Kenmore 15 User manual

Sears, Roebuck and Co.
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,
Jean Shaw, Director
Home Economics Laboratory
Department 817
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Chicago 7, Illinois

Adjusting for Good Stitches………………………. 32
Adjusting Pressure of Presser Foot……………… 18
Adjusting Tensions………………………………12-13
Applique…………………………………………….. 22
Basting………………………………………………. 11
Blind Stitching………………………………………. 19
Buttonholes…………………………………………. 19
Changing the Presser Foot……………………….. 15
Cleaning & Oiling………………………………...27-29
Connecting Machine……………………………….. 4
Darning……………………………………………… 18
Decorative Stitching..……………………………….15
Double Needle……………………………………24-25
Fastening a Seam………………………………….. 11
Feed Dog Control………………………………….. 15
Identification, Head Parts………………………….2, 3
Inserting Bobbin into Bobbin Case………………… 8
Inserting Disc……………………………………….. 16
Inserting and Removing Material…………………. 14
Installing Machine Head…………………………… 4
Needle & Thread Chart………………………………… 5
TABLE OF
CONTENTS Needle Size……………………………………………… 5
Overcasting…………………………………………….. 23
Parts List…………………………………………………33
Picking up Bobbin Thread…………………………….. 10
Placement of Needle…………………………………… 5
Removing Bobbin Case from Shuttle………………… 6
Reverse Stitching………………………………………. 11
Replacement of Belt…………………………………… 27
Setting Stitch Length…..………………………………. 11
Setting Stitch Width…………………………………… 16
Sewing Light……………………………………………. 4
Sewing on Buttons…………………………………….. 19
Sewing on Lace………………………………………… 22
Sewing on Plastic Films……………………………….. 26
Straight or Three-Cornered Tear………………………22
Synthetics……..…………………………………………26
Threading Upper Machine……….…………….……… 9
Turning a Corner..……………………………………… 15
What to Do…………………………………………...11, 14
Winding the Bobbin…………………………………….. 7
Writing & Monogramming………………………………23

1. Hand Hole Cover Plate
2. Feed Dog
3. Presser Foot
4. Presser Foot Thumb Screw
5. Thread Guides
6. Thread Tension Assembly
7. Thread Guide
8. Face Cover Plate
9. Thread Take-up
10. Arm Cover Plate
11. Bobbin Winder Mechanism
12. Stitch Width and Buttonhole
Control Knob
13. Stitch Length Control Knob
14. Light Switch
15. Feed Dog Control Knob
16. Nomenclature Plate
2

17. Hand Wheel
18. Clutch Knob
19. Buttonhole Reverse Stitch Length Control
20. Upper Thread Spool Pins
21. Pattern Disc Shaft Cover
22. Bobbin Winder Tension Disc
23. Upper Thread Guides
24. Presser Foot Knob
25. Presser Foot Lever
26. Needle Clamp Screw
27. Thread Cutter
28. Needle Plate
3

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.
To remove bulb, turn light switch off, open the face
cover plate by swinging it open, push bulb in
slightly, turn bulb clockwise and remove from
socket. To replace, push in new bulb in and turn
counter clockwise. See illustration 4.
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.
4

NEEDLE AND THREAD TABLE PLACEMENT OF NEEDLE
Raise needle bar to its highest po-
sition by turning hand wheel
toward you. Loosen needle clamp
screw. Hold the needle with flat
side away from you. Slip the
needle as far as it will go into the
needle clamp, and tighten the
needle clamp screw.
THREAD SIZE NEEDLE
SIZE FABRIC
Cotton 60 – 100
Synthetic
Silk A
Machine embroidery
11 Sheer cottons, silks, and synthetics
Fine laces
Cotton 60 – 80
Mercerized 50
Synthetic
Silk A
Machine embroidery
14
Medium weight cottons
Medium weight silks
Medium weigh synthetics
Light weight woolens
Cotton 40 – 60
Mercerized 50
Mercerized heavy duty 16 Heavy weight cottons
Medium to heavy weight woolens
Heavy drapery fabrics
Cotton 30 – 50
Mercerized heavy duty 18 Heaviest cottons as for men’s work
clothes
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.
This is the exact length of the needle to be used in
your machine. Comparison with this illustration will
determine whether the needle you have is the
correct one for your machine.
5

6

WINDING THE BOBBIN
7

INSERTING BOBBIN INTO BOBBIN CASE--------CASE INTO SHUTTLE
8

THREADING UPPER MACHINE
9

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.
ADJUSTING THE PRESSURE OF THE PRESSER FOOT
Push down outer ring of presser foot knob (See
illustration). This will release pressure of presser foot.
To increase pressure, push down inner pin until
suitable pressure is obtained.
For ordinary sewing, the inner pin should be about
half way down. When sewing multiple thickness of
heavy material, reduce the pressure. Increase it when
sewing sheer fabrics.
Insufficient pressure may cause skipped stitches or
difficulty in guiding the fabric. If feed dog or presser
foot marks appear on the fabric, reduce the pressure.
10

The stitch length lever controls the stitch length. Set lever to any
desired stitch length position between 0 and 4 by turning knob
until the knob indicator is aligned with stitch length number
desired.
SETTING
STITCH
LENGTH The red mark indicates the setting for a satin stitch. This will vary
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
STITCHING
Raise lever for reverse stitching. Lower lever for forward stitching. It
is best to begin and end most steams with reverse stitching often
called back tacking.
For accomplishing quicker, more even and firmer basting, we
suggest you regulate the machine in the following manner: Set
stitch length at No. 4 for the longest possible stitch. Basting is
easily removed by pulling bottom thread. When basting very sheer
fabrics use a paper backing.
BASTING
Be sure both threads are drawn back under the presser
foot. Lower needle into fabric about ½ inch from beginning
of seam. Push stitch length control lever up for reverse
stitching. Stitch in reverse until needle reaches beginning of
seam.
Move stitch length control lever down for forward stitching
and complete seam. When you reach the end, raise the
stitch length control lever and sew back over ½ inch of
completed seam.
FASTENING
A
SEAM
11

ADJUSTING TENSIONS
12
REMEDY
PROBLEM
A perfect stitch will have threads locked between
the
two layers of fabric with no loops on top or bottom.
(Refer to page 32)

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.
When stitch is satisfactory, as in figure 1
and seam is badly puckered, the cause
may be tight tensions and both upper
and lower may be adjusted. (See page 32)
When adjusting the tension on the
bobbin case, make slight adjustments
with a screwdriver. (See page 32)
13

INSERTING AND REMOVING THE MATERIAL
For all kinds of sewing, consult chart page
5.
Before placing the material on the machine
see that:
* The presser foot and needle clamp screws
are both tight.
* The sizes of the needle and thread suit the
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.
* The feed dogs are up.
Place material under the presser foot, insert
the needle into the material by turning the
hand wheel toward you, lower presser foot
and start sewing. Experiment by sewing on
the fabric to be used to determine tension
adjustment and correct stitch settings.
To remove the work, first turn the hand
wheel toward you until the needle is at its
highest position, then raise the presser foot,
draw material to the rear and cut off excess
thread with the thread cutter located on the
presser bar. To avoid sewing off the end of
the material, back tack each seam. See page
11.
IMPORTANT: Always turn the hand wheel
toward you! When the machine is not being
used, place a piece of material over the feed
dog and lower the presser foot. Always have
fabric under the presser foot when operating
the machine. Operating threaded machine
without fabric will cause it to jam by forcing
thread lint into the shuttle. See pages 28 &
29.
14

CHANGING THE PRESSER FOOT
The various attachment feet available for certain
kinds of work are to be fastened to the presser bar.
To attach the foot, raise the presser bar to its highest
position by raising the presser foot lever. Loosen the
presser foot thumb screw, choose the proper foot,
insert from the front. Tighten the screw using the
large screw driver and make sure that the foot is
secure.
TURNING A CORNER
Stop sewing machine with needle in fabric. Raise
presser foot. Turn fabric. Lower presser foot and
continue stitching.
FEED DOG
The feed dog control knob is situated on the right
front of machine bedplate. When knob is turned to
the right feed dog drops and does not pull material.
This allows the operator freedom of movement of
material, as for darning. For regular sewing, turn knob
to the left.
15

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)
INSERTING PATTERN DISC
1. Turn hand wheel so that the needle is in its highest
position.
2. Pull pattern disc shaft cover open.
3. Push cam follower releaser lever (A) to the right and
keep it there during insertion.
4. Grasp pattern disc and slip disc onto the shaft. Make
sure the retaining pin (B) enters hole in disc.
5. To remove pattern disc, open cover and pull it out from
the shaft.
There are two different patterns on each disc. A picture of
each pattern is on the disc surface. Position disc into
machine with desired pattern facing up.
16

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.
17

DARNING
17
WITH PRESSER FOOT:
1. Turn feed dog control to right.
2. Press down outer ring of presser foot knob, see page 10. With presser foot knob in
this position, mending, darning, monogram work, etc. may be done.
3. Stretch fabric tightly between two spring embroidery hoops and place under
needle.
4. Lower presser bar so thread will have some tension. When you start to darn, move
fabric back and forth to cover darning area. Then turn fabric and continue sewing
at right angles to the previous stitching. Use medium machine speed. You can
make any length stitches desired. Slow movement of fabric will make short
darning stitches. Fast movement will make long stitches.
5. When you finish darning, raise presser foot and remove fabric. Increase pressure
for general sewing by pressing down inner pin of the presser foot knob. Turn feed
dog control to left.
WITHOUT PRESSER FOOT:
1. Turn feed dog control to right.
2. Remove presser foot.
Proceed as directed under steps 3 and 4 above.
3. When you finish darning, raise the presser foot lever and remove fabric. Replace
presser foot, and increase pressure for general sewing. Turn feed dog control to
left.
18