Brother LX3014 Operation Manual

ENGLISH

Operation Manual

Sewing Machine

APPENDIX

UTILITY STITCHES

SEWING BASICS

KNOWING YOUR SEWING MACHINE

Product Code: 885-405/407

Be sure to read this document before using the machine. We recommend that you keep this document nearby for future reference.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

When using the sewing machine, basic safety precautions should always be followed,

including the following:

“Read all instructions before using.”

DANGER – To reduce the risk of electric shock:

1. The sewing machine should never be left unattended when plugged in. Always unplug this sewing machine from the electrical outlet immediately after using and before cleaning.

2. Always unplug before changing the light bulb. Replace bulb with same type rated 15 watts.

WARNING – To reduce the risk of burns, fire, electric

shock, or injury to persons:

1. Do not allow this machine to be used as a toy. Close attention is necessary when the sewing machine is used by or near children. Use this sewing machine only for its intended use as described in this manual. Use

2. only accessories recommended by the manufacturer as contained in this manual.

3. Never operate this sewing machine if it has a damaged cord or plug, if it is not working properly, if it has been dropped or damaged, or dropped into water. Return the sewing machine to the nearest authorized dealer or service center for examination, repair, electrical or mechanical adjustment.

4. Never operate the sewing machine with any of the air openings blocked. Keep the ventilation openings of the sewing machine and foot controller free from the accumulation of lint, dust and loose cloth.

5. Never drop or insert any object into any openings.

6. Do not use this machine outdoors.

7. Do not operate this machine where aerosol (spray) products are being used or where oxygen is being administered.

8. To disconnect, turn the main switch to the symbol “O” position which represents off, then remove plug from outlet.

. Do not unplug by pulling on the cord. To unplug, grasp the plug and pull, not the cord.

10.Keep fingers away from all moving parts. Special care is required around the sewing machine needle.

.Always use the proper needle plate. The wrong plate can cause the needle to break.

12.Do not use a bent needle.

13.Do not pull or push the fabric while stitching. It may deflect the needle causing it to break.

14.Switch the sewing machine to the off, symbol “O” position when making any adjustments in the needle area, such as threading the needle, changing the needle, threading the bobbin, or changing the presser foot.

15.Always unplug the sewing machine from the electrical outlet when removing covers, lubricating, or when making any other user service adjustments mentioned in this instruction manual.

16.This sewing machine is not intended for use by young children or impaired persons without supervision.

17.Young children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with this sewing machine.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

This sewing machine is intended for household use.

This appliance is not intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge, unless they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance by a person responsible for their safety. Children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the appliance.

CONGRATULATIONS ON CHOOSING OUR MACHINE

To fully enjoy all the features, we suggest that you study the manual before using the machine.

PLEASE READ BEFORE USING THIS MACHINE

For safe operation

1. Be sure to keep your eye on the needle while sewing. Do not touch the handwheel, thread takeup lever, needle, or other moving parts.

2. Remember to turn off the power switch and unplug the cord when:

• Operation is completed

• Replacing or removing the needle or any other parts

• A power failure occurs during use

• Maintaining the machine

• Leaving the machine unattended

3. Do not store anything on the foot controller.

4. Plug the machine directly into the wall. Do not use extension cords.

For a longer service life

1. When storing this machine, avoid direct sunlight and high humidity locations. Do not use or store the machine near a space heater, iron, halogen lamp, or other hot objects.

2. Use only neutral soaps or detergents to clean the case. Benzene, thinner, and scouring powders can damage the case and machine, and should never be used.

3. Do not drop or hit the machine.

4. Always consult the operation manual when replacing or installing any assemblies, the presser feet, needle, or other parts to assure correct installation.

For repair or adjustment

In the event a malfunction occurs or adjustment is required, first follow the troubleshooting table in the back of the operation manual to inspect and adjust the machine yourself. If the problem persists, please consult your local authorized Brother dealer.

For additional product information and updates, visit our web site at www.brother.com The contents of this manual and specifications of this product are subject to change without notice.

FOR USERS IN THE UK, EIRE, MALTA AND CYPRUS ONLY

IMPORTANT

• In the event of replacing the plug fuse, use a fuse approved by ASTA to BS 1362, i.e. carrying the mark, rating as marked on plug.

• Always replace the fuse cover. Never use plugs with the fuse cover omitted.

• If the available electrical outlet is not suitable for the plug supplied with this equipment, you should contact your authorized dealer to obtain the correct lead.

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CONTENTS

1. KNOWING YOUR SEWING MACHINE ..........................................................5

NAMES OF MACHINE PARTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS ....................................................5

The main parts ................................................................................................................................................. 5

Needle and presser foot section ...................................................................................................................... 6

Flat bed attachment ......................................................................................................................................... 6

ACCESSORIES .....................................................................................................................7

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES ..................................................................................................7

USING YOUR SEWING MACHINE .....................................................................................8

Power supply precautions ................................................................................................................................ 8

Power supply .................................................................................................................................................... 8

Foot controller .................................................................................................................................................. 9

Steadying the machine ..................................................................................................................................... 9

THREADING THE MACHINE ............................................................................................10

Winding the bobbin ........................................................................................................................................ 10

Lower threading ............................................................................................................................................. 11

Upper threading ............................................................................................................................................. 13

Drawing up the lower thread .......................................................................................................................... 14

REPLACING THE NEEDLE .................................................................................................15

Needle precautions ........................................................................................................................................ 15

Selecting the needle depending on the thread and fabric types .................................................................... 15

Checking the needle ...................................................................................................................................... 16

Replacing the needle ..................................................................................................................................... 16

Sewing with a twin needle (Option) ................................................................................................................ 18

REPLACING THE PRESSER FOOT ......................................................................................19

Replacing the presser foot ............................................................................................................................. 19

Removing the presser foot holder .................................................................................................................. 20

2. SEWING BASICS ...........................................................................................21

SEWING ............................................................................................................................21

General sewing procedure ............................................................................................................................. 21

Selecting stitching .......................................................................................................................................... 22

Starting to sew ............................................................................................................................................... 23

Sewing in reverse ........................................................................................................................................... 23

Thread tension ............................................................................................................................................... 24

USEFUL SEWING TIPS ......................................................................................................25

Trial sewing .................................................................................................................................................... 25

Changing the sewing direction ....................................................................................................................... 25

Sewing curves ................................................................................................................................................ 25

Sewing thick fabrics ....................................................................................................................................... 25

Sewing thin fabrics ......................................................................................................................................... 26

Sewing stretch fabrics .................................................................................................................................... 26

Using a free-arm style .................................................................................................................................... 26

3. UTILITY STITCHES ........................................................................................27

USEFUL STITCHES ............................................................................................................27

Zigzag stitches ............................................................................................................................................... 27

Basic stitching ................................................................................................................................................ 28

Blind hem stitching ......................................................................................................................................... 28

Darning ........................................................................................................................................................... 30

BUTTONHOLE SEWING ...................................................................................................31

Making the buttonhole .................................................................................................................................... 31

Adjusting buttonhole stitching ........................................................................................................................ 32

Button sewing ................................................................................................................................................. 33

ZIPPER INSERTION ...........................................................................................................34

APPLIQUÉ, MONOGRAMMING AND EMBROIDERING .................................................35

Appliqués ....................................................................................................................................................... 35

Monogramming and embroidering ................................................................................................................. 35

DECORATIVE STITCHING ................................................................................................37

Gathering ....................................................................................................................................................... 37

Shell tuck stitching ......................................................................................................................................... 37

Elastic stitching .............................................................................................................................................. 38

4. APPENDIX .....................................................................................................39

MAINTENANCE ................................................................................................................39

Precautions on storing the machine ............................................................................................................... 39

Oiling .............................................................................................................................................................. 39

Changing the bulb .......................................................................................................................................... 39

Cleaning the machine surface ........................................................................................................................ 40

Cleaning the shuttle race ............................................................................................................................... 40

Cleaning the feed dogs .................................................................................................................................. 41

Bobbin case tension adjustment .................................................................................................................... 42

TROUBLESHOOTING .......................................................................................................43

INDEX ...............................................................................................................................46

KNOWING YOUR SEWING MACHINE ————————————————————————————————————————

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1 KNOWING YOUR SEWING MACHINE

NAMES OF MACHINE PARTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS

The main parts

a Buttonhole fine-adjusting screw (page 32)

Turn the buttonhole fine-adjusting screw to adjust buttonhole stitching when it is not uniform.

b Pattern selection dial (page 22)

Turn the pattern selection dial to select the number of the stitch that you want to use.

c Thread take-up lever (page 13) d Upper tension control dial (page 24)

This controls the tension of the upper thread.

e Flat bed attachment with accessory storage (page 6 and

26)

f Reverse sewing lever (page 23)

Press and hold down the reverse sewing lever to sew in the opposite direction.

g Built-in handle h Spool pin (page 10 and 13)

The spool pin holds the spool of thread.

i Bobbin winder (page 10)

The bobbin winder winds thread onto the bobbin for use as the lower thread.

j Handwheel

Use the handwheel to manually raise and lower the needle.

k Main power/sewing light switch (page 8)

Use this switch to turn on and off the main power and sewing light.

l Foot controller jack/jack

Insert the foot controller plug into the foot controller jack, which also supplies power to this machine.

m Thread cutter (page 23)

Pass the threads through the thread cutter to cut them.

n Presser foot lever (page 13)

Use the presser foot lever to raise and lower the presser foot.

o Bobbin winding pre-tension disc/thread guide (page 10

and 13)

The thread guide/bobbin winding pre-tension disc is used when winding the thread onto the bobbin and threading the machine.

p Foot controller (page 9)

Use the foot controller to control the sewing speed and to start and stop sewing. Foot Controller: Model KD-1902 for 110-120V area

KD-1902 for 110-127V area (Brazil only)

Model KD-2902 for 220-240V area

The foot controller part code differs depending on the country or region. Contact your dealer or the nearest authorized service center.

Needle and presser foot section

a Presser foot holder assembly

The presser foot is installed onto the presser foot holder assembly.

b Presser foot screw

Use the presser foot screw to hold the presser foot holder assembly in place.

c Presser foot (Zigzag)

The presser foot applies pressure consistently on the fabric as the sewing takes place. Attach the appropriate presser foot for the selected stitching.

d Feed dogs

The feed dogs feed the fabric in the sewing direction.

e Needle plate

The needle plate is marked with guides for sewing straight seams.

f Shuttle hook g Shuttle cover

Open the shuttle cover to set the bobbin.

h Bobbin case i Needle j Needle bar thread guide k Needle clamp screw

Use the needle clamp screw to hold the needle in place.

Flat bed attachment

The accessories are stored in a compartment inside the flat bed attachment.

Lift the bottom of the flat bed attachment

toward you, and then pull the flat bed attachment out to remove it.

a Flat bed attachment b Storage compartment

Note

● Put the accessories in the bag, and then store the bag inside the compartment. If the accessories are not in a bag, they may fall out, and be lost or damaged.

KNOWING YOUR SEWING MACHINE ————————————————————————————————————————

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Note

ACCESSORIES

The following accessories are stored in the flat bed attachment. We have designed these accessories to help you be able to carry out most sewing tasks.

(For U.S.A. only)

● Foot controller: Model KD-1902 This foot controller can be used on the following machine models: VX-1435/LX-3125/VX3240/FB1453/LX3014.

● The screw of the presser foot holder is available through your authorized dealer. (Part code: 132730-122)

● A replacement for the factory-installed presser foot is available through your authorized dealer.

(Part number: 138135-122)

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6.

90/14 needle

No. Part Name

1 Buttonhole foot “A” X59369-321 5 Bobbin SA156 SFB:XA5539-151 2 Zipper foot “I” X59370-021 6 Needle set XE5328-001

Button sewing foot “M”

3 4 Darning plate XA3442-121

Part Code

Americas Others Americas Others

XE2137-001 7 Oval screwdriver XE5241-001

No. Part Name

Part Code

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES

1. 2.

No. Part Name

1 Extra spool pin 130920-021 2 Twin needle X57521-021

Part Code

Americas Others

USING YOUR SEWING MACHINE

WARNING

CAUTION

Power supply precautions

Be sure to observe the following precautions concerning the power supply.

● Use only regular household electricity for the power source. Using other power sources may result in fire, electric shock, or damage to the machine.

● Make sure that the plugs on the power cord are firmly inserted into the electrical outlet and the power supply jack on the machine. Otherwise, a fire or electric shock may result.

● Do not insert the plug on the power cord into an electrical outlet that is in poor condition.

● Turn off the main power and remove the plug in the following circumstances:

• When you are away from the machine

• After using the machine

• When the power fails during use

• When the machine does not operate correctly due to a bad connection or a disconnection

• During electrical storms

● Do not use extension cords or multi-plug adapters with many other appliances plugged in to them. Fire or electric shock may result.

● Do not touch the plug with wet hands. Electric shock may result.

●

When unplugging the machine, always turn off the main power first. Always grasp the plug to remove it from the outlet. Pulling on the cord may damage the cord, or lead to fire or electric shock.

● Do not allow the power cord to be cut, damaged, modified, forcefully bent, pulled, twisted, or bundled. Do not place heavy objects on the cord. Do not subject the cord to heat. These things may damage the cord and cause fire or electric shock. If the cord or plug is damaged, take the machine to your authorized dealer for repairs before continuing use.

● Unplug the power cord if the machine is not to be used for a long period of time. Otherwise a fire may result.

Power supply

Insert the foot controller plug, located

between the foot controller and the power supply plug on the cord, into the jack on the machine. Then, insert the power supply plug into a wall outlet.

a Foot controller plug

KNOWING YOUR SEWING MACHINE ————————————————————————————————————————

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Note

CAUTION

Slower

Faster

CAUTION

Set the main power switch to “I”.

X The sewing lamp comes on when the

machine is turned on.

To turn off the machine, set the main power

switch to “

{”.

X The sewing lamp goes off when the

machine is turned off.

● If a power outage occurs while the sewing machine is being operated, turn off the sewing machine and unplug the power supply cord. When restarting the sewing machine, follow the necessary procedure to correctly operate the machine.

(For U.S.A. only)

● This appliance has a polarized plug (one blade wider than the other). To reduce the risk of electric shock, this plug is intended to fit in a polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully in the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install the proper outlet. Do not modify the plug in any way.

Foot controller

● When connecting the foot controller, be sure to turn off the sewing machine in order to prevent the machine from accidentally being started.

When you press the foot controller down lightly, the machine will run at a low speed. When you press harder, the machine’s speed will increase. When you take your foot off the foot controller, the machine will stop.

You should make sure that nothing is placed on the foot controller when the machine is not in use.

● Do not allow pieces of cloth and dust to build up on the foot controller. Doing so could cause a fire or an electric shock.

● A new sewing machine or one that has not been in use for a long period of time should be oiled as described on page 39. After oiling, be sure to wipe off any excess oil.

Steadying the machine

If the sewing machine has been placed on an uneven surface, turn the rubber cushion in the right-front corner of the base plate to adjust its height until the sewing machine is stable.

THREADING THE MACHINE

1 Pulling it in as

far as possible.

CAUTION

Actual size

This model Other models

CAUTION

Winding the bobbin

This section describes how to wind the thread onto the bobbin.

a Pre-tension disk b Bobbin winder shaft c Bobbin

● We designed the bobbin that comes with this machine. If you use bobbins from other models, the machine will not work properly. Only use the bobbin that comes with this machine or bobbins of the same type (part code: SA156, SFB: XA5539-151).

a 11.5 mm (7/16 inches)

Pull up the spool pin as far as possible, and

then put a spool of thread on this pin.

Put the bobbin onto the bobbin winder shaft and

slide the bobbin winder shaft to the right. Turn the bobbin clockwise, by hand, until the spring on the shaft slides into the groove of the bobbin.

• Align the notch on bobbin to the spring on the shaft.

Pass the thread around the pre-tension disk.

a Pre-tension disk

● If the spool of thread is not in the right place, the thread may tangle on the spool pin.

Pass the end of the thread through the hole on

the bobbin from the inside of the bobbin.

a Spring on the shaft b Groove of the bobbin

Turn on the sewing machine.

Click!

KNOWING YOUR SEWING MACHINE ————————————————————————————————————————

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Memo

CAUTION

While holding the end of the thread, gently press

the foot controller to wind the thread around the bobbin a few times. Then stop the machine.

a 7-10 cm (3-4 inches)

Trim the excess thread above the bobbin.

• Leave 1 cm (1/2 inch) of thread from the hole on the bobbin.

a 1 cm (1/2 inch)

●

When the sewing machine is started or the handwheel is turned after winding the thread around the bobbin, the machine will make a clicking sound; this is not a malfunction.

● The needle bar does not move when you slide the bobbin winding shaft to the right.

● Winding the bobbin improperly may cause the thread tension to loosen, breaking the needle and resulting in injury.

a Wound evenly b Wound poorly

Lower threading

● Make sure you follow the instructions carefully. If you do not cut the thread completely, and the bobbin is wound, when the thread runs low it may tangle around the bobbin and cause the needle to break.

Press the foot controller to start.

When the bobbin seems full and begins

spinning slowly, take your foot off the foot controller.

Cut the thread, slide the bobbin winder shaft

to the left and remove the bobbin.

Install the bobbin wound with thread.

● Make sure you turn the power off while threading the machine. If you accidentally step on the foot controller and the machine starts to sew, you could be injured.

● Moving parts - To reduce the risk of injury. Disconnect from supply circuit before servicing. Remove cover.

Raise the needle to its highest position by turning

the handwheel toward you (counterclockwise) and raise the presser foot lever.

Turn off the sewing machine.

CAUTION

Open the shuttle cover behind the flat bed

attachment at the front of the machine.

a Flat bed attachment b Shuttle cover

Remove the bobbin case by pulling its latch

toward you and pulling it out from the shuttle race.

a Bobbin case latch

Unwind about 5 cm (2 inches) of thread from

a full bobbin, and then insert the bobbin into the bobbin case.

Pull the trailing thread through the slot, down

and to the left, as shown below, until it enters the delivery eye under the tension spring.

a Tension spring b 5 cm (2 inches)

Hold the bobbin case by the latch, fully insert

the bobbin case into the shuttle race, and then release the latch.

• Make sure the bobbin case finger fits into the notch at the top of the shuttle race.

• Only use bobbins that were designed to be used with this machine.

● Make sure you set the bobbin so the thread unrolls in the right direction. If the thread unrolls in the wrong direction, it may cause the thread tension to be incorrect or break the needle.

a Bobbin case finger b Notch

Close the shuttle cover.

● Make sure that the bobbin case is properly placed back into the machine. If it is incorrectly installed, it will fall out from the shuttle when the machine starts to sew.

KNOWING YOUR SEWING MACHINE ————————————————————————————————————————

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CAUTION

Upper threading

Set the upper thread and thread the needle.

aSpool pin bThread guide (rear) cThread guide (front) dThread take-up lever

● Make sure you thread the machine properly. Otherwise, the thread could tangle and break the needle.

Turn off the sewing machine.

Raise the presser foot using the presser foot lever.

a Presser foot lever

Raise the needle by turning the handwheel

toward you (counterclockwise) to raise the thread take-up lever to its highest position.

● If the spool of thread is in the wrong place, or is set incorrectly, the thread may tangle on the spool pin and cause the needle to break.

While holding the thread from the spool with

your right hand, pass the thread toward you, in the groove on the thread guide.

• Make sure that the spring in the groove catches the thread

• If the needle is not correctly raised, the sewing

Pull up the spool pin as far as possible, and

then put a spool of thread on this pin.

machine can not be threaded. Be sure to turn the handwheel before threading the sewing machine.

a Spring

Pull the thread down and around the upper

tension control dial from the right to the left so the thread picks up the thread check spring.

a Upper tension control dial b Thread check spring

Guide the thread through the thread take-up

Note

lever from right to left.

a Thread take-up lever

Put the thread behind the needle bar thread

guide above the needle.

The thread can easily be passed behind the needle bar thread guide by holding the thread in your left hand, then feeding the thread with your right hand.

a Needle bar thread guide

Thread the needle from front to back and pull

out about 5 cm (2 inches) of thread.

Drawing up the lower thread

Lightly hold the end of the upper thread.

a Upper thread

Turn the handwheel toward you

(counterclockwise) to lower the needle.

Turn the handwheel toward you

(counterclockwise) to raise the needle, pulling on the upper thread to draw up the lower thread.

a 5 cm (2 inches)

● If the thread take-up lever is lowered, the upper thread cannot be wrapped around the thread take-up lever. Make sure you raise the presser foot lever and the thread take-up lever before you feed the upper thread.

● If you incorrectly feed the thread you may cause sewing problems.

• Pull thread loop to finish threading process.

Pull out about 5 cm (2 inches) of both threads

and pull them toward the back of the machine under the presser foot.

a Upper thread b Lower thread c 5cm (2 inches)

KNOWING YOUR SEWING MACHINE ————————————————————————————————————————

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Memo

CAUTION

REPLACING THE NEEDLE

This section provides information on sewing machine needles.

Needle precautions

Be sure to observe the following precautions concerning the handling of the needle. Failure to observe these precautions is extremely dangerous. Be sure to read and carefully follow the instructions below.

● Only use home sewing machine needles. Use of any other needle may bend the needle or damage the machine.

● Never use bent needles. Bent needles can easily break, possibly resulting in injury.

Selecting the needle depending on the thread and fabric types

The sewing machine needle that should be used depends on the fabric and thread thickness. Refer to the following table when choosing the thread and needle appropriate for the fabric that you wish to sew. Use the same size thread for the upper (spool) and lower (bobbin) threads.

Sewing fabrics Needle sizes Thread sizes

Cotton: 80 Synthetic/ Polyester Long Fiber Fine Mercerized Cotton

Cotton: 60-80 Silk: “A” Synthetic/ Polyester Long Fiber Mercerized 50

Cotton: 50-60 Silk: “A” Synthetic/ Polyester Long Fiber Mercerized 50-60

Cotton: 40-50 Mercerized Heavy Duty Polyester Long Fiber

Cotton Wrapped Polyester Polyester Long Fiber

Very thin

Lightweight

Medium weight

Heavyweight

Knits

Fine tricot, Fine lace, Thin linen, Silk, Organza, Chiffon

Voile, Taffeta, Synthetics, Silk, Batiste

Cotton, Gingham, Poplin, Percale, Pique, Satin, Velvet, Lightweight wool, Fine corduroy, Suitings, Linen, Muslin

Denim, Gabardine, Tweed, Corduroy, Canvas, Duck

Single knit, Double knit, Jersey, Tricot

65/9

75/11

90/14 (Supplied with your machine.)

100/16

90/14 (Ball point)

● The smaller the thread number, the thicker the thread; and the larger the needle number, the thicker the

● Use the ball point needle when sewing on stretch fabrics or fabrics where skipped stitches easily occur.

● Use a 90/14 to 100/16 needle with transparent nylon threads, regardless of the fabric being sewn.

needle.

● The appropriate fabric, thread and needle

CAUTION

combinations are shown in the table on the previous page. If the combination of the fabric, thread and needle is not correct, particularly when sewing thick fabrics (such as denim) with thin needles (such as 65/9 to 75/11), the needle may bend or break. In addition, the stitching may be uneven or puckered or there may be skipped stitches.

Checking the needle

Sewing with a bent needle is extremely dangerous since the needle may break while the machine is being operated. Before using the needle, place the flat side of the needle on a flat surface and check that the distance between the needle and the flat surface is even.

a Flat side b Needle type marking

■ Correct needle

Replacing the needle

Replace the needle as described below. Use the oval screwdriver and a needle that has been determined to be straight according to the instructions in “Checking the needle” .

Turn off the sewing machine.

● Before replacing the needle, be sure to turn off the sewing machine, otherwise injuries may occur if the foot controller is accidentally pressed and the machine starts sewing.

Raise the needle to its highest position by

turning the handwheel toward you (counterclockwise).

Lower the presser foot lever.

a Flat surface

■ Incorrect needle

If the distance between the needle and the flat surface is not even, the needle is bent. Do not use a bent needle.

a Flat surface

a Presser foot lever

KNOWING YOUR SEWING MACHINE ————————————————————————————————————————

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Hold the needle with your left hand, and then

use a oval screwdriver to turn the needle clamp screw counterclockwise to remove the needle.

Note

● The needle can be removed by simply loosening the needle clamp screw about one turn. (If the needle clamp screw is loosened too much, the needle clamp (which holds the needle) may fall off. Therefore, do not loosen the needle clamp screw too much.)

a Oval screwdriver b Needle clamp screw

• Do not apply strong force when loosening or

tightening the needle clamp screw, otherwise certain parts of the sewing machine may be damaged.

While holding the needle with your left hand,

use the oval screwdriver to tighten the needle clamp screw by turning it clockwise.

Install the twin needle in the same way.

CAUTION

● Be sure to insert the needle until it touches the needle stopper and securely tighten the needle clamp screw with the oval screwdriver, otherwise the needle may break or damage may result.

■ Installing the needle clamp

If the needle clamp is removed, follow the procedure below to attach it to the needle bar.

As seen from the front of the machine, slide

the needle clamp onto the needle bar so that the needle clamp screw is on the right side and the needle bar thread guide is at the bottom.

With the flat side of the needle toward the

rear of the machine, insert the needle until it touches the needle stopper.

a Needle stopper

a Needle clamp screw b Needle bar thread guide c Needle bar

Align the bottom edge of the needle holder

with the end of the needle bar, and then tighten the needle clamp screw.

a Needle bar b Needle holder c Needle clamp screw d Align

Sewing with a twin needle (Option)

We have designed your machine so you can sew with the optional twin needle and two top threads. You can use the same color or two different colors of thread for making decorative stitches. The stitches available for twin-needle sewing are straight stitches 6 through 10 and zigzag stitch 2.

CAUTION

● Use only twin needles that have been made for this machine (part code: X57521-021). Other needles could break, and damage the machine.

● Do not sew with bent needles. The needle could break and injure you.

● When using the twin needle, be sure to select an appropriate stitch (straight stitches 6 through 10 and

zigzag stitch 2), otherwise the needle may break or the machine may be damaged.

● Slowly turn the handwheel toward you (counterclockwise) and check that the needle does not touch the presser foot. If the needle hits the presser foot, the needle may bend or break.

● When changing the sewing direction, be sure to raise the needle before turning the fabric. If the fabric is turned while the needle is lowered, the needle may bend or break.

■ Twin needle threading

Attach the twin needle.

Attach the twin needle in the same way as a single needle (page 16).

Attach the extra spool pin.

Put the extra spool pin in the hole on the top of the machine. Put the second spool of thread onto the extra spool pin.

Thread the right needle from front to back.

Do not pass the thread behind the needle bar thread guide.

a Left needle thread passes through the needle bar

thread guide.

b Right needle thread passes in front of the needle

bar thread guide.

c Needle bar thread guide

a First spool b Second spool

Use the thread from the first spool to thread

the machine to the needle bar thread guide.

The path for threading the machine to the needle bar thread guide is the same as for normally threading the machine (for a single needle). See page 13 for more details.

Thread the left needle from front to back.

Use the thread from the second spool to thread

the machine to the thread take-up lever.

The path for threading the machine to the thread take-up lever is the same as for normally threading the machine (for a single needle). See page 13 for more details.

KNOWING YOUR SEWING MACHINE ————————————————————————————————————————

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CAUTION

REPLACING THE PRESSER FOOT

● Always turn off the power before you change the presser foot. If you leave the power on and step on the controller, the machine will start and you may be injured.

● Always use the correct presser foot for the stitch pattern you have chosen. If you use the wrong presser foot, the needle may strike the presser foot and bend or break, and may cause injury.

● Only use presser feet that have been designed to be used with this machine. Using other any presser feet may cause an accident or injury.

Press the black button at the back of the

Replacing the presser foot

Replace the presser foot as described below.

If the sewing machine has been turned on,

turn it off.

● Before replacing the presser foot, be sure to turn off the sewing machine, otherwise injuries may occur if the foot controller is accidentally pressed and the machine starts sewing.

Raise the needle to its highest position by

turning the handwheel toward you (counterclockwise).

presser foot holder to release the presser foot.

a Black button b Presser foot holder

Place a different presser foot below the holder

so that the presser foot pin is aligned with the shank in the holder.

Position the presser foot so the letter indicating the presser foot type (A, I, etc.) is positioned to be read.

Raise the presser foot lever.

a Presser foot lever

a Presser foot holder b Shank c Pin

Slowly lower the presser foot lever so that the

presser foot pin snaps into the shank in the presser foot holder.

a Presser foot lever

X The presser foot is attached.

Raise the presser foot lever to check that the

presser foot is securely attached.

■ Attaching the presser foot holder

Align the presser foot holder with the lower-

left side of the presser bar.

Removing the presser foot holder

Remove the presser foot holder when cleaning the sewing machine or when installing a presser foot that does not use the presser foot holder, such as the quilting foot. Use the oval screwdriver to remove the presser foot holder.

■ Removing the presser foot holder

Remove the presser foot.

• For details, refer to “Replacing the presser foot” (page 19).

Use the oval screwdriver to loosen the presser

foot holder screw.

a Oval screwdriver b Presser foot holder c Presser foot holder screw

a Presser foot holder b Presser bar

Hold the presser foot holder in place with

your right hand, and then tighten the screw using the oval screwdriver in your left hand.

a Oval screwdriver b Presser foot holder c Presser foot holder screw

Note

● If the presser foot holder is not correctly installed, the thread tension will be incorrect.

SEWING BASICS ——————————————————————————————————————————————————

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2 SEWING BASICS

SEWING

Basic sewing operations are described below. Before operating the sewing machine, read the following precautions.

CAUTION

● While the machine is in operation, pay special attention to the needle location. In addition, keep your hands away from all moving parts such as the needle and handwheel, otherwise injuries may occur.

● Do not pull or push the fabric too hard while sewing, otherwise injuries may occur or the needle may break.

● Never use bent needles. Bent needles can easily break, possibly resulting in injuries.

● Make sure that the needle does not strike basting pins, otherwise the needle may break or bend.

General sewing procedure

Follow the basic procedures below to sew.

Turn on the

machine.

2 Select the stitch.

Attach the presser

foot.

4 Start sewing.

Turn on the sewing machine. For details on turning on the machine, refer to “Power supply” (page 8).

↓

Select the stitch appropriate for the area to be sewn. For details on selecting a stitch, refer to “Selecting stitching” (page 22).

↓

Attach the presser foot appropriate for the stitch. For details on replacing the presser foot, refer to “Replacing the presser foot” (page 19).

↓

Position the fabric, and then start sewing. When sewing is finished, cut the threads. For details on starting to sew, refer to “Starting to sew” (page 23).

Selecting stitching

Turning the stitch selection dial in either direction, select the desired stitch.

Pattern selection dial

Number on dial Stitch name Pattern Page

3 Zigzag stitch

6 -10

13 Shell tuck stitch 37

4-step automatic buttonhole

Zigzag stitch

Zigzag (satin) stitch

Straight stitch (Center needle position)

Straight stitch (Left needle position)

Stretch blind Stitch

bacd

678910

Select the desired length.

27, 35

28, 30, 34, 37

Elastic stitch 38

SEWING BASICS ——————————————————————————————————————————————————

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Lower the presser foot lever.

Starting to sew

Turn on the sewing machine.

Raise the needle to its highest position by

turning the handwheel toward you (counterclockwise).

Raise the presser foot lever.

a Presser foot lever

Place the fabric under the presser foot, pass

the thread under the presser foot, and then pull out about 5 cm (2 inches) of thread toward the rear of the machine.

a 5 cm (2 inches)

While holding the end of the thread and the

fabric with your left hand, turn the handwheel toward you (counterclockwise) with your right hand to lower the needle to the starting point of the stitching.

a Presser foot lever

Slowly press down on the foot controller.

X The machine starts sewing.

Take your foot off the foot controller.

X The machine stops sewing.

Raise the needle to its highest position by

turning the handwheel toward you (counterclockwise).

Raise the presser foot lever.

Pull the fabric to the left side of the machine,

and then pass the threads through the thread cutter on the back of the presser foot bar to cut them.

a Thread cutter

Sewing in reverse

Reverse sewing is used to lock the threads at the end of the seam or wherever reinforcement is needed.

Press and hold down the reverse sewing lever

while sewing.

To sew forward, release the reverse sewing

lever.

Thread tension

The thread tension will affect the quality of your stitches. You may need to adjust it when you change fabric or thread.

Memo

● Before beginning to change tension adjustments make sure the upper thread and bobbin are inserted correctly.

● We recommend you do a test sample on a scrap of fabric before you start to sew.

■ Correct tension

Correct tension is important as too much or too little tension will weaken your seams or cause puckers on your fabric.

a Wrong side

■ Upper tension is too tight

Loops appear on the surface of the fabric.

Note

● If the bobbin thread was incorrectly inserted, the upper thread may be too tight. In this case, refer to “Lower threading” (page 11) and reinsert the bobbin.

Solution Reduce the tension by turning the upper tensioncontrol dial to a lower number.

b Surface c Upper thread d Lower thread

a Wrong side b Surface c Upper thread d Lower thread e Loops appear on

surface of fabric

■ Upper tension is too loose

Loops appear on the wrong side of the fabric.

Note

● If the upper thread was incorrectly threaded, the upper thread may be too loose. In this case, refer to “Upper threading” (page 13) and rethread.

a Wrong side b Surface

Solution Increase the tension by turning the upper tensioncontrol dial to a higher number.

■ Bobbin tension is too loose

Loops may appear on the surface of the fabric when sewing thin fabric with thin thread.

Solution Reduce the tension by turning the upper tensioncontrol dial to a lower number.

If the problem persists, increase the tension in the bobbin by turning the screw clockwise with a small oval screwdriver. Be sure not to turn the screw more than one full turn. In addition, be sure to return the screw to its original position before the next time that the machine is used.

c Upper thread d Lower thread e Loops appear on

wrong side of fabric

a Wrong side b Surface c Upper thread d Lower thread e Loops appear on

surface of fabric

Note

● The bobbin thread tension has been adjusted at the factory for general use. For most sewing applications, no adjustment is needed.

SEWING BASICS ——————————————————————————————————————————————————

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USEFUL SEWING TIPS

Various ways to achieve better results for your sewing projects are described below. Refer to these tips when sewing your project.

Trial sewing

A trial piece of fabric should be sewn since, depending on the type of fabric and stitching being sewn, the desired results may not be achieved. For the trial sewing, use a piece of fabric and thread that are the same as those used for your project, and check the thread tension and stitch length and width. Since the results differ depending on the type of stitching and the number of layers of fabric sewn, perform the trial sewing under the same conditions that will be used with your project.

Changing the sewing direction

When the stitching reaches a corner, stop the

sewing machine.

Leave the needle lowered (in the fabric). If the needle was raised, lower the needle by turning the handwheel toward you (counterclockwise).

CAUTION

● When using the twin needle, be sure to raise the needle before changing the sewing direction. If the fabric is turned while the needle is lowered, the needle may bend or break.

Raise the presser foot lever, and then turn the

fabric.

Turn the fabric using the needle as a pivot.

Sewing curves

Stop sewing, and then slightly change the sewing direction to sew around the curve.

When sewing along a curve while using a zigzag stitch, select a shorter stitch length in order to obtain a finer stitch.

Sewing thick fabrics

■ If the fabric does not fit under the presser foot

If the fabric does not fit easily under the presser foot, raise the presser foot lever even higher to bring the presser foot to its highest position.

Lower the presser foot lever and continue

sewing.

CAUTION

● If fabric more than 6 mm (15/64 inches) thick is sewn or if the fabric is pushed with too much force, the needle may bend or break.

Sewing thin fabrics

When sewing thin fabrics, the stitching may become misaligned or the fabric may not feed correctly. If this occurs, place thin paper or stabilizer material under the fabric and sew it together with the fabric. When you have finished sewing, tear off any excess paper.

a Stabilizer material or paper

Sewing stretch fabrics

First, baste the pieces of fabric together, and then sew without stretching the fabric.

a Basting

Using a free-arm style

Free-arm sewing is convenient for sewing tubular and hard-to-reach areas. To change your machine to the free-arm style, lift the bottom of the flat bed attachment toward you, and then pull the flat bed attachment out to remove it.

a Flat bed attachment

UTILITY STITCHES —————————————————————————————————————————————————

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3 UTILITY STITCHES

USEFUL STITCHES

Start sawing.

Zigzag stitches

You can use the zigzag stitches to join together seams and finish them in one operation. They are also useful for sewing stretch materials.

Number

on dial

Stitch name Application

Zigzag stitch

Zigzag (satin) stitch

Select a stitch.

• For details, refer to “Selecting stitching” (page 22).

Lower the needle into the fabric at the beginning of the stitching.

Overcasting and attaching appliqués. Select the desired width.

Overcasting and attaching appliqués with the decorative satin stitches.

• For details, refer to “Starting to sew” (page 23).

Memo

● When sewing with a zigzag stitch, use

straight stitches at the beginning and end of the zigzag stitch for reinforcement.

When sewing is finished, cut the thread.

• For details, refer to “Starting to sew” (page 23).

CAUTION

● Slowly turn the handwheel toward you (counterclockwise) and check that the needle does not touch the presser foot. If the needle hits the presser foot, the needle may bend or break.

Basic stitching

Straight stitches are used for sewing plain seams. Two stitches are available for basic stitching.

Number on dial Stitch name Application

678910

Baste or pin together the fabric pieces.

Select a stitch.

• For details, refer to “Selecting stitching” (page 22).

Lower the needle into the fabric at the

beginning of the stitching.

Start sewing.

• For details, refer to “Starting to sew” (page 23).

When sewing is finished, cut the thread.

• For details, refer to “Starting to sew” (page 23).

Straight stitch (Center needle position)

Straight stitch (Left needle position)

Attaching zippers, basic stitching, and sewing gathers or darning, etc.

Basic stitching, sewing gathers or pintucks, etc.

Blind hem stitching

You can use the Blind Hem Stitch to finish the edge of a project, like the hem of a pair of trousers, without the stitch showing.

Number

on dial

Stitch name Application

Stretch blind Stitch

Reverse the skirt or pants.

a Right side of fabric b Bottom side

Fold the fabric along the desired edge of the hem, and press.

a Wrong side of fabric b Right side of fabric

Blind hem stitching on stretch fabrics.

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