SINGER 717 User Manual

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Zig-Zag & STRETCH Sewing Machine by SlfsiGER

Congratulations...

The new Zig-Zag & STRETCH model 717 sewing machine you are about to

use will take you into a wonderful new world of sewing. In addition to the

familiar Singer exclusives — Slant Needle and Front Drop-in Bobbin — this sewing machine offers you:

• the simpUcity of dial controls. Now you can simply dial a stitch length,

a stitch width, pressure and tension settings

• straight stretch stitching for sewing seams in knits and other stretch

fabrics plus regular straight, zig-zag, and ric-rac stitching

• exclusive buiit-in threading chart that flips open to keep an easy-to-

follow diagram at your fingertips

• one-way needle clamp that makes it impossible to insert the needle

backwards

• stitch control dial that lets you switch from regular to s-t-r-e-t-c-h

stitching

• guidelines on both sides of the throat plate, which help you keep seams

• convenient power and light switch that gives you a choice of two

SDeeds

V..,.

• easy throat plate changing — throat plate secured by magnets is easy

to lift out for cleaning

• three-position presser foot lifter that lets you place bulky fabric or

many fabric layers under the presser loot

• built-in sewing light that illuminaies the sewing area

Your SINGER sewing machine is the key to your sewing success when used property. To achieve professional results, SINGER suggests you sit down at your machine and go through this book step by step before you begin to sew. You’ll discover all the many advantages of sewing with your ZigZag & STRETCH sewing machine.

Enjoy sewing! SINGER* Service is always close at hand, if your machine should need

servicing, call your local SINGER Sewing Center to be sure of warranted

SINGER Parts and Service. You will find the address in the telephone direc tory under SINGER COMPANY.

AH .Rights Reserved Throughout the Wohd

CONTENTS

1. Getting to Know Your Uachine Principal Parts and What They Do

.........................................................................................................

.................................................................................

...............

2 3

Accessories ....................................................................................................................................... 4

Z Getting Ready to Sew ............................................................................................................................ 7

Preliminary Steps .............................................................................................................................. 7

Choosing Needle and Thread............................................................................................................ 8

Threading the Machine......................................................................................................................... 9

Winding the Bobbin ♦ Threading the Bobbin Case • Threading the Needle ♦ Raising the Bobbin Thread

3. Straight Stitching

................................................................................................................................ 14

Preparation .................................................................................................................................... 14

Starting to Sew................................................................................................................................... 14

Adjusting for Your Fabric.................................................................................................................. 15

Sewing a Seam ..

.................................................................................................................

......

17 Pin Basting ♦ Placing Fabric • Starting a Seam ♦ Guiding and Supporting Fabric ♦ Keep ing Seams Straight • Turning Square Corners • Curved Seams * Reinforcing End of Seam

4* 2üig-2!lag Stitching .......................................................................................................................... 2»'

Zig-Zag Stitch Patterns...................................................................................................................... 21

Adjusting Dials................................................................................................................................... 21

Adjusting Stitch Width • Adjusting Stitch Piacemient • Adjusting Needle-Thread Tension ♦ Adjusting Stitch Control * Adjusting Pressure and Choosing Accessories

Satin Stitching .................................................................................................................................. 23

5. Buttons and Buttonholes ..................................................................................................................... 24

Buttons ............................................................................................................................................. 24

Buttonholes

6. Sewing the Professional Way

....

................................................................................................................................... 25

..........................................................................................

.................

Sewing Knit and Stretch fabric ......................................................................................................... 27

Guiding and Supporting Fabric ♦ Attaching Elastic ♦ Plain St.^'etch Seams ♦ Finishes for Hems and Facings • Lingerie Seams

Hints on Sewing Special Fabric

.................... . .................................................................. 30

Leather-Look Vinyl * Ciré * Deep-Pile Fabrics ♦ Velvet and Velveteen

Construction Details ..................................................................................................................... 32

Zippers • Corded Seams ♦ Seam Finishes •Top Stitching

Decorative Touches ........................................................................................................................... 34

Border Designs ♦ Applique

Keeping Up Appearances............................................................................................................... 3$

Mending a Tear • Blanket Binding • Bar Tacks • Repairing Seams • Repairing Stretch Garments ♦ Darning

7. Caring for Your Machine....................................................................................................................... 38

Cleaning the Machine......................................................................................................................... 38

Remioving Covers, Bobbin Case, and Bulb

............................................................................ 39

Performance Checklist ...................................................................................................................... 42

S. fashion* Aids ..................................................................................................................................... 43

Index ....................................................................................................................................................... 44

12. Bobbin Winder

Latch and Spindle

13. BobbinWinder

Thread Post

14. Hand Wheel

15. Power and Lighi

Switch

16» Heedle Position

17» StitcbWidthDiai

16. Stitch Control Dial

19. Beverse^Stitch

Lever

20. Sewing Li^ht

21. Needie Clamp

22. Slide Plate

principal parts and what they do

1. Tension Dial lets you select just the right tension for your stitch, thread, and fabric. The numbers eliminate guesswork in du plicating settings.

2n Tension Discs, controlled by the tension

dial regulate the amount of tension on your needle thread,

3, Bobbin Winder Tension Discs regulate

thread tension for bobbin winding.

4, Take-up Lever controls flow of needle

thread.

5, Pressure Dial regulates presser-foot pres

sure on fabric. It has an all-purpose sew ing setting plus settings for extra-light and extra-heavy pressure and for darning.

6« Face Plate swings open for access to

threading chart and pressure dial.

7. Thread Cutter is built into presser bar for

safety and convenience.

8. Presser Foot holds fabric against feed.

9. Feed moves fabric under the presser foot.

ID. Throat Plate, secured by magnets, lifts out

for removal. Guidelines on right and left sides of plate help you keep seams straight.

11, Spool Pin holds spools of various sizes. 12, Bobbin Winder Latch and Spindle let you

fill bobbin quickly and easily. Latch dis engages when bobbin is full

16. Needle Position Dial places needle In either L (left), A (center) or R (right) stitching position.

17. Stitch Width Dial controls the width of zig-zag stitching and positions the needle for straight stitching.

18. Stitch Control Dial allows for a variety of stitch lengths; also has a special STRETCH setting for straight or zig-zag stretch stitching.

19. Reverse-Stitch Lever instantly reverses stitching direction at the touch of your

finger,

20. Built-in Sewing Light illuminates sewing area. Pull-down bracket makes it easy to

replace bulb.

21. Needle Clamp is designed to make needles self-setting and eliminate the possibility of inserting needle backwards.

22. Slide Plate, opens easily, lets you see bobbin. Seam guidelines (extended from

throat plate) have cross lines to help you turr^. square corners.

23. Presser Foot Lifter, at back of machine, allows you to raise and lower presser foot. Extra-high lift position permits easy place ment of bulky fabrics.

24. Bobbin shows thread supply, is easily re moved for winding,

13, Bobbin Winder Thread Post guides the

thread when winding the bobbin.

14, Hand Wheel controls movement of take-up

lever and needle. Always turn It toward

you,

15, Power and Light Switch turns on machine

and sewing light simultaneously. FAST and SLOW speed range settings let you choose the best sewing speed for your work.

25. Bobbin Case Tension Screw regulates bobbin-thread tension. Seldom needs ad justment.

26. Electrical Connections and Speed Con troller are designed for your convenience and safety.

27. Hand Wheel Knob engages hand wheel to sewing m^echanism. Loosen knob for bob bin winding.

accessories

The accessories that come with your sewing machine are designed to help you do many kinds of sewing easily and perfectly.

To increase the versatility of your machine still further, additional accessories can be pur chased at your Singer Sewing Center, For de scriptions, see page 43.

1. BOBBINS

Bobbin

{No, 172222)

Changing the Needle

Re9ular Bail-Point

Needle Needle

{Cat 2020) (Cat 2045)

• One drop-in steel bobbin in your machine.

• Extra drop-in steel bobbins with your acces sories.

2. NEEDLES

In place in your machine —

• Catalog 2020 (15x1)

With your accessories —

• Catalog 2020 (15x1) needles, tor all-purpose

sewing.

• Catalog 2045 bail-point (yellow band)

needles, for sewing synthetic knits and stretch fabrics.

Changing the Needle

The needle clamp has been designed so that the needle can only be inserted with the flat side of the shank toward the back.

1. Raise needle bar to its highest position,

loosen needle-clamp screw, and remove needle.

Tension Screwdriver

2. insert new needle in clamp, with the flat side of the needle to the back, and push it up as far as it will go.

3. Tighten needle-clamp screw.

3, TENSION SCREWDRIVER

Designed to fit the bobbin case tension screw, this screwdriver makes adjustment of bobbinthread tension quick and easy. (For instruc tions on bobblnAhreaâ tension adjustment, see

page 16.)

4. ZIG-ZAG FOOT AND THROAT PLATE

The zig-zag foot and the zig-zag throat plate are in place on your machine. Ideal for alt util

ity sewing, these fittings can be used for either straight or zig-zag stitching. Always use them together when alternating between straight and zig-zag stitching.

5. STRAIGHT STITCH FOOT AND

THROAT PLATE

The straight stitch foot and the straight stitch throat plate are used when your fabric or sew

ing procedure requires close control Espe cially useful for:

• Precision stitching of curved and scalloped

edges, top stitching, edge stitching, etc.

♦ Stitching on delicate or spongy fabrics, syn

thetics, and knits.

6. ZIPPER FOOT

The zipper foot is used to place stitching close to a raised edge. Thus, it is as useful for corded seams and tubular cording as it is for zipper insertion {page 32}, It can be adjusted to either the right or left side of the needle and may be

used with the straight stitch or zig-zag throat plate.

Changing Presser Foot

1. Raise needle to its highest position and

raise the presser foot.

2. Loosen presser foot screw and remove the foot,

3. Hook new foot around the presser bar and tighten presser foot screw.

straight Stitch Foot and Throat Plate

Zipper Foot

Changing Presser Foot

7. FEED COVER THROAT PLATE

The feed cover throat plate replaces the throat plate when fabric feeding is not desired. Use it for button sewing {page 24) and tree-motion 6amlr\g (page 37).

Changing Throat Plate

(NOTE: Remove bobbin if it contains thread in order to preyent thread being caught when throat plate is replaced.)

1. Raise needle to its highest position and

raise presser foot.

2. Open slide plate. Remove throat plate by

placing thumb under plate and lifting it up

and out.

3. Position new plate over the two pins and

release. (Throat plate is drawn into position by magnets.)

4. Close slide plate.

Changing Throat Plate

Seam Cuide

B. SEAM GUIDE

The seam guide will help you to stitch seams of perfectly uniform width. It is especially use ful for curved seams or top stitching, when absolute accuracy is required. Also, because it allows you to guide stitches at any distance between Vs inch and 1V4 inches from fabric edge, it is useful for very narrow or unusually wide seams.

Attaching the Seam Guide

Place screw In hole to the right of the slide

plate; line up straight edge of guide with the throat plate guideline for desired seam width, and tighten screw.

9. STRAIGHT STITCH LOCKING KEY

The locking key furnished with your accesso

ries is used to remove the pin that locks the dial controls for straight stitching in center

needle position. Insert key into locking pin and turn key counter-clockwise to remove pin. To ‘lock'’ the machine in straight stitch position, set dials at A and A , insert pin from top

through both dials and turn key clockwise.

2. GETTliyG HEADY TO SEW

preliminary steps

1. CONNECTING MACHINE

Before plugging in your machine, be sure that the voltage and number of cycles mólcateó on top surface of face plate conform to your elec trical power supply.

To connect a classroom machine, insert the

power-line plug into your electrical outlet. To connect a conventional household ma

chine, push the machine plug into the plug

receptacle. Then Insert the power-line plug

into your electrical outlet.

2, OPERATING MACHINE AND

CONTROLLER

To turn on both the machine and sewing light

and set speed range, slide the power and light

switch to the selected range.

Power-Line Plug

Electrical Connections

for Household Machine

F>X3T 3L.OW

♦ The FAST setting allows for full speed ca

pacity of the machine, ft is best for long, straight seams, easy-to-handle fabrics, and general sewing where a variety of speeds

is needed.

♦ The SLOW setting allows for maximum con

trol at lower sewing speeds. Use this setting

for special jobs such as button sewing, buttonhole mtaking, and where construction details require close control.

CAUTION: We recommend that you turn off the power and light switch before changing needles, presser feet or throat plates and v/hen leaving the machine unattended. This elimh nates the possibility of starting the machine by accidentally pressing the speed controller.

To run the machine, press the speed controller

(or knee lever). The harder you press, the faster the machine will sew within the selected speed range.

F>OWeF? <SU L.ÍOÍ-HT

Power and tight Switch

choosing needle and thread

The needle and thread you choose will depend

upon the fabric being stitched. The table be low is a practical guide to needle and thread

FABRIC, THREAD AND NEEDLE TABLE

FABRIC

DELICATE — tulle, chiffon, fine iace. or

ganza

LIGHTWEIGHT — batiste, organdy, jersey,

voile, taffeta, crepe, chiffon velvet plas tic film

MEDIUM WEIGHT — gingham, percale,

pique, linen, chintz, faille, satin, fine cor duroy, velvet, suitings, knits, deep pile fabrics, vinyl

Fine mercerized cotton

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.

THREAD

Fine synthetic thread 50 mercerized cotton

‘‘A^’silk

Synthetic thread

Polyester core/cotton

50 mercerized cotton

60 cotton

‘‘A” silk

Synthetic thread

Polyester core/cotton

CATALOG

NEEDLES

TYPE

2020

(15x1)

2020

(15x1)

2020

(15x1)

SIZE

MEDIUM HEAVY — gabardine, tweed, sail

cloth, denim, coatings, drapery fabrics, vinyl, deep pile fabrics

HEAVY — overcoatings, dungaree, uphol

stery fabrics, canvas

WOVEN FABRICS (ALL WEIGHTS) decorative straight-stitch topstitching

SYNTHETIC KNITS AND STRETCH FAB

RICS — polyester doublekrilt nylon tri

cot, jersey, spandex, ciré tricot, panne

velvet

LEATHER — suede, kidskin, capeskin,

lambskin, lined leathers

tUse with $0 mercenzed cotton or '‘A'" silk in bobbin

Heavy-duty

mercerized cotton

40 to 60 cotton

Synthetic thread

Heavy-auty

mercerized cotton

24 to 40 cotton

Synthetic thread

silkt

(Buttonhole twist}

‘^A’’ nylon

50 mercerized cotton

silk

Polyester core/cotton 50 mercerized cotton

Synthetic thread

"*A”sl!k

Polyester core/cotton

CATALOG

2020

(15x1)

CATALOG

2020

(15x1)

CATALOG

2020

(15x1)

CATALOG

2045

Ball Point

(Yellow Sand)

CATALOG

2032

(15x2)

14 16

threading the machine

WiNOING THE BOBBIN

Preparation

It Is best to wind the bobbin before you thread the machine.

1. Turn hand wheel toward you until nee* die is at its highest pos}tk>n.

2. Disengage hand wheel from sewing mechanism by loosening the hand wheel knob with your right hand while

holding the hand wheel with the left.

3. Open the slide plate.

4; Uft out the bobbin.

Engage Bobbin Winder Latch

Hold Thread End to Start Winding

Winding Steps

1. Place thread spool on spool pin over the spool pin felt Lead thread between tension discs (as shown}, around thread post and through small hole in bobbin (from the in side out).

2. Place bobbin on spindle and engage latch by pressing it toward the bobbin.

3. Hold thread end as shown and start the ma chine. Thread end will snap off after a few coils have been wound on the bobbin.

4. When required amount of thread has been wound (full bobbin will automatically re

lease), cut thread and remove bobbin from

spindle,

5. Tighten hand wheel knob by turning it away from you with your right hand while holding

the hand wheel with your left hand.

THREADING THE BOBBIN CASE

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

2. Pull thread into notch in bobbin case, draw it under the tension spring and into the slot

3. Draw approximately three inches of

thread diagonally across the bobbin.

4. Close slide plate, allowing the thread

to enter the slot in the slide plate.

TH8EADIMG THE NEEDLE

1, Turn hand wheel toward you to raise needle to highest

position with take-up lever midway in slot. Raise presser

foot to release tension discs.

2. Place spool of thread on spool pin over the spool pin felt. Lead thread through all points as shown, making sure to:

* Thread tensior^ discs as illustrated. WS^ ♦ Th read ta.ke-up lever from right to left

With two hands, slip thread horizontally between ten sion discs from the top.

RAfSiNG THE BOBBIIsi THREAD

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

throat plate.

1. Hold needle thread lightly with the left hand

and turn the hand wheel s/ow/y toward you

$0 that the needle enters throat plate.

2. Continue turning hand wheel and holding

the needle thread until needle rises.

Tighten your hold on the needle thread and

bring up bobbin thread In a loop.

3- Open the loop with your fingers.

4. Place needle and bobbin threads under the

presser foot and draw both threads to baok

and right of needle.

To regulate needle-thread and bobbin-thread

tensions, see page 16.

.. you are now ready to sew

Steps

Step 4

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