Viking Designer I User manual

User’s Guide
KEEPING THE WORLD SEWING

This houshold sewing machine is designed to comply with IEC/EN 60335-2-28 and UL1594
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
When using an electrical appliance, basic safety precautions should always be followed, including the follo-
wing:
Read all instructions before using this household Sewing machine.
DANGER – To reduce the risk of electric shock:
•A sewing machine should never be left unattended when plugged in. Always unplug this sewing machine
from the electric outlet immediately after using and before cleaning.
•Always unplug before relamping. Replace bulb with same type rated 5 Watt.
WARNING – To reduce the risk of burns, fire,
electric shock, or injury to person:
•Do not allow to be used as a toy. Close attention is necessary when this sewing machine is used by or
near children or infirm persons.
•Use this sewing machine only for its intended use as described in this manual. Use only attachments
recommended by the manufacturer as contained in this manual.
•Never operate this sewing machine if it has a damaged cord or plug, if it is not working properly, if it has
been dropped or damaged, or dropped into water. Return the sewing machine to the nearest authorised
dealer or service center for examination, repair, electrical or mechanical adjustment.
•Never operate the sewing machine with any air openings blocked. Keep ventilation openings of the
Sewing machine and foot controller free from the accumulation of lint, dust, and loose cloth.
•Keep fingers away from all moving parts. Special care is required around the Sewing machine needle.
•Always use the proper needle plate. The wrong plate can cause the needle to break.
•Do not use bent needles.
•Do not pull or push fabric while stitching. It may deflect the needle causing it to break.
•Switch the Sewing machine off (“0”) when making any adjustment in the needle area, such as threading
needle, changing needle, threading bobbin, or changing presser foot, etc.
•Always unplug Sewing machine from the electrical outlet when removing covers, lubricating, or when
making any other user servicing adjustments mentioned in the instruction manual.
•Never drop or insert any object into any opening.
•Do not use outdoors.
•Do not operate where aerosol (spray) products are being used or where oxygen is being administrated.
•To disconnect, turn all controls to the off (“0”) position, then remove plug from outlet.
•Do not unplug by pulling on cord. To unplug, grasp the plug, not the cord.
• Hold plug when rewinding into cord reel. Do not allow plug to whip when rewinding.
•This sewing machine is provided with double insulation. Use only identical replacement parts.
See instructions for Servicing of Double-Insulated Appliances.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
SERVICING OF DOUBLE INSULATED
PRODUCTS
In a double-insulated product, two systems of insulation are provided instead of grounding. No ground me-
ans is provided on a double-insulated product, nor should a means for grounding be added to the product.
Servicing of a double-insulated product requires extreme care and knowledge of the system, and should be
done only by qualified service personnel. Replacement parts for a double-insulated product must be identical
to those parts in the product. A double-insulated product is marked with the words ‘DOUBLE INSULATION’
or ‘DOUBLE INSULATED’.

Care of your
Designer 1
Page 109 - 113
Care of your
Designer 1
Page 109 - 113
Heirloom
Sewing
Page 101 - 108
Quilting
Page 95 - 100
Decorative/
Crafting
Page 83 - 94
Embroidery
Page 63 - 82
Utility/Garment
Sewing
Page 39 - 62
Learn your
Designer 1
Page 4 - 38
Embroidery
Page 63 - 82
Learn your
Designer 1
Page 4 - 38
Utility/Garment
Sewing
Page 39 - 62
Quilting
Page 95 - 100
Heirloom
Sewing
Page 101 - 108
Decorative/
Crafting
Page 83 - 94
Table of contents
Learn your Designer I 4-38
Overview 4-5
Unpack, Connect, Pack away 6
Accessory Tray/Sewing surface 7
Spool pin 8
Threading 8-10
Bobbin winding 10-11
Function buttons 12
Sensor Foot 13
Changing the presser foot 13
Presser feet 14-15
Feed teeth 15
Changing the needle, Needles 16
Color Touch Screen 17-38
Main Menu 18
Sewing Advisor – The easy
way to sew 19
Speciality Stitch Menus 20-26
Starting to sew 27
Thread tension 27
Finish the sewing 27
ADJUST Menu 28
SET Menu 29-32
Pop Up Menus 33
HELP Menu 34
Programming 35-38
Utility/Garment Sewing 39-62
Sewing Advisor 40-50
Fabric Selection, Thread 40-41
Seam 42-43
Overcast, Three-step zigzag 44
Seam and Overcast 45
Baste 46
Blind Hem, Hem 47-48
Buttonhole 49-50
Button 50
Menu B – Buttonhole 51-53
Corded Buttonhole 52
Step by Step buttonhole 52
Buttonhole Balance 52
Buttonhole Density 53
Cutting Buttonholes 53
Bound Buttonhole 53
Menu A – Utility Stitches 54-61
Straight Stitch 54
Lightning Stitch 54
Gathering 54
Twenty-five Needle positions 55
Zipper 56
Reinforced Straight Stitch 57
Multiple Zigzag Stitches 58
Darning and Mending 59
Bartacks, Belt loops 60
Stitch Table – Menu A 61
Menu S – 4-Way Stitches 62
Embroidery 63-82
Embroidery Unit, Connect,
Remove 64-65
Built-in Disk Drive 65
Vertical spoolpin,
felt spool pad 65
Embroidery Booklet 65
Hoop, Template 66-67
Getting started 69
Embroidery Screen Menus 70-71
SET in embroidery 71
ADJUST in Embroidery 72
Embroidery colors, features 73
Pop-up menus in Embroidery 74
Start embroidering, thread cut 75
Customizing Design 76-81
Built-in Stitches in the hoop 82
Decorative/Crafting 83-94
Decorative/Crafting 84-88
Appliqué 84-85
Taper Satin Stitch 86
“Handlook” Heirloom Appliqué 87
Appliqué Embroidery 88
Decorative Stitches 89-91
Cross Stitches 92
Lettering 93-94
Quilting 95-100
Quilting 96
Quilting and Piecing Quilts 96
Decorative stitch tie Quilting 96
Crazy Quilting 97
Handlook Quilting 97
Stipple Quilting 98
Channel Quilting 98
Edge/Quilting Guide 99
Quilt Embroidery 99
Heirloom Sewing 101-108
Heirloom Sewing 102
Entredeux 102
Lace Insertion 102
Bridging Stitch 103
Hemstitching/Wing needle 103
Scallop Stitching 104
Smocking 105
Cutwork Embroidery 106
Pictogram 107
Care of your Designer I 109-113
Care of your Designer I 110-111
Trouble Shooting 112-113
How to update
Designer I 113
Index 114-115

4
Learn your Designer I
Overview – Front side
1. Door/Lid
2. Thread take-up lever
3. Thread tension
4. Pre-tension disc
5. Stitch Re-Start button
6. Needle stop up/down button
7. Finishing Stop button
8. Sewing speed button – faster
9. FIX button
10. Sewing speed button – slower
11. Reverse button
12. Start/Stop button
13. Sensor Buttonhole Foot socket
14. Light
15. Needle threader
16. Needle bar
17. Presser foot
18. Free arm
19. Bobbin cover
20. Baseplate
21. Drop feed dial
22. Presser foot bar and Presser foot ankle
23. Needle clamp screw
24. Sensor foot lift down button
25. Sensor foot lift pivot button
26. Sensor foot lift up/extra lift button
27. Thread cutter button
28. Thread tension for bobbin winding – vertical
spool pin
29. Horizontal spool pin
30. Spool holders
31. Bobbin winding guides
32. Vertical spool pin
33. Bobbin winder spindle
34. Bobbin stop
35. Thread cutter for bobbin winding
36. Handwheel
37. Built-in disk drive
38. Color Touch Screen
39. Main power switch, Connection to power
supply
1
12345678910111213
INCHES
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 20 25 30 CM
1.
2.
9.
6.
5.
10.
11. 12.
14.
15.
14.
32.
33.
34.
35.
37.
3.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28. 29. 30.
38.
36.
39.
8.
13.
7.
4.
Learn your Designer I
31.

5
Learn your Designer I
Accessory Tray
44. Flat bed extension
45. Space for other accessories
46. Space for presser feet
47. Space for bobbins
48. Space for needles
Embroidery unit
49. Embroidery arm
50. Embroidery Hoop attachment
51. Embroidery unit socket
52. Release button
40.
41.
42.
47.
48.
52.
51.
50.
46.
49.
43.
44.
45.
Rear side
40. Handle
41. Thread cutter
42. Needle threader
43. Embroidery unit connection socket
Some fabrics have a lot of excess dye which can cause discoloration on other fabric but also
on your sewing machine. This discoloring may be very difficult or impossible to remove.
Fleece and denim fabric in especially red and blue often contain a lot of excess dye.
If you suspect that your fabric/ready-to-wear garment contains a lot of excess dye, always
pre-wash it before sewing/embroidering to avoid the discoloring.

6
Learn your Designer I
Unpacking
1. Place the machine on the table or cabinet, re-
move the packaging and lift off the cover.
2. Remove the packing material, the foot control
and finally the protection cover.
3. The machine is delivered with an accessory bag
and a main cord. The foot control is equipped
with a cord reel.
4. Wipe the machine, particularly around the nee-
dle and needle plate to remove any soil before
sewing.
Packing away after sewing
1. Press the main switch to turn off the machine.
2. Unplug the cord from the wall socket and the
machine.
3. Wind the main cord around your hand and
place the cord in the pocket of the cover.
There is also space for the User’s Guide.
4. Unplug the foot control cord from the ma-
chine. Pull the cord gently and release - the
cord will be wound into the foot control.
5. Check to ensure that all accessories are in the
accessory tray. Slide the tray on to the machine
around the free arm.
6. Place the foot control, underside towards you,
fitting into the recess of the accessory tray at
the rear side of the machine.
Connecting to the power supply
Among the accessories you will find the main
cord. On the underside of the machine you will
find information about the power supply (V) and
the frequency (Hz).
For USA and Canada
This sewing machine has a polarized plug (one
blade wider than the other). To reduce the risk of
electric shock, this plug is intended to fit in a pola-
rized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit
fully in the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does
not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install the
proper outlet. Do not modify the plug in any way.
Before plugging in, check to ensure that the
foot control is of “type FR3”.
1. Pull out the cord from the foot control. Con-
nect the foot control cord to the front socket
(1) on the bottom right side of the machine.
2. Connect the main cord to the back socket (2)
on the bottom right side of the machine.
3. When you press the power switch to ON (3),
both the machine and the lights are switched on.
3. 1. 2.

7
Learn your Designer I
Accessory Tray / Sewing surface
In the Accessory Tray there are special pockets
for presser feet, bobbins and needles plus space
for other accessories. Store the accessories in the
tray so they are easily accessible.
Slide the Accessory Tray on to the machine to
provide a larger work surface. Slide the Accessory
Tray to the left, passing the stop position and re-
move it if you wish to use the free arm.
A work surface extension is stored inside the
rear cover of the tray.
1. Slide the Accessory Tray to the left until you
have just passed the stop position.
2. Place the work surface extension into the
space that appears between the tray and the
machine and push the tray back.

8
Learn your Designer I
1.
2.
3.
4.
Spool pins
Your Designer I has spool pins suitable for all
types of thread. The main spool pin (a) is adjus-
table and can be used in horizontal position for
normal threads or in vertical position for extra
large spools or threads with special characte-
ristics.
Horizontal position
Place the spool so that the thread reels counter-
clockwise. There are two spool holders on the
spool pin. For narrow thread spools, the small
holder (b) is placed in front of the thread. If you
use large thread spools, the large holder (c) is
placed in front of the thread.
Slide the correct size spool holder in place so
the flat side is pressed firmly against the spool,
with no space between spool holder and spool.
Vertical position
To use the spool pin in its vertical position, pull
the spool pin out towards you. Slide on the lar-
ge spool holder and place a felt pad under the
thread spool. This is to prevent the thread from
reeling off too fast.
Fold up Spool pin
There is also an additional, fold up/down spool
pin (d).
The large spool holder (c) is placed under the
thread. This spool pin is used when winding a
bobbin from a second spool of thread or for a
second spool when sewing with a twin needle.
Threading the upper thread
Make sure the presser foot is raised and the
needle is in the up position.
Horizontal spool pin
1. Pull the spool pin out. Place the spool on the
spool pin The thread shall reel counter-clock-
wise. Push the spool pin back in. Hold the
thread near the spool using your right hand.
Use your left hand to bring the end of the
thread in the direction of the arrow.
2. Bring the thread over the pre-tension thread
guide (a) and under the thread guide (b).
Bring the thread over the thread tension discs
(c).
a
b
c
c
small holder
large holder
a
b
c
d

9
Learn your Designer I
3. Continue threading in the direction indicated
by the arrows. Bring the thread from the right
when threading into the slot on the take-up
lever.
4. Take the thread down to the last guide just
above the needle.
Vertical spool pin
1. Pull the spool pin out. Place the spool on the
spool pin (follow the instructions on previous
page).
2. Thread the machine according to the instruc-
tions with one exception. Instead of bringing
the thread into the pre-tension guide, bring it
directly under the thread guide (b).
Needle threader
The needle must be in the up position to use
the needle threader. We also recommend that
you lower the presser foot.
1. Pull the needle threader all the way down,
behind the needle.
2. Bring it forward until the metal flanges cover
the needle. A small hook will pass through
the eye.
3. Place the thread around guide (a) and under
the flanges in front of the needle, so it catch-
es into the small hook.
4. Let the needle threader gently swing back,
the hook pulls the thread through the needle
eye and forms a loop behind the needle. Pull
the thread loop out behind the needle.
5. Place thread under the presser foot and cut
the thread.
Note: You can not use the Needle threader for the
wing needle, twin needle, triple needle, a needle
smaller than size 70 or when the Buttonhole Sen-
sor Foot is on. The needle is threaded from front to
back. The white on the presser foot ankle makes it
easy to see the eye of the needle.
Thread warning
If the upper thread breaks or bobbin thread runs
out, the machine stops. Upper thread or bobbin
symbol appears on a Pop-up Menu on the Color
Touch Screen. If upper thread breaks: Re-thread
the machine and touch OK on the Pop-Up Menu.
The Pop-up disappears. If bobbin thread runs
out: Remove your work and the bobbin. Fill the
bobbin. Replace the bobbin and sew.
1. 2.
3.
4. 5.
a
b

10
Learn your Designer I
e
d
c
Threading for twin needle
1. Insert a twin needle. See page 16 “Changing
the needle”.
2. Use a second thread spool or wind a bobbin
with the thread you are going to use as the
second upper thread.
3. Left needle (blue). Thread the machine as
explained on page 9 (Vertical spol pin) and
check to ensure that thread lies between the
inner thread tension discs, inside the last
thread guide. Thread left needle.
4. Right needle (red). Pull up the extra spool
pin.
5. Place a spool holder and a felt pad under the
bobbin with the second thread on the spool
pin.
6. Thread the machine as before but this thread
should lie between the outer thread tension
discs, outside the last thread guide. Thread
right needle.
Bobbin winding with the machine
threaded
Make sure that the presser foot and the needle
are in the up position. Use only the original
Husqvarna Viking green bobbins with your
Designer I.
Only use a metal presser foot when bobbin
winding from the needle.
1. Place your empty bobbin with the small mark
out on the bobbin spindle on the front of
the machine. Bring the bobbin spindle down.
A Pop-up menu on the Color Touch Screen
reminds you that bobbin winding is engaged.
2. Pull the thread from the needle under the
presser foot and to the right under the thread
guide (c) and over (d).
3. Start from above and wind a few turns of
thread clockwise around the bobbin. Cut off
the thread on the thread cutter (e).
4. Press the foot control or touch . When
the bobbin is filled, the winding will stop au-
tomatically. Remove the bobbin, cut off the
thread (e) and bring the bobbin spindle up.
Note: We do not recommend winding specialty
threads such as invisible or other stretchy threads
through the needle. Instead see “Bobbin winding
– vertical spool pin”.

11
Learn your Designer I
Bobbin winding –
vertical spool pin
1. Place an empty bobbin with the mark out
on the bobbin spindle on the front of the ma-
chine. Bring the bobbin spindle down. A Pop-
up menu on the Color Touch Screen reminds
you that bobbin winding is engaged.
2. Place the large spool holder under the thread
on the spool pin.
3. Bring the thread around thread guide (b),
then under thread guide (c) and over (d) as
illustrated.
4. From above wind a few turns of thread clock-
wise around the bobbin and into the thread
cutter (e).
5. Press the foot control or touch . When
the bobbin is filled, the winding will stop au-
tomatically. Remove the bobbin, cut off the
thread (e) and bring the bobbin spindle up.
Note: Depending on the quality of the thread you
can wind the thread one or two times around the
threadguide (b) in order to get the right thread ten-
sion.
Placing the bobbin
in the machine
!Turn off the main switch.
1. Open the cover by sliding it towards you and
remove it.
2. Place the bobbin in the bobbin case with
the mark facing up and the thread to the
left of the bobbin. The bobbin will then ro-
tate counter clockwise while pulling out the
thread.
3. Place your finger on the bobbin to keep it
from turning as you pull the thread firmly to
the right and then to the left into the tension
spring (a) until it “clicks” into place.
4. Continue threading around (b) and to the
right of the thread cutter (c). Replace the cov-
er with the lines to the front and slide it into
10 15
1. 2.
4.3.
bc
e
d
a
b
1
2
b
c

12
Learn your Designer I
Stitch Re-start. To start sewing your se-
lected stitch at the beginning of the stitch
without having to re-set any special set-
tings you have made.
STOP is used to conclude a stitch. Your
Designer I fastens the thread and stops
automatically when one stitch sequence
has been completed. The button lights
up when you touch it. STOP is cancelled
when you touch the button again or by
selecting a new stitch. The button light
will go out. The STOP function can be
programmed. It can also be used for one
color embroidery.
FIX is automatically activated when a
stitch is selected or when Thread Cutter
has been used. The button lights up while
FIX function is active. By touching the
lighted button the function can be turned
off. At the beginning – Designer I sews a
few tie off stitches and goes on with the
selected stitch. Touch FIX while sewing
– Designer I sews a few tie off stitches
and stops automatically. The FIX function
can be programmed.
Reverse – your Designer I sews in reverse
when this button is touched. The button
lights up. Designer I sews forwards when
the button is released and the light goes
out. The longest reverse stitch length is
3mm. For permanent reverse, touch the
button twice in quick succession before
starting to sew. The button will be lit up
and the Designer I sews in reverse until
you touch the button again to cancel.
Needle stop up/down. Touch this button
to move the needle down or up. The set-
ting of the needle stop position is changed
at the same time. You can also tap the
foot control to raise or lower needle.
Touch + SPEED or - SPEED to increase or
decrease the sewing speed. Touch when
not sewing and a Pop-up menu on the
Color Touch Screen indicates the speed
setting. Touch OK or start sewing and
the pop up goes out. You can change the
speed setting while sewing but no Pop-up
will appear. All stitches in Designer I have
Function buttons
a pre-set, recommended sewing speed.
When you select a stitch, Designer I auto-
matically sets the correct sewing speed.
START/STOP. Touch this button to run
and stop the machine without the foot
control. Touch START/STOP to begin and
touch again to stop sewing.
Selective Thread Cutter. Touch the
button and Designer I cuts the top and
bobbin threads, raises the presser foot
and the needle to the up position and
activates the FIX function. To cut before
the needle moves to the start position of
next stitch, touch Thread Cutter while the
machine is running. A flashing STOP will
indicate that a cut is requested. The Th-
read cutter function can be programmed.
Sensor Foot Lift up and extra lift.
Touch this button and the presser foot
and the needle will be lifted to up po-
sition. Touch the button once more and
the presser and foot will raise to extra lift
to make it easy to get thick fabric under
the presser foot.
Sensor Foot Lift pivot. To simplify pla-
cing the fabric, touch this button. The
presser foot will be lowered to pivot po-
sition.
Sensor Foot Lift down. Touch this but-
ton and the presser foot will be comple-
tely lowered and Designer I is firmly hol-
ding your work.

13
Learn your Designer I
Sensor Foot Pressure
When selecting different fabric weights on the
Sewing Advisor, the pressure will be adjusted
automatically. Thanks to the Sensor Foot Pressu-
re, the presser foot actually senses the thickness
of fabric or embroidery or stitching to sew over
it smoothly and evenly.
Touch on the Color Touch Screen and you
will see the actual setting of the presser foot
pressure for the selected fabric.
You can adjust the presser foot pressure by
pressing the buttons (+) or (-) on the menu.
The higher the number the more pressure on
the fabric.
Sensor Foot Lift
The presser foot is automatically lowered when
you start your sewing.
When you stop with the needle in the down
position, the presser foot is automatically lifted
to pivot position.
If you have selected Needle stop up:
UP – Raises the presser foot and the needle
to up position. Touch twice for extra lift. Makes
it easier to get thick garments under the presser
foot.
If you have selected Needle stop down:
UP – Raises the presser foot to up position
but the needle stays down in the fabric. Touch
twice – the needle raises to up position and the
presser foot to the extra lift for easy removal of
fabric.
PIVOT – Sets foot to pivot position.
DOWN – Lowers the presser foot.
Changing the presser foot
!Turn off the main switch.
1. Make sure that the needle is in the highest
position. Pull the presser foot towards you.
2. Line up the cross pin on the foot between the
spring and the presser foot ankle. Press back
until the foot snaps into place.

14
Learn your Designer I
Presser feet
Among the accessories there are a number of
presser feet for different purposes.
Presser foot A
Fitted on the machine upon delivery. This foot is
used mainly for straight stitching and zigzag stit-
ching with a stitch length longer than 1.0.
Presser foot B
When sewing close zigzag stitches with less than
1.0 stitch length; other utility stitches or deco-
rative stitches use this foot. The tunnel on the
bottom of the foot is designed to feed smoothly
over the stitches.
Presser foot C
This buttonhole foot has guide lines to deter-
mine buttonhole length. The end of the short toe
is 3/8" from needle and end of long toe is 3/4"
from needle. The two tunnels on the bottom of
the foot feed smoothly and straight over the but-
tonhole columns.
Presser foot D
This foot is used for blind hem stitches. The in-
ner edge of this foot guides the fabric. The bot-
tom of the foot is designed to ride along the
hem edge.
Presser foot E
This is the zipper foot and can be snapped on
either to the right or to the left of the needle,
making it easy to sew both sides of the zipper.
Presser foot H
This foot is made of plastic with exception of a
glide plate underneath. The foot is used when
sewing foam, plastic, or leather, minimizing the
risk of these materials sticking to the foot. Same
as Presser foot A.
Presser foot J
This foot is used for overcasting, seam and over-
casting, i.e. stitches which have a stitch width of
5.0 and 5.5 mm. The pin prevents puckering at
the edge of the fabric.
Presser foot P
This foot is used when piecing quilt blocks.
The foot has distance marks 1/4" (6 mm) and
1/8" (3 mm).
AB
CD
EH
JP

15
Learn your Designer I
Presser foot S
This foot is used for side-motion stitches.
Transparent presser foot
For decorative sewing. Makes it easy to match
patterns. Same as Presser foot B.
Sensor Buttonhole Foot
When connected to the machine it measures but-
tonhole length and sews the buttonhole size that
has been entered into the machine. The end of
the short toe is 3/8" from needle and end of
long toe is 3/4" from needle
Self-adhesive glide plates
Used for the presser foot C/Sensor Buttonhole Foot
when sewing plastic-coated fabrics, leather etc.
Lowering the feed teeth
The feed teeth are lowered when you turn the
dial to the left . Turn the dial to the right
if you wish to raise the feed teeth. The feed te-
eth will raise as you begin to sew.
The feed teeth should be lowered for sewing on
buttons and for free-motion work.
Tip: By lowering the feed teeth it is easier to get
thick fabrics like terry cloth under the presser
foot. Raise the feed teeth before starting to sew.
Note: The feed teeth are lowered automatically
when the embroidery unit is put in place. When re-
moving the embroidery unit, the feed teeth will raise
as you start to sew.
S
1
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2345678910 15
2

16
Learn your Designer I
Changing the needle
1. Loosen the screw in the needle clamp by us-
ing a screw driver or screw grip.
2. Remove the needle.
3. Push up the new needle with the flat side
away from you until it will go no further.
4. Use the screwdriver or screw grip to tighten
the screw properly.
Needles
The sewing machine needle plays an important
role in successful sewing. To ensure you will get
a quality needle, we recommend Schmetz brand
needles of system 130/705H.
The needle case contains needles of the most
used size for sewing woven and stretch fabrics.
A Standard needles 70, 80, 90
These needles are used for sewing all woven
fabrics. The needle point is designed to pene-
trate between the threads of the fabric so the
fabric will not be damaged.
BStretch needles 75, 90
These needles are used for sewing knit-
ted and stretch fabrics. The stretch needle is
marked yellow and has a rounded point.
CJeans needles 90, 100
These needles are used for sewing woven
heavy fabrics, for example denim, canvas fab-
ric. The jeans needle is marked blue and has
an extremely sharp point to facilitate the pen-
etrating of the fabric.
D Wing needle 100
The wing needle is used for hemstitching
in natural fiber woven fabrics with special
stitches on the Heirloom Stitches Menu. The
needle has “wings” to push the threads of the
fabric aside forming holes where the needle
penetrates the fabric.
ABC D

Color Touch Screen
Designer I features an LCD Color Touch Screen
at the front right of the machine.
The Color Touch Screen is very easy to work
with. Just touch it with your finger tip to select a
stitch menu or function tab.
On/Off
When Designer I is off the screen will be dark
grey.
When it is turned on you will first see a Welco-
me Screen, then the Main Menu will appear.
Screen Saver
Your Color Touch Screen can be left on all the
time. If you prefer you can set a screen saver
to come on after 9 minutes. See Screen Saver,
page 30.
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Learn your Designer I

Main Menu
The Main Menu displays 21 Specialty Stitch me-
nus and functions. There are 8 function tabs,
SEWING ADVISOR, ADJUST, MENU, NORM,
PROG, REP, SET and HELP. When you touch a
function tab it becomes active.The MENU tab is
yellow when active, other tabs turn white.
The easy way to get started, see page 27.
Simply select fabric and sewing technique, then
Designer I selects the best stitch, length, width,
tension, presser foot, presser foot pressure and
sewing speed. Your fabric choice in the
Sewing Advisor is shown in the touch area. The
Sewing Advisor is active when sewing all techni-
ques except embroidery.
ADJUST stitch length and stitch width, elonga-
tion and mirror image.
Touch MENU to select from 21 menus. Touch
the disk icon to view or load the embroideries.
NORM is used for all sewing and embroidery
except programming and sewing programs.
PROG is used to program stitches such as Picto-
grams, letters and decorative combinations.
When the Embroidery Unit is connected touch
PROG to customize embroideries and/or lette-
ring.
REP is used to sew out the stitch combinations
and embroideries programmed in PROG.
Touch SET to change current settings and func-
tions. See page 29.
Recommends needle size and type, when to lo-
wer feed teeth, stabilize fabric, cord buttonholes
etc. When the embroidery unit is connected, you
can access the embroidery color menu.
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Learn your Designer I

Sewing Advisor –
The easy way to sew
The Sewing Advisor is always active, until the
Embroidery Unit is connected or when you start
to program.
To bring up Sewing Advisor touch
The Sewing Advisor has two different menus,
Fabric and Sewing Technique.
Fabric
In the Fabric menu you select from 8 different
fabric types and weights. Select fabric, the fabric
button turns red and immediately the Sewing
Technique menu appears.
Sewing Technique
Select from 8 different sewing techniques. Your
Designer I immediately selects the best stitch,
thread tension, stitch length, stitch width, sewing
speed, presser foot and presser foot pressure for
your project. The button turns red to indicate the
technique you have chosen. If you want to se-
lect a new Sewing Technique just touch another
technique button.
Move between the Fabric and Sewing Technique
menus by using the following buttons at the bot-
tom of the screen.
To close the Sewing Advisor touch
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Learn your Designer I

Specialty Stitch Menus
In the Main Menu there are 21 choices, 20 stitch
menus and one disk icon.
Utility Stitches
Menu A features stitches for your garment
sewing, mending and darning.
Buttonholes
Menu B features different styles of buttonholes,
eyelets and button sewing. For best result use
the Sensor Buttonhole Foot.
Decorative Menus
Beautiful stitches for your creative sewing on
stitch menus C -N.
Letters and Numbers
Choose from 4 different types of letters and
numbers. Block, Menu O, Outline block, Menu P,
Brush line, Menu Q (9 mm) and Menu R Script.
Each lettering menu has 3 menus for upper case
and lower case letters and numbers.
4-Way Stitches
Menu S is used to sew stitches in 4 different di-
rections. Stitches are fixed in length and width.
The arrow indicates sewing direction of stitches.
8-Way Stitches
Menu T is used to sew in 8 different directions.
There are 2 different types of stitches, straight
and reinforced straight.
My Stitches
Use Menu U (My Stitches) to save favorite stit-
ches or special settings to a stitch. Adjustments
made in the ADJUST menu and settings as ten-
sion, balance and presser foot pressure in the
SET menu will be saved together with the stitch.
Special Stitches
Menu V includes 4 different types of “free mo-
tion technique” stitches. When you are using this
menu the feed teeth should be lowered.
Embroidery Disk Icon
View and load embroideries with your Designer
I by sliding an embroidery disk into your
Built-in disk drive. Touch the disk icon. This
allows you to view the embroideries. To load
an embroidery, your embroidery unit must be
attached to your Designer I.
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Learn your Designer I