Singer 28-8 User manual

Singer
288
Singer 288
Instruction
Manual
Dear Customer:
We recommend that for future reference you record
the serial number of your Sewing Machine in the
space provided.
Refer to illustration below for location of serial number
on your machine.
A Trademark of THE SINGER COMPANY
Copyright e 1978 The Singer Company
All Rights Reserved Throughout The World
Serial No.

Singer
288
Table of Contents
1. Getting to Know Your Sewing Machine
Principal Parts--What They Are Called
Accessories
2. Getting Ready to Sew
Preliminary Steps
Threading the Machine
Setting Selectors
3. Straight Stitching
Sewing a Seam
Pin Basting, Starting a Seam, Guiding and
Supporting Fabric, Ending a Seam, Curved
Seams
4. Zig-Zag Stitching
How Patterns Are Produced
Adjusting Width of Design Adjusting Stitch
Placement Adjusting Stitch Length and
Needle-Thread Tension
Satin Stitching
5. Twin-Needle Stitching
Inserting the Twin Needle
Threading the Needle
Machine Settings
6. Free Motion Stitching
Preparation
Script Lettering
Floral Designs
7. Sewing the Professional Way
Construction Details
Scams, Darts, Hems, Zippers
Sewing Knit and Stretch Fabrics
Buttons
Buttonholes
Decorative Touches
Topstitching, Shell Edging, Monograms and
Motifs, Appliqué
Keeping Up Appearances
Mending, Blanket Binding, Darning
8. Caring for Your Sewing Machine
Cleaning and Lubricating
Home Service Hints

Singer
288
3
Principal Parts -- what they are called
6. Bobbin Winder Spindle let you fill the bobbin with
thread quickly and easily.
7. Hand Wheel manually positions needle. Always turn
it toward you.
8. Needle-Thread Tension Dial lets you select the
right tension for your stitch, thread, and fabric.
9. Electric Motor drives the machine through a belt to
the hand wheel. A Power and Light Switch located
on the motor turns on machine and sewing light
simultaneously.
10. Built-in Sewing Light illuminates sewing area.
11. Thread Cutter is built into presser bar for safety
and convenience.
12. Presser Foot holds fabric against feed. (See item
21.)
13. Needle Plate provides working surface around the
feed.
14. Slide Plate opens for easy removal and replace-
ment of bobbin
15. Needle Clamp holds single and twin needles. It is
designed to eliminate the possibility of inserting
needle backwards.
16. Stitch Width Selector controls the width of zig-
zag stitching and sets the machine for straight
stitching.
17. Needle Position Selector places the needle in
either (left), (center) or (right) stitching position.
1. Pressure Dial regulates presser-foot pressure on
fabric.
2. Take-up Lever controls flow of needle thread.
3. Bobbin-Winder Tension Discs supply just the right
amount of thread tension for uniformly wound bob-
bins.
4. Disc Holder holds any one of the interchangeable
stitch pattern discs.
5. Stitch Chart shows the stitches which the pattern
discs produce.

Singer
288
4
Principal Parts continued...
18. Spool Holder with horizontal pin holds spools of
various sizes and lets thread unwind smoothly
without the spool turning.
19. Stitch Length Selector and Built-In Four-Step
Buttonhole Dial has two separate functions. The
numbered settings on the stitch length side of the
dial allow for a variety of stitch lengths. The four
settings for the buttonhole sequence are on the
opposite side of the dial.
20. Reverse-Stitch Push Button and Stitch
Balancing Control allows you to stitch backwards,
and to
balance stitching in four-step buttonholes. Pushing
the button reverses stitching direction; rotating the
button balances side stitching of buttonhole.
21. Feed moves fabric as it is being stitched.
22. Transparent Bobbin shows thread supply; is
easily removed for winding.
23. Presser Foot Lifter raises and lowers the presser
foot.
24. Electrical Connections and Speed Controller
are designed for safety and convenience. To run
the machine, press speed controller. The harder
you press, the faster the machine will sew.
25. Hand Wheel Knob engages hand wheel to sewing
mechanism. Loosen knob for bobbin winding.

Singer
288
5
Accessories
The accessories described below will help you to sew
with ease and comfort.
Some of them may not be supplied with your sewing
machine, but they are available for over the counter
sales at SINGER stores.
CAUTION: Disconnect power-line plug from electrical
outlet when changing needles, presser feet
or needle plates.
BOBBINS
• One bobbin in your machine.
• Extra bobbins.
NEEDLES
(See Fabric, Thread and Needle Table for selection of
needle.)
• Style 2020, Size 14, in place in your machine
• Style 2020 needles, for all-purpose sewing
• Style 2028 needles, for twin-needle work
• Style 2045 needles, for sewing synthetic knit and
stretch fabrics
Changing the Needle
1. Raise the needle bar to its highest position by
turning the hand wheel toward you.
2. Loosen the needle-clamp screw and remove needle.
3. Insert new needle in clamp, with the flat side of the
needle to the back; push it up as far as it will go.
4. Tighten the needle-clamp screw.
IMPORTANT: Your SINGER sewing machine has been
designed to obtain best results with SINGER needles.
You should follow the recommendations in this instruc-
tion book and on the needle package for correct style
and size of needle for different types and weights of
fabric.

Singer
288
6
Accessories
PRESSER FEET
• Interchangeable snap-on presser feet:
General purpose foot on your machine
Straight stitch foot
Buttonhole foot
Zipper foot
Special purpose foot
• One-piece button foot
General Purpose Foot
The general purpose foot can be used for both straight
and zig-zag stitching.
Straight Stitch Foot
This foot, used for straight stitching only, should be
used when your fabric or sewing procedure requires
close control.
Buttonhole Foot
This transparent presser foot has guidelines to simplify
buttonhole placement and make it easy to gauge but-
tonhole length See instructions for making
buttonholes.
Zipper Foot
The zipper foot makes it easy to place stitching close
to a raised edge Thus, it is useful for corded seams
(page 70) as well as zipper insertion.
Special Purpose Foot
Use this transparent foot for zig-zag satin stitching and
for all kinds of decorative zig-zag stitching.
Button Foot
This short, open foot holds any two-hole or four-hole
button securely for stitching. For instructions on button
sewing, see page 86.

Singer
288
7
Changing Snap-on Presser Feet
These presser feet snap on and off a common shank.
To remove presser foot from shank, raise presser
foot and press toe up as far as it will go until it snaps
free.
To attach new presser foot to shank
• Center foot under shank and lower presser foot lifter
so that shank opening fits over the hinge pin.
• Press down on presser foot screw until shank snaps
onto foot.
To remove and replace shank of snap-on presser feet,
follow instructions below for one piece presser feet.
Changing One-piece Presser Feet
• Raise needle to highest position.
• Raise presser foot lifter.
• Loosen presser foot screw (you do not need to
remove the screw) and remove the foot.
• Hook new foot around the presser bar and tighten
presser foot screw.
Use a coin to tighten or loosen the presser foot.

Singer
288
8
NEEDLE PLATES
The general purpose needle plate on your machine
can be used with all presser feet.
The straight stitch needle plate is for use with the
straight stitch presser foot.
The feed cover needle plate is used for button
sewing. free-motion work, and darning.
Removing and Replacing Needle Plate
• Raise presser foot.
• Turn hand wheel toward you until the needle is in its
highest position.
•Open the slide plate. Lift needle plate up and to the
right until it snaps free.
• Insert new needle plate by placing it under the
clamping pin. push it gently to the left and press
down until it snaps into place.
• Close slide plate.

Singer
288
9
PATTERN DISCS
•One removable pattern disc in place on holder in
your machine (plain zig-zag stitch).
• Additional in interchangeable pattern discs.
Each pattern disc is numbered and its design is repro-
duced on its surface for quick recognition. See illustra-
tions for the patterns.
Changing Pattern Discs
• Move stitch width selector to (straight-stitch position).
• Raise pattern disc lid.
• Pull pattern disc releaser up and remove the disc.
• Replace with another disc. making certain that the
numbered side of the disc is face up and that the
notch in the center of the disc fits over the positioning
key on the disc holder. Push disc down firmly.

Singer
288
10
SPOOL PIN FOR TWIN-NEEDLE STITCHING
This spool pin permits you to stitch two parallel rows of
stitching simultaneously.
SMALL SPOOL HOLDER
This holder retains small-diameter spools of thread on
the spool pin.
BLINDSTITCH HEM GUIDE
The blindstitch hem guide, used with the general pur-
pose foot, positions the hem fold in front of the needle
for blindstitch hemming. To attach guide. loosen press-
er foot screw and slip guide between screw and press-
er foot shank.
LINT BRUSH
The lint brush is used for cleaning your sewing
machine.
CONTAINER OF OIL
Container of SINGER oil
Your machine will serve you perfectly for many years if
you will take a few moments to keep it in good operat-
ing condition.
Note: Before using your new machine for the first time,
we recommend that you apply oil as indicated in
section on lubricating.