SINGER 401 User Manual

Instructions for Using

SINGER* *

401

Form 4101 (Rev. 576)

The SINGER 401 the greatest sewing machine ever built . . .

From the moment you see the new SINGER 401, you'll know it's excitingly different. You'll marvel at its automatic sewing . .. its almost unbelievable ease of operation . . . the remarkable services it performs. You'll delight in its sure, beautiful stitching.

• World's first automatic with a slant needle and gear drive. Seeing is easier, sewing smoothest ever. No slipping or stalling.

*A Trademark of THE SINGER COMPANY

• World's first automatic with double easy threading. Has builtin threading chart, harfdy "drop-in" bobbin in f r o n t of needle!

Printed in U.S.A.

• World's first automatic with a built-in eye-level stitch chart, that lets you "tune" the knob for whatever fancy stitch you want!

Add to these major developments in sewing machine design the following ADVANCED features, and you have a machine far ahead in design, unequalled in performance.

Copyrighf 1959 by The Singer Manufacturing Company

• ELEVATOR TYPE multi-purpose calibrated throat • NEW NEEDLE CLAMP holds one or two regu-

plate, lever operated, simplifies darning.

lar needles-same or different sizes for exciting twin needle stitching.

• HINGED face plate swings open for easy clea ning.

• ALL MECHANISM completely enclosed.

• SUPERFINE CONTROL of stitch length ensures perfect satin stitching.

• NEW AUTOMATIC THREAD CONTROL.

• PERFECT Straight Stitching.

• BUILT-IN LIGHT focused on sewing area.

• NEW SPECIAL PURPOSE FOOT.

• NEW SEAM GUIDE.

TO GET THE MOST ENJOYMENT FROM YOUR SINGER

Take advantage of the free sewing lessons to which you are entitled! Skilled, SINGER-trained teachers will give you personal guidance and assist you in learning the fundamentals of home sewing.

...

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SINGER SERVICE

Wherever you go you will find expert, dependable SINGER* Service close at hand. SINGER is interested in helping you keep your SINGER Sewing Machine in top running condition. That is why you should al ways call your SINGER SEWING CENTRE if your machine ever requires adjustment or repair. Only from your SINGER SEWING CENTRE can you obtain the services of a trained SINGER repair man and warranted SINGER* parts.

EVERYTHING FOR THE WOMAN WHO SEWS

The answer to your sewing needs is at your SINGER SEWING CENTRE. There you will find a wide choice of sewing aids, notions, sewing instructions and services. Look for the famous red "S" and SINGER trademarks on your SINGER SEWING CENTRE and the ever ready SINGER Service Car. See phone book for address nearest you.

Addendum

WIND THE BOEBl^

Loosen stop motion screw with right hand. Raise bobbin winder and position

bobbin on spindle. Press winder against hand wheel.

WIND THE BOBBIN (Cont'd.)

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Place thread on spool pin and lead between bobbin winder tension discs. Thread through hole in left side of bobbin as shown.

Hold thread end to start winding. Activ

machine.

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Full bobbin will automatically release. Tighten stop motion screw.

NEEDLE AND THREAD SELECTION

The selection of thread should be based on the fabric to be stitched. The thread should blend with

the fabric in colour, fibre and size.

Silk and wool fabrics should be stitched with silk thread; cotton fabrics should be stitched with cotton or cotton mercerised thread, etc. The thread must be of a size that will imbed itself into the texture of the fabric. Thread that is too heavy for the fabric will remain on the surface and become weakened by fric tion and abrasion.

The selection of the needle should be based on both the fabric and thread being used. The eye of the needle must be large enough for the thread to pass freely through it. The blade of the needle must be fine enough not to mar the fabric with too large a puncture, yet heavy enough to pierce the fabric without binding or deflecting.

You will obtain best stitching results from your Sewing Machine if it is fitted with a SINGER* Needle.

NEEDLES AND THREAD

This machine uses a 15 X 1 needle.

Sizes 9, 11, 14, 16 and 18.

For perfect stitching, select correct needle and thread to correspond with fabric (see page 5).

Be sure to use like threads for both needle and bobbin.

NEEDLE INSERTION

Raise the needle bar to highest point by turning the hand wheel toward you. Loosen the needle clamp screw. Insert needle

upward into clamp as far as it will go, with

the flat side of the needle to the back and

the long groove toward you. Tighten needle clamp screw.

TO OPERATE MACHINE

Place material under the presser foot and

lower 'foot. Connect plug to electric outlet (see page 9(1). Start machine by pressing con troller. (If installed as knee controller, press knee lever to the right; if installed as foot controller, press down on foot pedal.)

The speed of the machine depends entirely on the amount of pressure applied to the controller.

Practice operating the machine (without thread) until you become accustomed to guiding material and regulating machine

speed.

(Electric Drive)

TO OPERATE THE MACHINE

Loosen stop motion screw and place both feet on treadle.

Turn hand wheel over toward you, allowing feet to move freely and lightly with motion of treadle. Practice this motion until you are able to re-start machine with hand wheel turning over toward you. Then tighten stop motion screw.

(Treadle Drive)

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Place material under presser foot and lower the

foot.

BELT SHIFTER

To throw off the belt, work the treadle and move

belt shifter to position shown.

To replace belt, release belt shifter and work treadle slowly with band wheel turning over to ward you. One or two revolutions of band wheel will bring belt back into place.

Operate machine (without thread) until you be

come accustomed to guiding the material.

UPPER THREADING-SINGLE NEEDLE

Note: Tension on belt should be only heavy en

ough to keep belt from slipping.

Raise take-up lever to highest point. Place thread

on spool pin and lead through threading points shown. Thread needle from front to back. Draw suf ficient thread through eye of needle with which to start sewing.

WIND THE BOBBIN

Loosen stop motion screw with right hand. Place bobbin on spindle. Pull out bobbin winder engaging

slide.

Thread the machine as shown.

WIND THE BOBBIN (Cont'd.)

REMOVE THE BOBBIN

THREADING THE BOBBIN CASE

Hold bobbin so that thread leads off in direction shown. Place bobbin in case. Lead thread into slot

and under spring.

Draw thread into notch at end of spring, pulling off about 3 inches of thread across the bobbin.

Close slide plate allowing thread to enter notch.

PRINCIPAL PARTS OF MACHINE 401

Stitch Selector

Take-up Lever

Automatic

thread control

Needle thread

tension

Stitch chart

Special disc

Red Lever

Bobbin winder

Hand wheel

Slide plate

Stitch regulator

Throat plate positioning lever

REVERSE

STITCH LENGTH REGULATOR

Numerals on the left side of the indicator repre sent the number of stitches per inch. Numerals on the right side represent the number of millimeters

UNLOCKS

per stitch.

-1

FORWARD

LOCKED SETTING

LOŒS

The upper indented area of the indicator repre sents stitch lengths above 20 per inch or stitches less than one millimeter in length.

The lower indented area of the indicator allows

the No. 6 stitch length setting to be „locked" in

place when stitching folds, pleats or multiple layers of heavy fabric.

To set stitch length: Release pointer by turning

thumb nut to the left, as shown. Position lever for desired stitch length. Tighten pointer against the plate by turning thumb nut to the right.

Once the pointer has been positioned, reverse

stitching is accomplished by raising the lever to its highest point. The No. 6 „locked" position can not be reversed.

RED LEVER

A Red Lever setting is necessary for both straight and zigzag stitching. Numerals indicate five posi

tions, but intermediate settings may also be used.

To position, depress lever and slide it left or right to desired setting

STITCH SELECTOR

Set Red Lever at 3.

All settings on the left of the plate are controlled by the outer knob, Push (using right hand) —select desired setting and release.

All settings on the right of the plate are controlled by the inner knob, Pull (using left hand) —select desired setting and release.

Do not make selector adjustments while the needle

is in the fabric.

Spécial

1. PUSH

2. SELECT (A THRU J)

3. RELEASE

1. PULL

2. SELECT (K THRU S)

3. RELEASE

PUSH AND SELECT

PULL AND SELECT

Special

THROAT PLATE POSITIONS

Throat plate down for general sewing.

Throat plate raised for darning, embroidery and button sewing.

THROAT PLATE

REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT

Throat plate raised (unlocked) for removal and replacement.

Raise presser bar. Turn hand wheel to drop takeup lever to its lowest point. Move throat plate lever to the left. This preparation applies to both removal and replacement.

Remove throat plate by sliding it back.

Replace throat plate by sliding it on from

the rear.

Lock throat plate in place by moving lever to

the right.

Presser foot need not be removed for this

operation.

STRAIGHT STITCHING

AK 3

Set Selector at AK. Red Lever at 3 — TO locate stitching in central position.

General purpose throat plate and presser foot.

Use general purpose throat plate and presser foot for all utility sewing, long straight seams, etc., and

where there is occasion to alternate between straight and zigzag stitching.

STRAIGHT STITCH THROAT PLATE AND

PRESSER FOOT

Use the straight stitch throat plate and presser foot where fabric and sewing procedure require close control ... for precision stitching of curved and scalloped edges, top stitching, edge stitching, etc.

For best results, this equipment should be used when stitching sheer and filmy fabrics, knits and tricots (particularly synthetics) and all soft spongy materials.

STRAIGHT STITCHING

SECONDARY POSITIONS

2 " 4

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Set Selector at A K. Red Lever at 1, 2, 4 or 5.

General purpose throat plate and presser foot.

Do not make Red Lever adjustments while the needle is in the fabric.

To meet special requirements a line of stitching may be placed to the right or left of centre.

Red Le‘ -r settings ] and 2 locate stitching to the left. Settings 4 and 5 place it to the right. Interme

diate settings may also be used.

PREPARE TO SEW

Hold needle thread lightly with left hand. Turn hand wheel so that needle enters plate and brings

up bobbin thread.

Pull end of bobbin thread through plate and place both needle and bobbin threads diagonally under

presser foot.

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SEWING A SEAM

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Set stitch regulator for stitch length desired. Position needle into fabric about Vi inch from edge and

lower presser foot. Raise stitch regulator to reverse.

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Back stitch to reinforce end of seam, and lower regulator to forward stitching position. With take-up lever at highest point, raise presser foot and remove fabric.

GUIDING AND SUPPORTING FABRIC

Most fabrics need only to be guided in front of the presser foot. Fabrics of unusual texture and weave, filmy sheers, crepes, knits, tricots, etc., require support while

being stitched.

For such fabrics, use the straight stitch throat plate and presser foot, and apply gentle tension to the

seam by holding the fabric in front and in back of the presser foot as illustrated.

PRESSURE ADJUSTMENTS

To decrease pressure, turn thumb screw upward. To increase pressure, turn screw downward.

Decrease Increase

Pressure is the force the presser foot exerts on fabric while it is

being stitched.

Smooth, even handling of several thicknesses of fabric results when

pressure is correctly regulated.

Too light a pressure will result in irregular feeding which affects

both quality of stitch and evenness of seams.

Too heavy a pressure not only affects stitch and seam quality but

will mar smooth surfaces and pile fabrics.

Surface finish, as well as the weight and texture of the fabric, must

be considered in determining the amount of pressure needed.

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