SINGER 301 User Manual

SINGER*

SLANT NEEDLE SEWING MACHINE

...........

represents the ultimate in sewing machine

design and styling. A product of the matchless skill

Form 20542 (Rev. 7-76)

and engineering ability of

SINGER

line of unexcelled Sewing Machines.

301 is an outstanding addition to our long

SINGER

craftsmen, the

Printed in U.S.A.

AS THE OWNER OF THIS ENTIRELY NEW

SINGER SEWING MACHINE:

You have a machine revolutionary in design, but made with

the same care and craftsmanship that have been the hallmark

of SINGER Machines for more than a century. We are acutely aware that SINGER Sewing Machines have become an Ameri can tradition and are intensely proud of, and determined to

continue, this heritage.

Your SINGER “301” is the product of this pride, determination and the unsurpassed technical skill of SINGER. This smooth running machine-of-tomorrow will amaze and thrill you with its versatility and ease of operation.

Utilize all the advanced features, combine them with your own skill and discover a new world of sewing enjoyment. Exclusive dresses for yourself, clothing for your family and a multitude of items for your home will be yours — all at a fraction of their ready-made cost.

*A Trademark of THE SINGER COMPANY

WHAT SINGER SERVICE MEANS TO YOU

Over 1400 SINGER SEWING CENTERS in the United States alone are fully equipped to serve women who sew.

There you’ll find a wide selection of PATTERNS, BUTTONS, THREAD, and FINISHING SiRVICES which include COV

ERING BUTTONS, BELTS AND BUCKLES, making BUTTONHOLES, HEMSTITCHING, etc., plus:

You are entitled to sewing lessons when you become the owner of a new SINGER. A skilled, SINGER-trained teacher per sonally guides you and assists you in learning the fundamentals of home sewing. Other courses embracing all phases of home

sewing are available at low cost. REPAIR SERVICE is as convenient as your telephone. When

ever your machine needs adjustments, a trained, courteous SINGER representative will gladly call at your home. SINGER*

Service assures excellent workmanship,» guaranteed repairs, and SINGER* parts. A written estimate is given you in advance for approval.

And remember, your SINGER SEWING CENTER and the ever

ready SINGER Service Car can be easily identified by the

famous SINGER red “S” Trade Mark.

SINGER 301 FEATURES “AT YOUR SERVICE”

• SMOOTHER STITCHING than ever before is possible with this new, gear-driven, lock stitch machine.

• QUIET, fast and efficient — it whispers at

high speeds.

• FULL-VIEW work area. Inclined Needle Bar

places work in your direct line of vision.

• PERFECT CONTROL — even at “hand-

stitch” speeds.

•BALANCED MOTION of the new SINGER

301 prevents vibration.

• EASY STARTING — No coaxing necessary

— lightly press the knee or foot control and your 301 starts to sew.

• SIMPLE THREADING — no complicated

diagrams are needed.

• REVERSIBLE FEED for sewing either in a forward or backward direction — easy to back

tack and to fasten ends of seams.

• PREFOCUSED LIGHT illuminates work

ing area—prevents eye strain.

• CALIBRATED STITCH REGULATOR per

mits finger-tip control of stitch length.

• STITCHING GUIDES, with graduated markings to guide seam width and turn square corners.

• VERSATILE — use it as a portable or cab

inet machine.

• EASY TO CARRY — convenient handle is

concealed in top of head.

• LIGHT WEIGHT — full-sized aluminum

head weighs only 16 pounds.

• SELF-SETTING NEEDLE makes it impos

sible to insert needle incorrectly in clamp.

• FEED THROW-OUT DEVICE permits darn

ing and embroidering without attachments.

• RECESSED BOBBIN WINDER—equipped

with automatic stop — it can’t break or tangle

your thread.

• HINGED BED EXTENSION permits quick

and easy removal of bobbin.

ELECTRICAL INFORMATION

• HINGED FACE PLATE—Simplifies clean

ing and oiling.

• DIAL TENSION takes the guess work out

of upper tension setting.

• FLEXIBLE SPOOL PINS — bend but do

not break—thread unreels smoothly and easily.

•COMPLETELY ENCLOSED motor and principal working parts insure maximum safety.

The SINGER"^ electric motor

in your sewing machine is furnished for oper ation on an alternating current of 110-120 volts, 25 to 75 cycles, or on 110-120 volts direct current. Special motors can be provided through your SINGER SEWING CENTER for direct or alternating current for any volt

ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS FOR MACHINE

Push 2-pin terminal plug A, Fig. 1 on 2-pin terminal block at right end of bed.

Push 3-pin terminal plug B, Fig. 1 on 3-pin terminal block at right of machine and connect plug at other end of cord to electrical outlet.

age between 20 and 250, and for 32 volts direct current.

Before Inserting Electric Plug—

be sure that the voltage and the number of cycles stamped on the motor nameplate are

within the range marked on your electric meter installed by your power company.

Fig, 1, Electrical Connections

for Machine

Fig. 2. Showing Latch for Releasing

Machine fron\ Cabinet

Speed Controller The speed of machine is regulated by amount of pressure on

the pedal of the foot controller or the knee lever.

TO USE THE 301 as a portable machine

To remove the machine from the cabinet, disconnect the 3-pin terminal plug B, Fig. 1, lift handle C, Fig. 3, raise bed ex tension at left, depress latch FF, Fig. 2, and lift out machine. Disconnect 2-pin terminal plug A, Fig. 1 and set machine aside. Then remove controller from its holder in cabinet by pulling it downward. With machine set on a suitable surface near an electrical outlet, reconnect 2-pin and 3-pin terminals and place foot controller on floor.

HANDLE FOR CARRYING MACHINE

To use handle C, turn it up, as shown in Fig. 3, When not in use, turn handle down. CAUTION: When you have finished your sewing, always disconnect plug from electrical outlet.

TO REPLACE MACHINE IN CABINET

Disconnect both terminal plugs. Grasping han dle C, Fig. 3, place machine in cabinet so

that holes MM, Fig. 3A, fit over studs NN in

machine cradle. Press down on left end of ma chine until latch

FF, Fig. 2, snaps into posi

tion to hold machine in place. Tilt back ma-

Fig. 3. Showing Handle for Carrying Machine

chine with cradle, install controller in side of cabinet as shown in Fig. 3B, then connect 2-pin terminal. Lower machine to sewing posi tion and connect 3-pin terminal.

Fig. 3A.To Replace Machine in Cabinet

LIGHT

The Light is turned, “on” or “off” by the switch F, Fig. 4.

To Remove Bulb. Remove two screws D and lamp cover E. Do not attempt to unscrew bulb. Press it into socket and at same time turn bulb over in direction shown in Fig. 4B to unlock bulb pin G, then withdraw bulb.

To Replace Bulb. Press new bulb into socket with bulb pin G, Fig. 4A entering slo jf socket and turn it over in direction show in Fig. 4B to lock bulb pin G in position. Replace lamp cover E and securely fasten it in position

with two screws D.

Fig. SB. Replacing Controller in Cabinet

Fig. 4. Replacing the Bulb

Fig. 4B.

NEEDLES AND THREAD

For perfect stitching, thread should be selected according to fabric to be stitched and needle must be correct size for thread which must pass freely through eye of needle.

TO SET THE NEEDLE

Select correct needle according to table on page 70. Be sure that needle is not blunt or bent. Raise needle bar to its highest position and loosen thumb screw H in needle clamp. Push needle with its flat side to left up into needle clamp as far as it will go, then tighten thumb screw. As the needle is self-setting, it cannot be inserted incorrectly in the needle

clamp.

Fig, 5. Setting the Needle

r '

7‘" d ‘ '

s-' '-/I /1 'f • .

-t V ^ . I.f ,

Fig. 6. Upper Threading

UP1»ER THREADING

See Figs. 6 and 7

Raise take-up lever 8 to its highest point.

Place spool of thread on spool pin 1 Lead thread into thread guide 2

Into thread guide 3 Down into thread guide 4 Down, under and from right to left between tension discs 5 Hold spool tightly and pull thread up against take-up spring

7 until it enters retaining fork 6

Pass thread up into thread guide 4 From right to left through hole in take-up lever 8 Down through eyelet 9 Into wire thread guide 10 Into wire thread guide 11 Into guide 12 on needle clamp From right to left through eye of needle 13. Draw about two inches of thread through eye of needle.

Fig. 8. Removing the Bobbin Case

TO REMOVE THE BOBBIN

Raise needle to its highest point.

Raise bed extension J. Grasp bobbin case latch K and lift out bobbin case. Release latch and remove bobbin.

TO WIND THE BOBBIN

See Fig. 9 on the following page

To stop motion of needle, hold hand wheel L and loosen knurled screw M by turning it over toward you. Lift bobbin winder out of recess and bring its pulley N into contact with hub of hand wheel.

Place bobbin on bobbin winder spindle as far as it will go.

Place spool of thread on spool pin 1. Draw thread under and between tension discs

Pass thread through one of the holes in left side of bobbin 3, from the inside.

Hold end of thread as shown in Fig. 9 and press controller pedal as for sewing. End of thread must be held until it is broken off.

Allow tension discs to control flow of thread so that it winds on bobbin in uniform, level rows.

The bobbin winder will stop automatically when the bobbin is filled. ^

Remove bobbin from spindle and return bob' bin winder to its recessed position. Tighten

knurled screw M,

If bobbin does not wind evenly, loosen screw

which holds tension bracket 2 in position and

move bracket to the left if bobbin winds high

on the right; move bracket to the right if bobbin winds high on the left. When bracket is properly centered, thread will wind evenly across bobbin.

If bobbin winds too fully, loosen screw GG, Fig. 10 and move plate HH, downward, slightly. To wind more thread on bobbin, move plate HH, upward, slightly. Tighten screw

GG.

Bobbin can be wound while machine is sewing.

Fig, 9. Winding the Bobbin

Fig, 10, Adjustment for

Regulating Amount of Thread Wound on Bobbin

Fig. 12

Fig.11

TO THREAD BOBBIN CASE

Hold bobbin so that thread will unwind in direction shown in Fig. 11.

Hold bobbin case as shown in Fig. 11, and place bobbin into it.

Fig. 13

Pull thread into slot 1, under tension spring 2 and into slot 3 at end of spring. Allow about three inches of thread to hang free from bobbin case.

TO REPLACE BOBBIN CASE

Hold bobbin case by latch and place it on stud Q, having thread draw from top of bobbin case. Release latch and press bobbin case back until latch enters groove in stud. Allow about three inches of thread to hang free from bobbin case and turn down bed extension.

CAUTION:

If throat plate P is removed for cleaning stitch forming mechanism, etc., make certain, when replacing throat plate, that position finger R, Fig. 14 of bobbin case base enters notch O, Fig. 14 of position plate attached to underside of throat plate.

Fig. 15, Drawing Up Bobbin Thread

Fig. 16. Threads in Position to Start Seiving

TO PREPARE FOR SEWINO

Hold end of needle thread with left hand and turn hand wheel over toward you until needle

goes down and up again and thread take-up

lever S, Fig. 17 is at its highest point. Pull up needle thread and bobbin thread will come with it, as shown in Fig. 15.

Lay both threads back under the presser foot, diagonally across the feed, as shown in Fig.

16, to the right or left, depending upon which side of the needle the material is to be located, so that when the presser foot is lowered, the threads will be firmly held between the feed and the presser foot.

NOTE: On the throat plate, there are distinct markings to guide the edges of seams and hems. These markings are at 1/8" intervals from 1/4" to 3/4" in distance from the right of the needle, and assist in guiding the fabric uniformly. The crosslines on the throat plate indicate the point at which to pivot on the needle when turning square corners.

TO START SEWING

Be sure to have thread take-up lever S

at its highest point.

Place material beneath presser foot V, turn

hand wheel to bring point of needle into fab

ric, then lower presser foot by means of presser bar lifter T and start to sew. Press con troller pedal to start machine. The speed de pends upon amount of pressure on controller pedal.

Most materials require only guiding for best

sewing results. However, the miracle fabrics such as nylons, dacrons, orlons, blends with various rayons, puffed weaves, sheers, jerseys and tricots, which, by their nature, require light pressure, also require support in the form of holding the material taut at the back and front of the needle as the needle enters the fabric. This support assures a smooth, even seam.

Never pull the material when sewing.

The machine will sew its own thread when sewing from one piece of material to another. However, avoid operating a threaded machine with presser foot up and without fabric under

the foot.

Fig, 17 S. Thread Take-up

Lever T. Presser Bar Lifter U. Thread Cutter V. Presser Foot W. Feed Dog

TO TURN A CORNER

Pivot on the eye of the needle. Stop machine when needle is in this position. Raise presser foot and turn work as desired, then lower presser foot and resume sewing.

BASTING

The longest stitch, No. 6 on stitch regulator,

adjusted by lever Y, Fig. 18 is found satis factory for basting. These basting stitches are easily removed by clipping every sixth stitch and withdrawing the long continuous thread.

Machine basting is firmer, more even and much quicker than hand basting.

TO SEW BIAS SEAMS

Use a shorter stitch when sewing bias or curved seams to increase the elasticity of the seam and to prevent seam failure under strain. No change in tensions is required.

TO REMOVE THE WORK

Stop machine with thread take-up lever

S, Fig. 17 at its highest point.

Raise presser foot, draw fabric back and to left

and sever threads on thread cutter U, Fig. 17. Place ends of threads under presser foot, as

shown in Fig. 16.

TO REGULATE LEtIGTH OF STITCH

The machine is adjustable to make from 6 to 30 stitches per inch, as indicated by numerals on stitch indicator plate X.

To change length of stitch, turn thumb screw on stitch regulator lever Y, away from the stitch indicator plate X, as far as necessary. Then move the stitch regulator lever until it is in line with the desired number of stitches

Fig. 18.

Showing Lever for

Regulating Length

of Stitch and

Reversing Direction

of Feed

to the inch and turn the thumb screw inward only until it touches the stitch indicator plate.

The machine will now make the indicated num

ber of stitches to the inch in either a forward or reverse direction, depending on whether the lever Y is at its lowest or highest position.

TO REGULATE DIRECTION OF FEED

To feed the material from you, push down the stitch regulator lever Y, as far as it will go.

To feed the material toward you, raise the stitch regulator lever Y, as high as it will go.

The direction of feed can be reversed at any point of a seam without removing work from machine.

The reverse feed makes it easy to “back stitch” and to fasten ends of seams.

Fig. 19. Thumb Screw for Regulating

Pressure on Presser Foot

i Fig. 20. Perfect Stitching

sfig. 21. Imperfect Stitching

Fig. 22. Imperfect Stitching

TO REGULATE PRESSURE ON PRESSER FOOT

For average materials, the pressure of the presser foot seldom requires changing. Heavy materials require more pressure than lightweight fabrics. The pressure should be only heavy enough to prevent side creeping of material and still obtain a uniform length of stitch. To increase pressure, turn thumb screw Z clock wise or downward. To lighten pressure, turn thumb screw so

that it screws upward.

THREAD TENSIONS

For perfect stitching, the tension on needle and bobbin threads

must be heavy enough to pull threads to center of thickness of

material and make a firm stitch, as shown in Fig. 20.

Needle Thread lies straight along top side of material, caused

by too heavy tension on needle thread or too light tension on bobbin thread, as shown in Fig. 21.

Bobbin Thread lies straight along underside of material, caused

by too light tension on needle thread or too heavy tension on bobbin thread, as shown in Fig. 22.

TO REGULATE NEEDLE THREAD TENSION

The tension on needle thread can be tested only when presser foot is down.

The numerals “0 to 9” on dial D, Fig. 23 in dicate different degrees

;y| of tension that can be

3o b t a i n e d.

The num bers do not denote size of thread or ounces of tension.

NeedLe I firead 1 ension ,

J 'T • When tension has been

correctly set as de

scribed on pages 23 and 24, note number at indicator line G so that this setting may be

regained should the tension be altered for

special work. To increase tension, turn thumb nut B

gradually to right (clockwise) until required

tension is obtained. Each higher number de

notes increased tension.

To decrease tension, turn thumb nut B gradually to left (counter-clockwise) until re quired tension is obtained. Each lower num ber denotes less tension.

The tension indicator G is marked with the signs -f- and —, which indicate the direction in which to turn the thumb nut B for more

or less tension.

TO REGULATE BOBBIN THREAD TENSION

The tension on bobbin thread is regulated by screw AA, Fig. 24 which is nearest center of tension spring on outside of bobbin case. To increase tension, turn screw AA over to right.

To decrease tension, turn

this screw over to left. ^

When tension on bobbin thread has been once prop erly adjusted, it is seldom necessary to change it, as a correct stitch can usually be obtained by varying tension on needle thread.

Fig. 24. Bobbin Thread Tension

TO REMOVE AND DISASSEMBLE NE 4.E THREAD TENSION

Turn thumb nut B to left (counter-clockwise) until ‘‘O” on numbered dial stops at cente** bne on indicator G.

Fig. 25. Needle Thread Tension Disassembled

TO REASSEMBLE AND REPLACE NEEDLE THREAD TENSION

Make sure that tension releasing pin J is in place in stud O. Place two tension discs L with their convex faces together on tension thread guide M, then pass eyelet N of thread take-up spring under thread guide, having coils of spring above ten

Fig. 26. Tension Disc Assembly

sion discs, as shown in Fig. 26.

To separate pin C in thumb nut B from dial D, press in dial, unscrew thumb nut and re move it. Then remove dial, stop washer E, tension spring F, indicator G and tension assembly H.

NOTE: It is not necessary to remove stud O from machine to disassemble the thread ten sion. It is shown removed in Fig. 25, only

to illustrate the complete assembly.

+ 25 hidden pages