Kenmore 15 Mastersewusa C
Kenmore 15 Mastersewusa C
Kenmore 15 Mastersewusa C
Dear Homemaker:
This booklet has been written for you, to help you use and enjoy fully your KENMORE
Automatic Zigzag Sewing Machine.
We urge you to read pp. 2-24 before using your machine. This section explains the
operation of the special controls that allow you to do many tedious tasks automatically.
The following pages offer suggestions and instructions for specific controls that allow
you to do many tedious tasks automatically. The following pages offer suggestions and
instructions for specific ornament and time saving operations. See p. 24 before using the
automatic patterns or zigzag stitch.
We feel the KENMORE Automatic Zigzag Sewing Machine is the finest of its kind and
we are happy to offer help with any questions you may have regarding the machine.
Sincerely,
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17. Hand Wheel 23. Upper Thread Guides
18. Clutch Knob 24. Presser Foot Knob
19. Buttonhole Reverse Stitch Length Control 25. Presser Foot Lever
20. Upper Thread Spool Pins 26. Needle Clamp Screw
21. Pattern Disc Shaft Cover 27. Thread Cutter
22. Bobbin Winder Tension Disc 28. Needle Plate
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INSTALLING MACHINE HEAD
Loosen the two hinge screws under holes in the rear
edge of the machine bed (1).Raise hinge pins in the
cutout (2).Slip machine head onto the pins and
tighten hinge screws securely (3).
Lower machine head to front flap.
SEWING LIGHT
The sewing light is place inside the face cover plate
as shown. It may be turned on or off by pushing
light switch. In order to operate the machine, the
switch must be on.
CONNECTING MACHINE
Push the plug onto three-prong connector under the
bed plate. Plug machine cord into any 110-120V wall
outlet. See illustration 5.
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NEEDLE AND THREAD TABLE PLACEMENT OF NEEDLE
NEEDLE
THREAD SIZE FABRIC
SIZE Raise needle bar to its highest po-
Cotton 60 – 100
Synthetic Sheer cottons, silks, and synthetics
sition by turning hand wheel
Silk A
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Fine laces toward you. Loosen needle clamp
Machine embroidery screw. Hold the needle with flat
Cotton 60 – 80 side away from you. Slip the
Medium weight cottons
Mercerized 50
Medium weight silks needle as far as it will go into the
Synthetic 14
Medium weigh synthetics needle clamp, and tighten the
Silk A needle clamp screw.
Light weight woolens
Machine embroidery
Cotton 40 – 60 Heavy weight cottons
Mercerized 50 16 Medium to heavy weight woolens
Mercerized heavy duty Heavy drapery fabrics
Heaviest cottons as for men’s work
Cotton 30 – 50
18 clothes
Mercerized heavy duty
Heaviest woolen coating
NEEDLE SIZE
Use KENMORE 6021 needles. The size of needle should
conform to the size of the thread and both should be suitable
to the material. The same size thread should be used in the
bobbin as on the upper part of the machine for ordinary
sewing. Never use a bent needle or one with a blunt point.
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WINDING THE BOBBIN
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INSERTING BOBBIN INTO BOBBIN CASE--------CASE INTO SHUTTLE
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THREADING UPPER MACHINE
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PICKING UP BOBBIN THREAD
Raise presser foot lever.
Hold needle thread loosely in left hand and rotate
hand wheel toward you one complete turn.
Bring bobbin thread up by pulling upper thread
(See illustration).
Place threads back under presser foot.
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The stitch length lever controls the stitch length. Set lever to any
desired stitch length position between 0 and 4 by turning knob
SETTING until the knob indicator is aligned with stitch length number
STITCH desired.
The red mark indicates the setting for a satin stitch. This will vary
LENGTH slightly depending upon the type of material to be sewn. At No. 4
the longest stitch is obtained. The size of stitch you select will
depend on fabric you are sewing. To lengthen stitch, turn the knob
counter clockwise until the lever can be lowered to the position
desired. To straight stitch, stitch width control should be set on 0
setting, or by removal of decorative cam.
REVERSE Raise lever for reverse stitching. Lower lever for forward stitching. It
is best to begin and end most steams with reverse stitching often
STITCHING called back tacking.
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ADJUSTING TENSIONS
PROBLEM REMEDY
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When stitching is unsatisfactory as in
figures 2 and 3, adjust the upper thread
tension. Lower thread tension requires
adjustment less frequently than the
upper thread tension.
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INSERTING AND REMOVING THE MATERIAL
For all kinds of sewing, consult chart page To remove the work, first turn the hand
5. wheel toward you until the needle is at its
Before placing the material on the machine highest position, then raise the presser foot,
see that: draw material to the rear and cut off excess
thread with the thread cutter located on the
* The presser foot and needle clamp screws presser bar. To avoid sewing off the end of
are both tight. the material, back tack each seam. See page
* The sizes of the needle and thread suit the 11.
kind of work to be done.
* The needle and take-up lever are at their
highest position.
* The tensions have been properly adjusted.
* The ends of threads have been drawn
about 4 inches to the rear of the
machine. IMPORTANT: Always turn the hand wheel
* The feed dogs are up. toward you! When the machine is not being
used, place a piece of material over the feed
Place material under the presser foot, insert dog and lower the presser foot. Always have
the needle into the material by turning the fabric under the presser foot when operating
hand wheel toward you, lower presser foot the machine. Operating threaded machine
and start sewing. Experiment by sewing on without fabric will cause it to jam by forcing
the fabric to be used to determine tension thread lint into the shuttle. See pages 28 &
adjustment and correct stitch settings. 29.
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CHANGING THE PRESSER FOOT
The various attachment feet available for certain
kinds of work are to be fastened to the presser bar.
TURNING A CORNER
FEED DOG
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ZIGZAG CONTROL
SETTING STITCH WIDTH
Insert disc # 1A. Turn the stitch width control knob to
the desired setting between 0 and 4 on the knob. Zigzag
stitch width increase from 0 to 4. Straight stitching is
possible only with control on 0 setting or by removal of
decorative cam. (Dual needle plates-see pages 11)
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DECORATIVE STITCHING
This machine enables you to sew beautiful decorative and embroidery stitches by means of
various discs supplied with your machine. The movements of the needle are controlled by
the disc. Basic decorative stitches are made with stitch width at 4 and stitch length at the
red mark on the indicator plate. The latter will vary slightly depending upon the type of
material to be sewn. Pattern will be changed if using any patterns also can be made with
double needle. See page 25.
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DARNING
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SEWING ON BUTTONS Use disc #1A
BLIND STITCHING
Disc #1B
Stitch width 2 (May vary depending on type of material)
Stitch length 3
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Use disc #1A and special buttonhole foot
BUTTONHOLES Stitch length in red mark
Buttonhole control knob F
Feed dog control U
Mark buttonhole length at both ends. Without lowering the foot, let the
needle pierce the fabric at the beginning of the buttonhole. The
buttonhole length will be the distance between the needle and the front
edge of the sliding portions of the foot. Set the front edge of the foot
opening with a slight bartack allowance at the mark on the opposite end
of buttonhole. Lower the foot. Stitch forward until the needle reaches
the red zone on the front edge of foot. Then turn the knob to R, and
stitch the other side of the buttonhole. Turn knob back to F to finish
the end of buttonhole. The speed with which the knob is turned
determines the number of stitches at the ends of the buttonhole. The
slower the knob is turned, while sewing, the more stitches are formed.
See steps 1 to 4.
The stitch length may be varied slightly by the stitch length control
lever within the 0 to 1 range. To increase forward stitch move this lever
from the red mark toward 1, to decrease move it toward the 0. The
buttonhole reverse stitch length control (C) is used to match the length
of the reverse stitches with the forward stitches. Turn the dial to the
minus direction for shorter stitches; to the plus direction for longer
stitches. These settings may vary depending on the type of fabric used.
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APPLIQUE Use disc #1A
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OVERCASTING Use disc #1A
Free hand
Stitch width 0 to 4
Feed dog control Down
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1. SETTING THE DOUBLE NEEDLE
DOUBLE NEEDLE Raise the needle bar to its highest position and loosen
needle clamp screw. Hold double needle assembly with flat
side away from you. Slip the needle as far as it will go into
needle clamp, and tighten the screw.
3. THREAD SELECTION
Use mercerized sewing thread size #50 and finer. Machine
embroidery thread is recommended for both upper and
lower threading.
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4. STITCHING
All decorative patterns are possible with double needle.
Before starting any stitching operation, check needle
drop by turning the handwheel manually. Needle should
enter fabric without touching the presser foot and
needle plate. The stitch width control should not be
advanced beyond 2 ½ setting. (black dot)
5. TURNING A CORNER
To turn a square corner in double needle stitching, stop
stitching with the needle tips just piercing the fabric.
Raise the presser foot, shift fabric half the turn, lower
presser foot and take one stitch. Raise the presser foot
again, complete the turn, and begin stitching in the
new direction.
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SYNTHETICS
Your KENMORE will sew all the new fabrics of synthetic fiber, such
as nylon, ✴ Orlon, ✴✴ Dacron, rayon, acetate, blends of these, and
combinations of synthetic and natural fibers. When stitching a fabric
of blended or combined fibers, handle it as you would a material of
the fiber present in the largest percentage. For example, a fabric
woven of 60% Orlon and 40% silk should be handled as one made
entirely of Orlon.
When stitching a fabric that is over 50% synthetic fiber, re- member:
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REPLACEMENT OF THE BELT
To replace a worn belt, loosen motor bracket set
bolt and remove belt by reducing the distance
between motor pulley and hand wheel. Install new
built adjust the distance between the motor
pulley and hand wheel. To provide proper tension,
allow the belt to support the weight of the motor
and then firmly tighten the motor bracket set
bolt.
Fig. A
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It may be necessary to clean the shuttle area occasionally.
1. Raise the needle bar to its highest 3. Clean the shuttle race of any lint
point and remove bobbin case. or small particles of thread with a
small brush.
2. Push levers sideways of the shuttle
assembly and lift hook and hook 4. Put a drop of oil on the center pin
ring out by the center pin. and on race in back of the hook.
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To reassemble, hold hook by center pin and
fit carefully into assembly opposite the hook
driver. Slip hook ring into place. Snap the
lever into position.
Occasionally, remove the needle plate and
clean feed dog with a soft brush.
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WHAT TO DO
PROBLEM PROBABLE CAUSE CORRECTION
Incorrect size needle. Choose correct size needle for thread and fabric (page 5).
Improper threading. Rethread machine (page 9).
Loose upper thread tension. Tighten upper thread tension (page 12).
Irregular
Pulling fabric. Do not pull fabric; guide it gently.
Stitches
Light pressure on presser foot. Increase pressure on presser foot (page 10).
Loose presser foot. Reset presser foot (page 15).
Unevenly wound bobbin. Rewind bobbin (page 7).
Upper and lower threads not Draw both threads back under presser foot (page 10).
Bunching of drawn back under presser foot.
Thread
Feed dog down. Raise feed dog (page 15).
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WHAT TO DO
PROBLEM PROBABLE CAUSE CORRECTION
Incorrect size needle. Choose correct size needle for thread and fabric (page 5).
Bent or blunt needle. Insert new needle (page 5).
Skipping
Incorrect setting of needle. Reset needle (page 5).
Stitches
Tight upper thread tension. Loosen upper thread tension (page 12).
Light pressure on presser foot. Increase pressure on presser foot (page 10).
Improper bobbin case threading. Check bobbin case threading (page 8).
Breaking Bobbin
Tight bobbin thread tension. Loosen bobbin thread tension (page 13).
Thread
Lint in bobbin case or shuttle. Clean bobbin case and shuttle (page 28, 29).
Machine Jamming
Thread caught in shuttle. Disassemble and clean shuttle (page 28, 29).
(Knocking Noise)
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ADJUSTING YOUR SEWING MACHINE FOR GOOD STITCH
When your sewing machine does not sew a properly locked stitch, check the following:
1. Insert a new needle of the correct size for the thread and fabric you are using.
Consult chart on page 5.
2. The upper and bobbin thread should be matched in size and type.
3. Check threading carefully. See page 9.
4. Check the thread tension balance. Use mercerized thread, and a correct size needle for
the fabric you are using. Do not try this test with synthetic thread as it will not break.
Begin with a full bobbin, properly threaded into the case. Set the stitch length at about
12 stitches per inch. Fold a 6” square of your fabric in half diagonally, forming a triangle.
Make a line of stitching ½” from fold.
a. If seam is puckered – both tensions are too tight.
b. If bottom thread lays on the fabric-tighten upper thread tension, and repeat test.
See page 12, Figure 3.
c. If top thread lays on top of fabric-loosen upper thread tension, and repeat test.
See page 12, Figure 2.
Grasp the stitching and pull with a snap to make threads break.
a. If both threads break – tensions are balanced.
b. If neither thread breaks – both tensions are too loose.
c. If upper thread breaks – loosen upper tension.
d. If lower thread breaks – tighten upper tension.
Both threads do not have to break at the same place, but they should break on the same
snap.
Bobbin tension may be reset by the following procedure. Start with a loose bobbin thread
tension. Tighten the spring screw gradually until bobbin case and full bobbin can be
gently lifted from your hand by the end of the bobbin thread.
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PARTS LIST
All parts listed here may be ordered through your nearest Sears or Simpsons – Sears retail
store, catalog sales office or mail order house.
When ordering these parts, please be sure to mention the following references:
1. Model & Serial numbers of machine shown on the nomenclature plate. See page 2.
2. Parts number (s) and description(s) here.
When ordering by mail, prices will be furnished on request, or parts will be shipped at
prevailing prices and you will be billed accordingly.
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