Kenmore Zig-Zag 1232 User manual

INSTRUCTIONS
MODEL 1232oZIGo ZAG SEWING MACHINE
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Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Dear Homemaker:
You have just invested in a very fine stretch stitch sewing machine Be-
fore using your new Kenmore machine, please pause for a moment and
carefully read this booklet wllich contains instructions on how to oper-
ate and care for your machine
Specific instructions are given on threading, tension adjustments, clean-
ing, oiling, etc This will help you obtain tile best sewing results and
avoid unnecessary sen'ice expense for conditions beyond our control
Advice on the operation and care of your machine is always available at
your nearest Sears Retail Store
Please remembeI, any correspondence or reference to your- machine
must mention tile model number and serial number of your machine
Kenmore Sewing Machine
Recmd in space provided below tile model number
and serial number of this appliance Ihe model num-
ber and serial number are located on the nomenclature
plate, as identified on Page 3 of this booklet
Mode! No Serjai No
Retain these numbers for future reference.

TABLE OF
CORITEr_TS Section i Knowing Your Sewing Machine
Identifying Parts
Installing Machine
Converting to Free-arm Sewing
Winding the Bobbin
Threading the Bobbin Case
Threading of Top Thread
Using the Controls
Adjusting Top Tension
Adjusting Bobbin Tension
Checking Tensions
Stitch Width Control
Stitch Length Controf
Reverse Stitch Control
Stretch Stitch Control
Pressure Regulator
Sewing Light
Seam Guides
Presser Foot Lever
Accessories
Needles
Needle, Thread and Fabric Chart
Presser Feet
2,3
4
5
6
7
8
9
t0
tt
12_13
12.1314
14
15
16
17
17
18
19
20
Section [[ Starting to Sew
Garment Construction Stitches
S_raight Stitching
Zigzag Stitching
Stretch Stitching
Special Finishing Stitches
Satin Stitching. Appliqueing
Buttonhole Making
Zipper-Application
Button Sewing, Bar Tacking
Darning
Free-arm Sewing
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Section ill Checking Performance Problems
Section IV Caring for the Machine
Cleaning Feed Dogs and Shuttle
Oiling Under Arm Cover Plate
Oiling Underside
Oihng in Face Cover Plate
Parts List
1
2
3
4
5,6

1. Needle Plate
2, Presser Foot
3, Thread Guide
4, Needle Clamp Sinew
5 Thread Guide
64 Top Thread Tension Control
7Face Cover Thread Guide
8 Face Cover Plate
9o Take-up Lever
t0 Upper Thread Guides
11, Stitch Width Control
12,, Stretch Stitch Control
13. Stitch Length Control
14 Reverse Stitch Control
15. Light and Power Switch
16, Extension Table
17, Support Leg
18. Shuttle Cover
19, Free Arm

20,ElectricCordReceptacle
21 NomenclaturePlate
22,,ClutchKnob
23,HandWheel
24 BobbinWinder
25 ThreadSpoolPins
26.BobbinWinderTensionDisc
27,,PressureRegulator
28 PresserFootLever
29,ThreadCutter
30,PresserFootThumbScrew
31,FeedDogs

Fig, 1 Fig, 3
Fig, 2Fig 4
1 To install the machine in cabinet, posi-
tion machine head on cabinet platform
so that holes on bottom of machine
match those on board Insert washers
and screws and tighten into place. (Fig
1) (Follow instructions provided with
Sears Cabinet Screws and washers are
supplied with cabinetl)
2 A separate base and cover is available to
carry the machine when needed
To install machine in carrying case, set
machine into base, with word FRONT in
base facing you (Fig. 2)
Piece cover on machine with word
"SEARS" on handle facing you° The
case slopes in the same direction of the
machine, (Fig 3)
Push the speed control plug onto three-
prong connector. Plug machine cord into
any 1t0-120 volt walt outlet. Turn on
power by pushing light and power
switch. (Fig. 4)
Spool pins are packed in accessory box.
Screw thread spool pins in place securely
with a screw driver Position nylon discs
as shown in illustration

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Fig., 1
Fig 2
t. Remove the extension table from the
machine by folding the support leg up
and pulting table to the left (Fig 1. :2)
2 To replace the table, simply slide it along
the free arm to its originaf position and
pIace supporting teg in down position
(Fig.. t)

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1, Release clutch by turning clutch
knob toward you,
2, Draw thread from spool through
bobbin winder tension disc as
shown,,
3, Pull end of thread th[ough hole in
bobbin asshown,.
4. Place bobbin onto bobbin winder
shaft with end of thread coming
from the top of the bobbin,, Push
bobbin ,winder shaft to the right
until it clicks, Holding onto end of
thread, start machine, When bobbin
is slightly filled, snip off end of
thread.
5, Start machine. Wind thread until
bobbin winder' shaft releases,
6. Tighten clutch knob and remove
bobbin,

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t, Remove the extension table from
the machine by pulling it to the
left. Open the shuttle cover.
2,, Raise needle to its highest position
by rotating hand wheel toward you,,
3, To remove bobbin case from shut-
tle, putt open latch of bobbin case,
4, Pul! bobbin case straight out of
shuttle,
5. Insert bobbin into bobbin case
making sure thread is coming from
bobbin as shown.
6., Pull thread through slot of case as
shown.
7,, Pull thread under tension spring,
8. Holding latch open, position case
into shuttle, and release latch, Case
should lock into place when latch is
released.

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Fig_
Fig,3
Fig 1 :ig 5
Place thread on spoot pin as shown
with thread coming from the back of
the spool Draw thread through the
top thread guides. Holding the spool
stationary with right hand, putl the
end of the thread between the tension
discs as shown. Pull the spring wire
loop up and past the top hook until
the thread can be slipped into the
hook (See Fig. 2), When the thread is
released, the spring wire loop wilt re-
turn to position (See Fig.. 3) with
thread in proper place. Release spool
of thread and continue to thread
machine exactly as shown. Needle
must always be threaded in direction
as shown in Fig. 4.
Hotd needle thread loosety in left hand
and rotate hand wheel toward you one
complete turn. Bring bobbin thread up
by pulling upper thread. (Fig.. 5}

Probably the most important control on your machine is this one that regulates
your top thread tension. It consists of discs between which the thread passes.
The pressure on these discs is regulated by turning the dial.. The higher the num-
ber, the tighter the tension
There are many reasons for having to reset your tension The best tension for
one fabric may not be correct for another.. The required tension depends upon
the stiffness of the fabric, thickness of the fabric, numbers of layers of fabric be-
ing sewn, as wel! as the type of stitch you are making..
It is best to test the stitching on a scrap of the fabric you are using before
starting to make agarment
(_) Upper thread too tight
......._ Decrease Tension
(_ Upper thread too loose
,J Increase Tension

Bobbintensionrequiresadjustinglessfrequentlythantheupperthreadtension.
If thestitchissatisfactorybuttheseamispuckered,it maybenecessaryto
loosenthetensiononboththetopandbottomthreads..Besuretobalancethem
asindicatedonPage9.
When adjusting the tension on the bobbin case, make slight adjustments with a
screwdriver.
Turn Counter- Clockwise
Ii',!C REASE TENSION
Turn Clockwise

Theeasiestwaytochecktensionsistosewamediumzig zag stitch on the fabric
you wilt be using, Use the appropriate type of thread and needle., Use different
colors of thread on the bobbin and upper spool
Sew a line of medium zig-zag stitches The bobbin thread should not show on
the top of the fabric
Adjust the top tension if necessary to achieve the stitcll formation mentioned
above
UNDESIRABLE
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DESIRABLE
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TOP SIDE OF FABRIC

Thiscontrolregulatesthewidthof thestitchyouselect..THEHIGHERTHE
NUMBER-THEWIDERTHESTITCH.Youmayvaryyourzigzagstitchwidth
byadjustingthiscontroltothesettingyoudesire.
Thiscontrolmustbeseton,,,,,,,,positioninordertodostraightstitching°
Thestitchlengthcontrolregulates the length of the stitch you select. THE
HIGHER THE NUMBER-THE SHORTER THE STITCH.
The number on stitch length control indicates the approximate number of
stitches per' inch. The stitch setting you use will be determined by the thickness
of the fabric you are sewing.
A longer stitch setting should be used for thicker fabric or more layers of fabric_
The middle range of the control is the 10-12 stitch per inch range which is the
most commonly used..
A basting stitch is made by using the longest possible stitch setting-6 stitches per
inch.
The white & green marking _ on the control is the setting used for the
shortest stitches such as in Satin Stitching.
The marking _ on the control is the setting used for" darning or embroidering,

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In addition to the obvious controls of your machine, there are other small
regulators and controls to aid you in using your sewing machine
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Push down the outer ring of the pressure regulator., This will release the pressure
on the presser foot, (See above)
To increase the pressure, push down inner pin until a suitable pressure is
obtained,.
Insufficient pressure may cause poor feeding of the fabric, skipped stitches, or
difficulty in guiding the fabric, If feed dogs or presser foot marks appear on the
fabric, reduce the pressure.
When sewing multiple thickness or heavy fabric, reduce the pressure. Increase
pressure when sewing lighter weight fabrics

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Fig. I
The light and power switch shown in
Fig. 1 provides the electric current for'
the motor as wetl as the light In order
to operate the machine, this switch
must be on,
To turn on the light, depress the
switch,, If you are interrupted while
sewing and must leave the machine un-
attended, just turn off the switch and
the machine cannot be started ac-
cidentally,
The sewing light is located in the face
cover as shown,, To replace the bulb,
turn the light off and open the face
cover,. Push the bulb up and turn the
bulb counter-clockwise and remove it
from the socket
Push a new butb in and turn it
clockwise,
NOTE:
First, unplug the machine prior to re-
moving and replacing the bulb Be
aware that the light bulb may be
warm
Fig 2

CorneringGuide
Seam guides are printed on either side
of the needle plate to aid you in guid-
ing your fabric, THE GUIDE LINE
EXTENDING ALONG THE RIGHT
SIDE OF THE NEEDLE PLATE IS
THE "ALL IMPORTANT" 5/8"
SEAM LINE
The cornering guides are convenient
when turning a square corner 5/8"
from the fabric edge,. See next section
of this book for directions.,
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To aid you in the placement of heavy
fabrics under the presser foot, the
lever can raise foot beyond the normal
"up" position.. This is also an aid in
changing your presser feet

Fig° 1
Use KENMORE needles_ The size of
the needle should conform with tbe
size of the thread and both should be
suitable to the fabric (See next page),
Never use a bent needle or one with a
blunt point..
Fig, 1_ shows you the exact length of
your needle. Be sure you never use one
in your machine that is not this exact
length,
"Q Needle" with blue shank is avail.
able at any store or service center of
Sears Roebuck and Co, or Simpson
Sears Limite& This special needle is
to be used when sewing certain knits
and difficult synthetic fabrics, If you
experience skipped stitches in any of
your sewing, use "'Q Needle",
F iat
side
away
from
you
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Raise needle bar to its highest position
by turning the hand wheel toward
you, Loosen the needle clamp screw,
Holding the needle with the flat side
away from you, slip the needle into
the needle bar, When it is in as far as it
will go, tighten the needle clamp screw
with a screwdriver,,