SINGER 1288 User Manual

Instruction Book for the Singer* Sewing Machine

For Treadle Machine Owners

To adjust your machine for treadle sewing, loosen hand wheel knob A by turning it toward you with the right hand while holding hand wheel with the left hand.

Place both feet on the treadle as illustrated. Turn hand wheel over toward you, allowing your feet to move freely with the motion of the treadle. Prac­ tice this motion until you are able to start and keep the machine in operation with the hand wheel turning toward you. Remember that the faster you operate the treadle, the faster the machine will sew.

W h e n y o u h a v e

become	accustomed
to the	treadle motion,
tighten	the hand wheel

knob by turning it away

from	you.		Place	a
piece	of material under
the presser			foot	and
lower	the	presser		foot
lifter.	Now	operate		the

m a c h i n e f w i t h o u t t h r e a d ) u n t i l y o u become accustomed to guiding the material.

Enjoy Sewing!

Copyright © 1982 THE SINGER COMPANY

All Rights Reserved Throughout the World

*A Trademark of The Singer Company

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Serial No.

For European Territories —

This product is suppressed for radio and television interference in accordance with the International Electrotechnical Commission of the CISPR.

IMPORTANT: Machines for Great Britain and some other countries having similar wiring standards are shipped from the factory without a plug for connection to the mains. The wire in this mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following code:

Blue: neutral (N) Brown: live (L)

As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this appliance may not correspond with the coloured mark­ ings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows:

The wire which is coloured blue must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter N or coloured black. The wire which is coloured brown must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter L or coloured red. If a 13 Amp. (BS1363) plug is used, a 3 Amp. fuse must be fitted, or if any other type of plug is used, a 5 Amp. fuse must be fitted either in the plug or adaptor or at the distribution board.

Dear Customer:

We recommend that for future reference you record the serial number of your Sewing Machine in the space provided.

Refer to illustration at right for location of serial number on your machine.

Serial No.

Contents
1. Getting to Know Your Machine	4
Principal Parts..........................................................	4
Accessories............................................................	6
Z Getting Ready to Sew	10
Choosing and Changing Accessories....................	10
Operating Machine..................................................	18
The Bobbin Thread................................................	20
Threading the Machine..........................................	24
3. Straight Stitching	28
Setting Selectors....................................................	28
Sewing a Seam......................................................	32
Applications...........................................................	34
4. Basic Zig-Zag Stitching	38
Setting Selectors ...................................................	38
Satin Stitching............. .........................................	40
Stitch Usage.........................................................	42
5. Pattern Stitching	46
Selecting a Stitch .................................................	46
Stitch Pattern Chart...............................................	48
Adjusting Stitches for Stretch Fabrics ...................	50
Decorative Stitching.......................................... .. .	62
6. Buttonhoies and Buttons	66
Garment Preparation ...........................................	66
Four-Step Buttonholing.........................................	70
Buttons...................................................................	74
7. Caring for Your Machine	76
8. Twin Needie Stitching	84
9. Home Service Hints	86
index	.88

1. Getting to Know Your Machine

Principal Parts

1.Spool Pin

2.Thread Guides

3.Bobbin Winder Tension Disc

4.Take-up Lever

5.Needle-Thread Tension Dial

6. Face Plate

7.Presser Foot Lifter

8.Thread Cutter

9.Presser Foot Screw

10. General Purpose Presser Foot

11. Thread Guides

12.Feed

13.General Purpose Needle Plate

14.Slide Plate

15.Bobbin Case

16.Bobbin

17.Needle Clamp

18.Electrical Connections and Speed Controller

19.Hand Wheel

20.Hand Wheel Knob

21.Stitch Width Selector

22.Needle Position Selector

23.Stitch Length Selector

24.Reverse Stitch Push Button and Buttonhole Balance Knob

25.Bobbin Winder Spindle

сл

Accessories

The accessories provided with your sewing machine are designed to help you do many kinds of sewing easily.

1.Transparent Bobbins (No. 172336)

2.Singer* Needles

•Style 2020 for general sewing.

•Style 2045 for sewing knits, stretch fabrics and elastic.

•Style 20251 for twin-needle decorative stitching.

3.Button Foot holds most flat buttons securely for fastening.

4.Zipper Foot for inserting zippers and stitching corded seams.

5.Blindstitch Hem Guide. Use this with the gen­ eral purpose foot to position and guide the hem.

6.Buttonhole Foot-is used to make bar tack but­ tonholes in four steps.

7.Straight Stitch Foot and Straight Stitch Needle Plate are used when your fabric or sewing pro­ cedure requires close control. These accessories are recommended for all straight stitch sewing.

8.Special Purpose Foot. Use this for all kinds of decorative stitching.

9.Snap-in Feed Cover for button sewing, freemotion work and darning.

tCAUTION: Use this needle with the general pur­ pose needle plate and general purpose or special pur­ pose foot only. Do not use any other accessories with this needle as needle breakage will occur.

To ensure that you are always provided with the most modern sewing capabilities, THE MANUFACTURER reserves the right to change the appearance, desigp or accessories of this sewing machine when con­ sidered necessary.

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A. General Purpose Foot and General Purpose Needle Plate are on your machine when deliv­ ered. Use them tor alternating between straight and zig-zag stitching.

B . Spool Pin is used for twin-needle sewing.

C.Small Spool Holder for use with small diameter spools of thread.

stitch Pattern Discs

The following stitch pattern discs are included in your accessory set. Sewing application information for each disc may be found on page 48.

Basic Zig-Zag Disc 1

(in place on your machine when delivered.)

Multi Stitch Zig-Zag Disc 2

Arrowhead Stitch Disc 5

Domino Stitch Disc 6

Banner Stitch Disc 10

Key Stitch Disc 11

Walls of Troy Stitch Disc 12

Solid Diamond Stitch Disc 13

Pennant Stitch Disc 17

Ball Stitch Disc 19

Curved Mending Stitch Disc 20

Spiny Stitch Disc 25

Block Stitch Disc 26

Faggoting (Feather Stitch) Disc 27

Elastic Stretch Stitch (Alpine) Disc 37

Blindstitch Disc 350

Crescent Stitch Disc 351

Solid Scallop Stitch Disc 352

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2. Getting Ready to Sew

Choosing and Changing

Accessories

CAUTION: Disconnect the power tine plug from the socket outlet when changing needles, feet, or needle plates, or when leaving the machine unattended. This eliminates the possibility of starting the machine by accidentally pressing the speed controller.

Changing Presser Feet

•Raise needle to highest position by turning the hand wheel toward you.

•Raise presser foot.

1. Press toe of presser foot upward as far as it will go until it snaps free.

2. Centre the new presser foot under the shank A.

Lower the presser foot lifter so that the shank fits over the presser foot pin.

3. Press presser foot screw down firmly until foot snaps into place.

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Removing and Replacing the

Button Foot and Presser Foot Shank

•Raise needle to highest position by turning the hand wheel toward you.

•Raise the presser foot.

•Loosen presser foot screw A and remove the shank B, guiding it to the right.

•To replace the accessory, hook shank around the presser bar and tighten the presser foot screw.

NOTE: Insert the edge of a coin in the seat of the presser foot screw to loosen it and tighten it securely.

Attaching Blindstitch Hem Guide

•Raise presser foot, loosen presser foot screw and slip blindstitch hem guide between screw and shank of the general purpose foot.

Be sure underside of the guide clears the slide plate and front of foot.

Tighten screw with a coin.

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13

Changing Needle Plates

NOTE: Remove bobbin if it contains thread in order to prevent thread being caught when plate is replaced.

•Raise needle to highest position by turning the hand wheel toward you.

•Raise presser foot.

•Open slide plate. Place thumb under right side of needle plate, lift it up and withdraw it to right.

•Replace needle plate under clamping pin A, push it firmly to the left and press down until it snaps into place.

•Close slide plate.

Attaching Snap-in Feed Cover

•Raise needle to highest position by turning hand wheel toward you.

•Raise presser foot, open slide plate and insert gen­ eral purpose needle plate.

•Slide snap-in feed cover away from you over needle

plate until points B and C are positioned directly over holes inmeedle plate as illustrated. Snap in point B. Then push point C in toward point B until it snaps into place. Close slide plate.

• To remove, open slide plate, then simply lift up front edge of feed cover and remove. Close slide plate.

Changing the Needle

•Raise needle to its highest position by turning the hand wheel toward you. Loosen the needle-clamp screw D and remove the needle.

•Insert new needle with the flat side of the needle to the back, up into/clamp E as far as it will go.

•Tighten needle-clamp screw.

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15

Fabric, Thread

The needle and thread you choose will depend upon the fabric to be stitched. The needle should be fine enough to prevent the fabric from being marred with large punctures, yet heavy enough to pierce the fabric without being bent or deflected.

FABRIC

FILMY—Chiffon, Organza, Tulle, Voile

SHEER —Net, Lace, Ninon, Crepe de Chine, Voile

LIGHT—Velvet, Crepe de Chine, Shantung, Faille, Organdy, Muslin, Batiste, Dimity, Lawn, Percale, Piqué, Poplin Cashmere, Flannel, Mohair, Felt, Taffeta, Satin, Challis, Eyelet, Gingham, Crepe, Broadcloth

MEDIUM—Velvet, Crepe de Chine, Shantung, Suiting, Satin, Crepe, Velveteen, Corduroy, Fleece, Flannel, Gabardine, Felt, Serge, Mohair

HEAVY—Brocade, Taffeta, Satin, Crepe Corduroy,

Linen, Drapery Fabric, Burlap, Suiting,

Gabardine, Poplin Denim, Ticking, Canvas

VERY HEAVY—Denim, Duck, Canvas, Sailcloth,

Coating, Blanketing, Upholstery Fabric

KNITS, STRETCH AND ELASTICS—Jersey, Cire, Sweater Knit, Bonded Knit, Tricot, Stretch Terry, Double Knit, Spandex, Deep Pile, Fake Furs

LEATHER, PLASTIC, VINYLS—Kidskin, Patent

Leathers and Suedes, Plastic Film, Imitation

Upholstery Vinyl and Leather

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and Needle Table

The eye of the needle must be large enough for the thread to pass through it freely: too fine a needle will cause the thread to fray.

The table below is a guide to needle and thread selec­ tion. Refer to it before starting a sewing project.Be sure to use the same size and type of thread in both needle and bobbin.

	THREAD	NEEDLE
		Style	Size
	Fine silk, cotton,	2020	9.11
	mere, or synth.
	Fine silk, cotton.	2020	9,11
	mere, or synth.
	Fine silk, cotton.
	mere, or synth.	2020	11
	Medium cotton.
	mere, or synth.
	Medium silk, cotton.	9090	11
	mere, or synth.	ZUZU	14
	Heavy silk, cotton,	2020	14
	mere, or synth.		16
	Heavy silk, cotton.	2020	14
	mercerized or	or	16
	synthetic	2026	18
	Fine, medium, or		11
		90/ C,	1/
	heavy synthetic
			16
	Fine mere. & synth.	2020	11.14.16
	Med. mere. & synth.	or	11.14.16.18
	Hvy. mere. & synth.	2032

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Operating Machine

Connecting Machine

Before plugging in your machine, be sure that the volt­ age and number of cycles indicated on the electrical nameplate A, conform to your electrical power supply.

If your speed controller cord has a motor discon­ nect plug, push plug B into the receptacle at the right end of machine. Then connect plug C to your socket outlet.

If the speed controller cord is wired directly to the motor, simply connect plug C to your socket outlet.

CAUTION: Disconnect the power line plug from the socket outlet when changing needles, feet, or needle plates or when leaving the machine unattended. This eliminates the possibility of starting the machine by accidentally pressing the speed controller.

If your machine has a sewing iight switch, press or turn switch on the machine, as required.

if machine has a three-position switch:

•The OFF setting (switch moved to O symbol).

•The MIN. setting (switch moved to — symbol) al­ lows the maximum control for special jobs.

•The MAX. setting (switch moved to = symbol) al­ lows for full speed capacity of the machine.

To run the machine and controi speed, press the speed controller D with your foot. The harder you press, the faster the machine will sew. To stop ma­ chine, remove foot from controller.

CAUTION: Because of the up and down movement of the needle, you must work carefully and watch the sewing area when operating the machine.

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19

The Bobbin Thread

Winding the Bobbin

Preparation Steps

1.Raise the presser foot and turn hand wheel toward you until needle is in highest position.

2.Loosen hand wheel knob A by turning it toward you with the right hand while holding hand wheel with the left hand.

3.Place thread spool on spool pin with thread retain­ ing slit B to the right. (Break paper at the end of spool if necessary.)

•Place spool holder C on spool pin and press firmly against the thread spool.

Winding Steps

•Snap thread into thread guide post D and open top cover.

•Lead thread around bobbin winder tension disc E, as illustrated, and through small hole in bobbin from inside out.

• Place bobbin on spindle and move bobbin winder F to right.

•Hold thread end and start the machine. Cut off thread end after a few coils have been wound.

•When required amount of thread has been wound (winding will stop when bobbin is full) stop machine and cut connecting thread.

•Move bobbin winder to the left and remove bobbin.

•Hold hand wheel and tighten hand wheel knob.

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Threading the Bobbin Case

1. Hold bobbin so that thread unwinds in direction shown, and insert bobbin in bobbin case.

2. Pull thread into notch A in bobbin case, draw it toward left and into slot B.

3. Draw approximately 10cm (4 inches) of thread diag­ onally across the bobbin.

4. Close slide plate, allowing thread to extend through the slot between the slide plate and the needle plate.

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23

Threading the Machine

•Place spool of thread on spool pin. If spool being used hasathread retaining slit A, it should be placed to the right, as illustrated.

•Raise the presser foot, to release thread tension.

•Raise the take-up lever to highest position by turn­ ing hand wheel toward you.

•Snap thread into thread guide post 1.

•Holding thread ends in each hand, snap thread into upper thread guide 2.

•Pass thread through thread guide 3.

•With right hand on thread spool, thread the needle thread tension 4. Slide thread over metal plate be­ tween tension discs with left hand. Lead thread under tensfon and tension wire. Thread tension wire by firmly pulling thread up and over to the right.

•Guide thread through point 5.

•Thread take-up lever 6, as illustrated.

•Draw thread through points 7 and 8, guiding thread from rear of each guide to the right.

•Pass thread through guide 9. Thread the needle 10 fromfrontto back, drawing10cm(4inches)ofthread through the needle eye.

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9Z

Raising the Bobbin Thread

Hold needle thread lightly with left hand and turn hand wheel slowly toward you until the needle enters plate.

Continue turning hand wheel and holding needle thread until needle rises. Tighten your hold on the needle thread and bring up bobbin thread in a loop.

Open the loop with your fingers. Draw approximately 10 cm (4 inches) of both threads under the presser foot and place them diagonally to left. Close slide plate.

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