Baby Lock BL4-428 User manual

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L4 424
Four-Thread,, Three-Thread, & Two-Thread, Oaerlock,.
INSTRUCT¡ON BOOKLET
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CONGRATULATIONS!
You are now part of an exciting new era in sewing. As owner of a Baby Lock BL4-428 you have become part of the serger sewing revolutiori,
opening the door to new possibilities in your creativity.
Professional appearance. The Baby Lock gives the quality finish to your garments that you find in even the most
expensive ready-to-wear.
Faster sewing. Because of Baby Lock's high speed capability - up to 1500 stitches per minute - and its ability to
trim, seam and overcast the fabric all in one operation, you will be completing more sewing projects in far less
time.
lncreased sewinq abilitv Difficult-to-handle fabrics and troublesome sewing techniques will no longer pose a chal
lenge. The Baby Lock handles all types of fabric with case.
Your Baby Lock is a high quality, dependable machine, and with proper care will give you many years of sewing enjoyment. We suggest
that you follow your instruction manual as a step-by-step guide io serger sewing. Later, as you become more confident, the manual will
become a handy reference for expanding your ability.
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CONTENTS
1. Parts of the machine
2. Accessories
3. How your Baby Lock operates
4. Getting ready to sew
4-1 Setting up your machine
4-2 Needles
4-3 Thread
5. Threading method A - Tying on
6. Threading method B - Manual threading
7. Knives
7-1 Disengaging the upper knife . . . .
8. Start serging
9. Stitch length adjustment
10. Stitch wldth adjustment . . .
10-1 To make stitch width
10-2 To make stitch narrower
1 1. Four-thread serg¡ng
12. Overcasting...
13. Turning an outside corner
14. Turning an inside corner
15. Serging curves
16. Seaming
17. Locking ends . .
18. Three-thread serging
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3
4
5
5
5
6
7
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10
11
12
13
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14
14
15
16
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17
17
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18
20
19. Two-thread serging
19-1 To return from two-thread to three-thread serging
19-2 To return from two-thread to four-thread serging
20. Flatlock seam
21. Flatlocktucks.
22. Blind hemming
23. Narrow rolled edging
23-1 Three-thread narrow rolled edging
23-2 Two-thread narrow rolled edging
24. Seaming sheers with rolled edge
25. Lettuce edge .
26. Resetting from narrow rolled edge to four-thread serging
27. Specialty thread .
28. Specialty thread guide
29. Oiling
30. Replacing a needle
31. Replacing a light bulb . .
32. Replacing a knife blade .
33. Replacing the upper knife
34. Presser foot pressure adjustment
35. Machine specifications
36. Trouble shooting guide .
37. Chart for tension adjustment
38. Do's and Don'ts
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24
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
31
32
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34
36
37
37
38
38
39
39
40
41
42
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1 PARTS OF THE MACHINE
Pressure adjuster
Thread guide switch
Needle
Presser foot
Stitch width
adjusting dial
Side cover
Telescopic thread guide
Left needle thread tensíon
adjuster (Orange)
Right needle thread
tension adjuster (Yellow)
Upper looper thread
tension ad.iuster (Green)
Lower looper thread
tension adjuster (Blue)
Handwheel
Power/Lamp switch
2 ACCESSORIES
lnstruction manual
Curved tweezers
oit ...
Lint brush
Screwdrivers
Spool caps
Thread nets .
N eed les
Lower knife replacement blade
Machine cover
Lower knife clamping screw
Stitch width adjusting dial
1
1
1
1
2
4
4
5
1
1
3
Upper looper
Subsidiary
looper
Subsidiary looper
brass screw
Front cover Stitch finger holder

3 HOW YOUR BABY LOCK OPERATES
A serger (or overlock, as it is sometimes called) is quite different from a conventional sewing machine. Understanding its simple operation will help you use it more
effectively. \
The Baby Lock BL4-428 stitches with one or two needles, but no bobbins. lnstead the lower threads are carried by two metal arms called "loopers". (Figure 1)
As the needles move up and down through the fabric, the loopers carry their threads side to side interlocking them with the needle thread at the seamline. The
looper threads interlock with one another at the edge of the fabric to complete the stitch.
The stitches form around two small metal prongs called "stitch fingers". (Figure 2) These stitch fingers support the edge of the fabric and prevent it from curling
or puckering under the stitches. The stitch fingers can be moved together or apart to vary the stitch width.
As the fabric moves under the presser foot, two cutting knives move in a scissor-like action to trim the edge of the fabric just ahead of the stitches. (Figure 3)
After setting up your machine for the first time, take a few minutes to watch how it sews. Remove the presser foot to get a closer view. Turn the handwheel away
from you and watch the movement of the needles, loopers and knives. Don't worry about stitching on fabric yet. lt does not hurt your Baby Lock serger to stitch
without any fabric.
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Upper looper
Lower looper
Figure 1
Upper knife
Lower knife
Figure 3
4
sNeedle plate
fi ngers
SÕAdjustable
stitch finger
Figure 2

4 GETTING READY TO SEW
4-1 Setting up your machine
After removing the styrofoam packing materials from the box, gently liftyour Baby Lock serger by grasp-
ing the handle on the top of the machine. Place the machine on a serger table or other level work surface.
Please protect fine furniture surfaces to avoid scratches or stains.
Raise the telescopic thread guide to its highest position. (Figure 4) You will find that the shaft can be
rotated left and right. Do so at each stopper level until each section '1clicks" into locked position.
Place the foot control on the floor under the sewing table. First plug the terminal into the machine, then
insert the plug into a wall outlet. The on/off sw¡tch is located on the lower right side of the machine.
Make sure power is always off when the machine is not in use. (Figure 5)
To open the front cover. place your thumb into the indentation at the lower right corner and slide the
cover to the right. Then rotate the cover forward to provide access to the loopers, knives and thread guides.
(Figure 6)
The side cover is opened by gently pushing its front edge toward the left. lt is hinged in back and will
swing open for easy cleaning and for stitch length adjustment (Figure 6)
4-2 Needles
Your Baby Lock serger is fitted with a size 1 1 industrial sewing machine needle (Organ DC x 1F) which is
suitable for all light-to medium-weight fabrics. To sew very heavy fabrics you will want to change to a size
14 needle. (See page 37 for instruction to change needles)
The semi-ballpoint design of the industrial needle allows you to use the same needle for sewing knits as
well as wovens. lts quality and strength are specifically designed for high-speed sewing. An industrial needle
will give perfect stitch formation through many hours of sewing.
Telescopic
thread stand
Stopper
Stopper Figure 4
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Front cover @Figure 6
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Terminal box
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Power/Lamp Switch
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Power
supPlY Figure 5
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4-3 Thread
Many types of good quality thread can be used on your Baby Lock serger, but 100% long-staple polyester thread cross-wound on a conewill consistently provide
the best stitch performance. Because the threads pass through many thread guides at a high speed, it is important that the thread be high strength, uniform in
thickness and produce a minimum of lint.
Good quality cotton or cotton-covered polyester threads sew well, though they d'o produce more lint and create the need to clean the machine more frequently.
They work well for overedging and seaming. For narrow rolled edging, this thread may be too weak or loo fuzzy for the desired effect. Poor grades of these threads
can result in frequent fraying and breaking.
Threads of other fiber content and weight may be used as well, especially for decorative effects. Keep in mind their thickness and strength, because these factors
determine the ease w¡th which thread passes through the thread guides, tensions, needles and loopers. For more information on sewing with specialty thread. see
page 34 and 35.
* Cone thread
When using cone thread, place each cone securely over the cone holders on the thread stand of the machine.
You may need to place one hand under the thread while positioning the cone, in order to prevent bending the
stand. These cone holders keep the cone from spinning and allow the thread to feed off evenly.
* Spool thread
Spool caps are provided for use with spool thread. These caps cover any notches or serrated edges on the spool
itself, and allow the thread to feed off evenly. Snap a spool cap into the hole on the top of the thread spool.
Place the thread on the spindle. The cap may cause the thread to be suspended from the top of the spindle.
Do not try to force the cap down onto the spindle itself. (NOTE: lt is not necessary to remove the cone holders
when using spool threads.) (Figure 7)
* Thread nets
The nets can be placed over cones or spools when the thread has a tendency to "drop off" its holder while
sewing. For most threads the nets are not necessary, but they are helpful with nylon, rayon or silk threads.
(Figure 8)
Spool cap
I thread
Cone holder
Figure 7
Cone spool thread Thread net
Figure 8
6

5 THREADING METHOD A-TYING ON
The fastest and easiest way to thread your Baby Lock serger is to cut off the unwanted thread and
tie its end to the beginning of the new thread, as follows:
1. Clip the existing thread strands just above each cone/spool. (Figure g)
2. Remove the old thread cones and position the new ones on the stand. Make a square knot to tie
each old thread end to its corresponding new thread.
3. Clip the needle thread(s) just above the eye of the needle(s). Attempting to pull the knot through
the eye can bend or break the needle. (Figure 9)
4. Make a few stitches to separate the thread chain and discard the needle thread tails. Gently pull
the looper threads - one at a time - until each knot passes through the entire threading path
of the machine. Snip off the knots and discard the old thread ends.
(HINT: As you pull each thread with your left hand, use your right hand to pull the tension
ring forward slightly, making it easier for the knot to pass through) (Figure 10)
5. Pull the needle thread(s) through in the same manner and use the curved tweezers to rethread
the needle(s).
6. Place all threads under the back of the presser foot, lower the foot and sew a few stitches to
start the chain. (Figure 1 1 )
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Figure 9
Figure 1 0
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Tension disc
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lf thread breaks or run out, it will be necessary to rethread manually. The thread guides are marked with color coding, and a color-coded thread chart is located
on the backside of the front cover. lt is important that the threadinq be done in the following sequence'
Plabe the first thread on the third spindle of the thread holder, the one colored
green. Beginning with its corresponding eye on the telescopic thread guide, thread
.tt grr.n color-coded guide, including the tension discs and end with the upper
2. Place the next thread on the far-right (blue) spindle and thread in the same
manner, following the blue color-coded thread path and end with the lower looper
(Figure 12)
NOTE: To use the convenient self-threading looper,
turn the handwheel away from you to bring the
looper to its far-lef.t Position'
Hook the thread through guide "4". (Figure 14)
Slide the thread along the left arm of the looper,
catching it in the metal clip. Pull up any slack thread.
Turn the handwheel to bring the looper to the far
right.
Thread the lower looper eye and bring the thread
under the upper looper and under the back of the
presser foot. (Figure 15)
looper. (Figure 12)
NOTE: Be sure to pull each thread securely between
the discs of its tension adjuster. (Figure 13)
Figure 13
Figure 15
AFigure 14
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6 THREADING METHOD B.MANUAL THREADING
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Figure 12

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3. Place thread on the second (yellow) spindle and follow the yellow-colored path,
ending with the right needle. Thread the eye of the needle front to back. (Figure
16)
4. Place thread on the far left (orange) spindle and follow the orange color-coded
path, ending with the left needle. Thread the eye of the needle front to back.
(Figure 16)
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Figure 16
NOTE: Each needle thread must catch in its respec-
tive guide and under one side of the thread plate.
(Figure '17)
Figure 17
b. Place all threads under and to the left of the presser foot and make a few stitches
to begin the chain. (Figure 18)
IMPORTANT: lf a looper thread breaks or runs out, while the other threads re-
maln intact, it is necessary to follow this rethreading sequence:
'l . Unthread the eyes of the needles.
2. Rethread the looper.
3. Rethread needle eyes.
lf you forget to unthread/rethread the needle eye, thread will be wrapped around
the lower looper out of sequence and, when you begin to sew, the looper thread will
break. The needles must alwavs be threaded last.
9Figure l8