 9, 34 Screen, 9, 34 Start/stop button, 9, 34 Stitch length selection buttons, 34 Stitch plate, 5, 34 Stitch width selection buttons, 34 Stud, 7, 34 Thread cutter, 3, 5, 7, 15, 16, 19, 21,
26, 29, 34 Thread take-up lever, 5, 9, 14, 34 Thread take-up lever cover, 14, 34