Bernina 1100 Series User manual

MASTERING YOUR BERNINA®1/04/02 1100 Series/1
BERNINA®1100 Series
MASTERING
YOUR
BERNINA®
MASTERING YOUR
1100 Series
OWNER’S WORKBOOK
BERNINA®

MASTERING YOUR BERNINA®1/04/02 1100 Series/2
BERNINA®1100 Series
MASTERING
YOUR
BERNINA®
Table of Contents
SECTION A Pages 3-17
Let’s Start With The Basics
SECTION B Pages 18-37
4-Thread Techniques
SECTION C Pages 38-59
3-Thread Techniques
SECTION D Pages 60-74
Let’s Experiment

MASTERING YOUR BERNINA®1/04/02 1100 Series/3
BERNINA®1100 Series
MASTERING
YOUR
BERNINA®
MASTERING YOUR
1100 Series
BERNINA®
OWNER’S WORKBOOK
Section A
Let’s Start With The Basics

MASTERING YOUR BERNINA®1/04/02 1100 Series/4
BERNINA®1100 Series
MASTERING
YOUR
BERNINA®SECTION A
Let’s Start With The Basics
Machine Set-Up
• Identifying the serger parts – Owner’s manual pg__
• Attaching the Foot Control and Power Cord – Owner's manual pg.____
• Assembling thread stand – Owner's manual pg.___
• The Waste Collector 1100DA only
• Power Switch – Owner's manual pg.___
• Light Switch – Owner's manual pg.___ 1100DA only
• Loopers – what are they? – Owner's manual pg.___
• The Looper Cover – Owner's manual pg.___
- Safety feature – machine won’t sew when the cover is open - 1100DA only
- Tool storage
• Swing-Out Presser Foot – Owner's manual pg.___
- For easier threading
- For easier insertion and removal of needles
- Safety feature – machine won’t sew when foot is swung out
• Needle Threader - 1100DA only
- Works for right or left needle
- One finger operation
Threads
Owner's manual pg.___
• Types to use
• The importance of quality threads
Needles
Owner's manual pg.___
• Always start with a new needle
• Match the needle to the fabric and thread – Owner's manual pg.___
• Change the needle often; using the needle inserter
• Loosening/re-tightening needle screws
Threading for Overlock Serging
Owner's manual pg.___
• Cone Holders and Spool Caps
- Holders used for large cones of serger thread
- Turn the cone upside down for the larger based cone threads.
- Caps used for “normal” sewing thread and decorative thread spools
• Raise the presser foot when threading
• The threading path – Owner's manual pg.___
• Use the road map inside the looper cover as a quick reference guide.
• Threading the first thread guide on all threads – Owner's manual pg.___. Lock thread into guide.

MASTERING YOUR BERNINA®1/04/02 1100 Series/5
BERNINA®1100 Series
MASTERING
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BERNINA®
• Threading Order
- First – Upper Looper (Blue)
- Second – Lower Looper (Red)
- Third – Right Needle (Green)
- Fourth – Left Needle (Yellow)
• Upper Looper – Owner's manual pg.___
• Lower Looper – Owner's manual pg.___
- Rotate the handwheel to bring the looper to the right before engaging the automatic looper threader
• Right Needle -– Owner's manual pg.___
- Set positioning lever of the needle threader to “R” (1100DA only).
• Left Needle – Owner's manual pg.___
- Set positioning lever of the needle threader to “L” (1100DA only).
Test Sewing
Owner's manual pg.___
• Lift the front of the presser foot to place the fabric under it to begin serging.
• Lift the entire presser foot by the handle at the back when accurate fabric placement is needed.
• Use the 2-step presser foot lifter for thick fabrics.
• Chain off the fabric.
• Use the thread cutter to cut the thread chain.
Cleaning and Oiling
Owner's manual pg.___
• Clip all threads at the thread guide support.
• Lift the presser foot to release (open) the thread tension disks.
• Gently pull threads from serger. Always remove threads in the direction of sewing. If you encounter any
resistance, stop and rotate the handwheel slightly to release the threads from the loopers.
• Open the looper cover; rotate the upper knife up.
• Using a vacuum cleaner adapter or a 1” cosmetic brush, remove all lint and fluff from the looper, knife
and feed dog areas of the machine.
• Following the oiling guide inside the looper cover, place a drop of oil on each of the two oiling points.
• Remove old needles and replace them with new.
• Rotate upper knife down into cutting position.
Replacing the Knives
Owner's manual pg.___
• Serger knives cut fabric as it is serged; as with scissors, repeated use can dull them. If knives begin to
“chew” instead of cut, consider replacing the lower knife.
• If you serge over pins, replce both knives.
• An authorized BERNINA®technician will need to replace the upper knife.

MASTERING YOUR BERNINA®1/04/02 1100 Series/6
BERNINA®1100 Series
MASTERING
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BERNINA®
TENSION THEORY
Balanced 4-Thread Stitch
Owner’s manual pg.___
• Thread the serger for a 4 thread overlock stitch using thread colors to match the color-coded threading
path on the serger.
• Set all thread tension dials at 3-5 (normal).
• Fold the fabric in half to 3” x 6”.
• To begin stitching, lift the front of the presser foot with your right thumb and slide the fabric under the
presser foot. Release the tip of the presser foot and begin serging.
• Serge to the end of the fabric.
• Continue stitching off the fabric until you have a 3”- 4” thread chain.
• Locate the thread cutter on the left side of the serger and cut the thread chain (from right to left).
• Examine the serger stitch formation and compare it to the balanced stitch graphic on page__ of the
Owner's manual.
• Read the information under Adjusting the Thread Tension on page__ of the Owner's manual for
information about the stitch formation and correcting any stitch irregularities.
• Make any necessary tension adjustments and serge another row of stitching.
• Trim and mount the sample.
Fabric: Firm fabric, 6” x 6”
Needle: 80/12 Universal
Thread: 4 cones of serger thread
(yellow, red, green, blue)
Presser Foot: Standard

MASTERING YOUR BERNINA®1/04/02 1100 Series/7
BERNINA®1100 Series
MASTERING
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BERNINA®
Lower Looper - Increased Tension
Owner's Manual pg.____
• Thread the serger for a 4-thread overlock stitch using thread
colors to match the color-coded threading path on the serger.
• Fold each piece of the firm fabric to 1½” x 4” and set aside.
• Locate the thread tension dials on the front of the serger. From
left to right, these dials adjust tension for the Left Needle, Right
Needle, Upper Looper, and Lower Looper.
• Adjust the lower looper thread tension dial to 7 to increase the
tension on the looper thread.
• Place the first piece of folded fabric under the presser foot with the
fold to the right and serge to the end of the fabric, cutting off the fold.
• Examine the sample. The looper threads do not lock on the edge of
the fabric. The upper looper thread is pulled tightly to the back of the
stitch. The left needle thread may be pulled to the back of the stitch.
• Trim, label, and mount the sample.
Lower Looper - Decreased Tension
• Change the lower looper thread tension dial to 2 to decrease the
tension on the looper thread.
• Serge the second piece of folded fabric, cutting off the fold.
• Examine the sample. The looper threads do not lock on the edge of
the fabric. The lower looper thread is visible on the face of the fabric.
The looper threads are very loose.
• Label, trim, and mount the sample.
ADJUSTING TENSIONS
Fabric: 6 pieces of firm fabric, 6” x 6” each
1 piece of lightweight cotton, 3” x 4”
Needle: 80/12 Universal
Thread: 4 cones of serger thread
(yellow, red, green, blue)
Presser Foot: Standard

MASTERING YOUR BERNINA®1/04/02 1100 Series/8
BERNINA®1100 Series
MASTERING
YOUR
BERNINA®
Upper Looper - Decreased Tension
• Change the upper looper thread tension dial to 2 to decrease the tension on the looper thread.
• Serge the fourth piece of folded fabric, cutting off the fold.
• Examine the sample. The looper threads do not lock on the edge of the fabric. The upper looper
thread is visible on the back of the fabric. The looper threads are very loose.
• Label, trim, and mount the sample.
• Return the thread tension dials to normal.
Upper Looper - Increased Tension
• Adjust the upper looper thread tension dial to 7 to increase the tension on the looper thread.
• Serge the third piece of folded fabric, cutting off the fold.
• Examine the sample. The looper threads do not lock on the edge of the fabric. The lower looper
thread is pulled tightly to the front of the stitch.
• Label, trim, and mount the sample.

MASTERING YOUR BERNINA®1/04/02 1100 Series/9
BERNINA®1100 Series
MASTERING
YOUR
BERNINA®
Right Needle
• Adjust the right needle thread tension dial to decrease
the tension on the needle thread.
• Serge the fifth piece of folded fabric, cutting off the fold.
• Examine the sample. The needle thread forms large
loops on the back of the fabric.
• Label, trim, and mount the sample.
Left Needle
• Adjust the left needle thread tension dial to 2 to decrease
the tension on the needle thread.
• Serge the sixth piece of folded fabric, cutting off the fold.
• Examine the sample. The needle thread forms large
loops on the back of the fabric.
• Label, trim, and mount the sample.
Both Needles
• Adjust both the left and right needle thread tension dials to 7
to increase the tension on the needle threads.
• Fold the piece of lightweight woven cotton fabric to 1½” x 4”.
• Serge the folded fabric, cutting off the fold.
• Examine the sample. The stitch is puckering the fabric.
• Label, trim, and mount the sample.
• Return both needle thread tension dials to normal.

MASTERING YOUR BERNINA®1/04/02 1100 Series/10
BERNINA®1100 Series
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BERNINA®
STITCH LENGTH ADJUSTMENT
• Owner’s manual pg.___
• Fold fabric in half to 3” x 6”.
• Using a fabric marker, divide the fabric into four equal sections along the folded edge.
• Thread the serger for a four thread overlock stitch.
• Fine tune the tensions for a balanced overlock stitch (3-5).
• Set the cutting width and the differential as needed.
• Adjust the stitch length to 4mm.
• Serge to the first mark along the folded edge, trimming the fold slightly.
• Adjust the stitch length to 3mm and serge to the second mark.
• Adjust the stitch length to 2mm and serge to the third mark.
• Adjust the stitch length to 1mm and serge to the end.
• Mark the stitch length settings on the fabric sample.
• Trim and mount the sample.
Fabric: Firm fabric, 6” x 6”
Needle: 80/12 Universal
Thread: 4 cones of serger thread
Presser Foot: Standard
4mm 3mm 2mm 1mm