Singer 288 Instruction Manual

Singer
288

Dear Customer:
We recommend that for future reference you record

the serial number of your Sewing Machine in the
space provided.

Singer 288

Instruction

Manual

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

Serial No.

A Trademark of THE SINGER COMPANY

Copyright e 1978 The Singer Company

All Rights Reserved Throughout The World

Table of Contents

Singer
288

1. Getting to Know Your Sewing Machine

Principal Parts--What They Are Called
Accessories

2. Getting Ready to Sew

Preliminary Steps
Threading the Machine
Setting Selectors

3. Straight Stitching

Sewing a Seam

Pin Basting, Starting a Seam, Guiding and
Supporting Fabric, Ending a Seam, Curved
Seams

4. Zig-Zag Stitching

How Patterns Are Produced

Adjusting Width of Design Adjusting Stitch
Placement Adjusting Stitch Length and
Needle-Thread Tension

Satin Stitching

5. Twin-Needle Stitching

Inserting the Twin Needle
Threading the Needle
Machine Settings

6. Free Motion Stitching

Preparation
Script Lettering
Floral Designs

7. Sewing the Professional Way

Construction Details

Scams, Darts, Hems, Zippers
Sewing Knit and Stretch Fabrics
Buttons
Buttonholes

Decorative Touches

Topstitching, Shell Edging, Monograms and

Motifs, Appliqué

Keeping Up Appearances

Mending, Blanket Binding, Darning

8. Caring for Your Sewing Machine

Cleaning and Lubricating
Home Service Hints

Principal Parts -- what they are called

Singer
288

6. Bobbin Winder Spindle let you fill the bobbin with

thread quickly and easily.

7. Hand Wheel manually positions needle. Always turn
it toward you.

8. Needle-Thread Tension Dial lets you select the
right tension for your stitch, thread, and fabric.

9. Electric Motor drives the machine through a belt to
the hand wheel. A Power and Light Switch located

on the motor turns on machine and sewing light

simultaneously.

10. Built-in Sewing Light illuminates sewing area.

11. Thread Cutter is built into presser bar for safety

and convenience.

1. Pressure Dial regulates presser-foot pressure on
fabric.

2. Take-up Lever controls flow of needle thread.

3. Bobbin-Winder Tension Discs supply just the right

amount of thread tension for uniformly wound bob­bins.

4. Disc Holder holds any one of the interchangeable
stitch pattern discs.

5. Stitch Chart shows the stitches which the pattern
discs produce.

12. Presser Foot holds fabric against feed. (See item

21.)

13. Needle Plate provides working surface around the
feed.

14. Slide Plate opens for easy removal and replace­ment of bobbin

15. Needle Clamp holds single and twin needles. It is
designed to eliminate the possibility of inserting
needle backwards.

16. Stitch Width Selector controls the width of zig­zag stitching and sets the machine for straight
stitching.

17. Needle Position Selector places the needle in
either (left), (center) or (right) stitching position.

3

Singer
288

Principal Parts continued...

18. Spool Holder with horizontal pin holds spools of

various sizes and lets thread unwind smoothly
without the spool turning.

19. Stitch Length Selector and Built-In Four-Step

Buttonhole Dial has two separate functions. The

numbered settings on the stitch length side of the
dial allow for a variety of stitch lengths. The four
settings for the buttonhole sequence are on the
opposite side of the dial.

20. Reverse-Stitch Push Button and Stitch

Balancing Control allows you to stitch backwards,

and to
balance stitching in four-step buttonholes. Pushing
the button reverses stitching direction; rotating the
button balances side stitching of buttonhole.

21. Feed moves fabric as it is being stitched.

22. Transparent Bobbin shows thread supply; is

easily removed for winding.

23. Presser Foot Lifter raises and lowers the presser
foot.

24. Electrical Connections and Speed Controller

are designed for safety and convenience. To run
the machine, press speed controller. The harder
you press, the faster the machine will sew.

25. Hand Wheel Knob engages hand wheel to sewing
mechanism. Loosen knob for bobbin winding.

4

Singer
288

Accessories

The accessories described below will help you to sew
with ease and comfort.

Some of them may not be supplied with your sewing
machine, but they are available for over the counter
sales at SINGER stores.

CAUTION: Disconnect power-line plug from electrical

outlet when changing needles, presser feet
or needle plates.

BOBBINS

• One bobbin in your machine.

• Extra bobbins.

NEEDLES

(See Fabric, Thread and Needle Table for selection of
needle.)

• Style 2020, Size 14, in place in your machine

• Style 2020 needles, for all-purpose sewing

• Style 2028 needles, for twin-needle work

• Style 2045 needles, for sewing synthetic knit and

stretch fabrics

Changing the Needle

1. Raise the needle bar to its highest position by

turning the hand wheel toward you.

2. Loosen the needle-clamp screw and remove needle.

3. Insert new needle in clamp, with the flat side of the

needle to the back; push it up as far as it will go.

4. Tighten the needle-clamp screw.

IMPORTANT: Your SINGER sewing machine has been
designed to obtain best results with SINGER needles.
You should follow the recommendations in this instruc­tion book and on the needle package for correct style
and size of needle for different types and weights of
fabric.

5

Singer
288

Accessories

PRESSER FEET

• Interchangeable snap-on presser feet:

General purpose foot on your machine
Straight stitch foot
Buttonhole foot
Zipper foot
Special purpose foot

• One-piece button foot

General Purpose Foot

The general purpose foot can be used for both straight
and zig-zag stitching.

Straight Stitch Foot

This foot, used for straight stitching only, should be
used when your fabric or sewing procedure requires
close control.

Buttonhole Foot

This transparent presser foot has guidelines to simplify
buttonhole placement and make it easy to gauge but­tonhole length See instructions for making
buttonholes.

Zipper Foot

The zipper foot makes it easy to place stitching close
to a raised edge Thus, it is useful for corded seams
(page 70) as well as zipper insertion.

Special Purpose Foot

Use this transparent foot for zig-zag satin stitching and
for all kinds of decorative zig-zag stitching.

Button Foot

This short, open foot holds any two-hole or four-hole
button securely for stitching. For instructions on button
sewing, see page 86.

6

Singer
288

Changing Snap-on Presser Feet

These presser feet snap on and off a common shank.
To remove presser foot from shank, raise presser

foot and press toe up as far as it will go until it snaps
free.

To attach new presser foot to shank

• Center foot under shank and lower presser foot lifter

so that shank opening fits over the hinge pin.

• Press down on presser foot screw until shank snaps

onto foot.

To remove and replace shank of snap-on presser feet,
follow instructions below for one piece presser feet.

Changing One-piece Presser Feet

• Raise needle to highest position.

• Raise presser foot lifter.

• Loosen presser foot screw (you do not need to

remove the screw) and remove the foot.

• Hook new foot around the presser bar and tighten

presser foot screw.

Use a coin to tighten or loosen the presser foot.

7

Singer
288

NEEDLE PLATES

The general purpose needle plate on your machine
can be used with all presser feet.

The straight stitch needle plate is for use with the
straight stitch presser foot.

The feed cover needle plate is used for button
sewing. free-motion work, and darning.

Removing and Replacing Needle Plate

• Raise presser foot.

• Turn hand wheel toward you until the needle is in its

highest position.

• Open the slide plate. Lift needle plate up and to the

right until it snaps free.

• Insert new needle plate by placing it under the

clamping pin. push it gently to the left and press
down until it snaps into place.

• Close slide plate.

8

Singer
288

PATTERN DISCS

• One removable pattern disc in place on holder in

your machine (plain zig-zag stitch).

• Additional in interchangeable pattern discs.

Each pattern disc is numbered and its design is repro­duced on its surface for quick recognition. See illustra­tions for the patterns.

Changing Pattern Discs

• Move stitch width selector to (straight-stitch position).

• Raise pattern disc lid.

• Pull pattern disc releaser up and remove the disc.

• Replace with another disc. making certain that the

numbered side of the disc is face up and that the
notch in the center of the disc fits over the positioning
key on the disc holder. Push disc down firmly.

9

Singer
288

SPOOL PIN FOR TWIN-NEEDLE STITCHING

This spool pin permits you to stitch two parallel rows of
stitching simultaneously.

SMALL SPOOL HOLDER

This holder retains small-diameter spools of thread on
the spool pin.

BLINDSTITCH HEM GUIDE

The blindstitch hem guide, used with the general pur­pose foot, positions the hem fold in front of the needle
for blindstitch hemming. To attach guide. loosen press­er foot screw and slip guide between screw and press­er foot shank.

LINT BRUSH

The lint brush is used for cleaning your sewing
machine.

CONTAINER OF OIL

Container of SINGER oil
Your machine will serve you perfectly for many years if

you will take a few moments to keep it in good operat­ing condition.

Note: Before using your new machine for the first time,

we recommend that you apply oil as indicated in
section on lubricating.

10

Singer
288

2. Getting ready to Sew

Preliminary Steps

CONNECTING MACHINE WHEN EQUIPPED WITH

ELECTRIC MOTOR AND CONTROLLER

Before plugging in your machine, be sure that the volt­age and frequency indicated on the motor are within
the range marked on the electric meter installed by
your power company.

If your speed controller cord has a motor disconnect
plug, push the plug into the receptacle at right end of
motor. Then connect the power line plug to your elec­trical outlet.

If the speed controller cord is wired directly to the
motor, connect the power-line plug to your electrical
outlet.

CAUTION: Disconnect the powerline plug from the
electrical outlet when changing needles. presser feet
or needle plates or when leaving the machine unat ­tended. This eliminates the possibility of starting the
machine by accidentally pressing the speed controller.

OPERATING MACHINE

To turn on the machine and sewing light, press the

power and light switch located on the motor.

If Machine has a 3-position switch:

• The SLOW setting (switch moved to symbol) allows

for maximum control for special jobs.

• The FAST setting (switch moved to symbol) allows

for full speed capacity of the machine.

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

11

Singer
288

With Foot Treadle

Become acquainted with your treadle. First, hold hand
wheel from turning, then loosen the handwheel knot as
shown.

Place both feet on treadle. Turn hand wheel over
toward you and allow your feet to move freely and
lightly, following the motion of the treadle. Practice this
motion until you are able, with your feet alone, to re­start the machine with the hand wheel turning toward
you and maintain a steady speed.

When you have 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
machine (without thread) until you become accus­tomed to guiding the material.

12

Singer
288

Threading the Machine

CHOOSING NEEDLE AND 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, THREAD AND NEEDLE TABLE

FABRIC

FILMY — chiffon, organza, tulle. voile
SHEER — net, lace, ninon, crepe de chine, voile
LIGHT — shantung, faille, organdy, muslin, batiste, dimity,

lawn, percale, pique, 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.

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 selec­tion. Refer to it before starting a sewing project. Be
sure to use the same size and type of thread in both
needle and bobbin. This guide also applies to zig-zag
stitching.

NEEDLE

THREAD

Fine silk, cotton, merc, or synth.
Fine silk, cotton, merc, or synth.
Fine silk, & medium cotton, merc,

or synth.

Medium silk, cotton, merc, or synth.

Style

2020
2020
2020

2020

Size

9
9

11

11, 14

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 & ELASTICS — jersey, cirÈ, sweater
knit, bonded knit, tricot, stretch terry, double knit, span-

dex, deep pile, fake furs

LEATHER, PLASTIC, VINYLS — kidskin, patent leathers &

suedes, plastic film, imitation upholstery vinyl &
leather

Heavy silk, cotton, merc, or synth.

Heavy silk, cotton, merc, or synth.

Fine, medium, or heavy synthetic

Fine merc. & synth
Med. merc. & synth
Hvy. merc. & synth

13

2020

2020

2045

2020

2032

14, 16

14, 16,18

11, 14, 16

11, 14,16

11,

14,16,18

Singer
288

WINDING THE BOBBIN

It is best that you wind the bobbin before you thread
the needle.

Preparation:

• Raise pattern disc lid.

• Turn hand wheel toward you until needle is at its

highest position.

• Loosen the hand wheel knob with your right hand

while holding the hand wheel with your left hand.

• Open the slide plate and lift out bobbin.

Procedure

1. Place spool of thread on spool pin. Lead thread

around the bobbin-winder tension disc and through
small hole in bobbin (from inside out). Place bobbin
on spindle.

14

Singer
288

WINDING THE BOBBIN continued...

2. Push spindle toward the right. Hold thread end and

start the machine. Thread end will snap off after a
few coils have been wound.

3 When required amount of thread has been wound

(winding will stop when bobbin is full). push spindle
to left, cut thread and remove. bobbin.

4. Tighten hand wheel knob by turning it away from

you with your right hand while holding hand wheel
with your left hand.

15

Singer
288

THREADING BOBBIN CASE

1. Hold bobbin so that the thread unwinds in direction

shown, and insert bobbin in bobbin case.

2. Pull thread into notch A in bobbin case, draw it

toward lef! and into slot B.

3. Draw approximately eight centimeters (3") of thread

diagonally across the bobbin.

4. Close slide plate, allowing the thread to extend

through the slot between the slide plate and the
needle plate.

16

Singer
288

THREADING THE NEEDLE

1. Slip spool of thread onto spool holder. If spool has a

retaining slot. place it against the spool cushion to
the right. If spool has excessive length or diameter,
use vertical spool pin.

2. Press appropriate thread lead-off holder firmly

against spool.

• For large spools of thread, use the large holder
with the wide end against the spool.

• For medium-size spools of thread. use the large
holder with the narrow end against the spool.

• For very small diameter spools, use the small
holder.

3. Raise presser foot and be sure needle is in its high­est position.

4. Lead the thread through all threading points as illus­trated.

5. Thread the needle from front to back. drawing about
ten centimeters (4") of thread through the eye of the
needle.

17

Singer
288

RAISING THE BOBBIN THREAD

Now that you have wound the bobbin and threaded the
needle, you will need to raise the bobbin thread
through the hole in the needle plate.

1. Hold needle thread lightly with left hand and turn
hand wheel slowly toward you so that needle enters
needle plate.

2. Continue turning hand wheel and holding needle
thread until needle rises and brings up bobbin
thread in a loop.

3. Undo the loop with your fingers.

4. Place both needle and bobbin threads under the
presser foot and lay them diagonally to the left.

18

Singer
288

Setting Selectors

SETTING STITCH WIDTH

The stitch width selector does two jobs: it sets the
machine for straight Stitching. and it controls the width
of zig-zag stitching. Four stitch width settings are indi­cated plus a setting for straight stitching.

Before moving the selector, make sure needle is
above the fabric.

To set stitch width, slide the selector lever until indi­cator line is aligned with desired setting.

Straight Stitching: Set the selector at
Zig-Zag Stitching: To suit sewing application, set the

selector at any zig-zag position between (narrow­position) and (wide-position).

SETTING NEEDLE POSITION

The needle position selector places the needle in left
( ). center ( ), or right ( ) stitching position. You

will need to set it before you start running the

machine.
Before moving the selector, always make sure the

needle is out of the fabric.
To position the needle, slide the lever to left or right

until Indicator line is under desired settings.
Straight Stitching: Normally you will use the center

( ) needle position. But if you wish to place the
stitching at left or right of center, slide the lever to
desired position. The general purpose needle plate
and presser foot must be used if left or right needle
positions are selected.

Zig-Zag Stitching: You will use center ( ) position
most often. Left ( ) and right ( ) positions are for

special stitch placement. For example: Asetting is
used for button sewing. Settings and are used to place
narrow zigzag stitching to the left and right of center in
decorative work.

Table of Contents Previous Page | Next Page

19

Singer
288

REGULATING NEEDLE-THREAD TENSION

The needle-thread tension dial regulates the amount of
tension on the needle thread and lets you select just
the right setting for your fabric and thread. The
numbers on the dial eliminate guesswork in duplicating
settings.

Correct tension is important because too much or too
little will weaken your seams or mar the appearance of
decorative work. To determine the correct tension,
make a test on a sample of your fabric. If the stitches
look loose, increase tension. If the fabric puckers,
decrease tension.

• To increase tension, turn to higher number.

• To decrease tension, turn to lower number.

20

Singer
288

SETTING STITCH LENGTH

The stitch length selector dial controls the length of
both straight and zig-zag stitching. The numerals from,
1 to 4 represent the length of each stitch in millimeters:
the higher the number, the longer the stitch. Generally,
shorter stitches are best for lightweight fabric, longer
ones for heavier fabric. The area between 0 and 1 rep­resents less than 1 mm. long, and is used for closed
zig-zag or satin stitching.

• To shorten stitch length, turn dial clockwise to a

lower number.

• To lengthen stitch length, turn dial counterclock-

wise to a higher number.

For reverse stitching, push in on push button located
in center of dial. hold in until reverse stitching is com­pleted. then release push button. Push button can be
pushed in while machine is sewing.

REGULATING PRESSER FOOT PRESSURE

The pressure regulates the pressure that the presser
foot exerts on the fabric. Correct pressure is important
to make the fabric feed smoothly and evenly without
being marred.

• To increase pressure, turn dial to a higher number.

Heavy or crisp fabrics require heavier pressure.

• To decrease pressure, turn dial to a lower number.

Lightweight or soft fabrics. or those with a pile (like
velvet) require lighter pressure.

• For darning, turn dial to 0.

21