Starting to Sew

• When you first sit down at your Kenmore sewing machine, the foot pedal can feel as intimidating as the gas pedal when you learned to drive. Similar to a car, the harder you press the faster you sew, and when you lighten your foot, the stitching will slow down. It's important not to press to hard right from the start so you get a smooth start on your stitch. Some machines require you to hold the top and bobbin strings for the first one to two stitches. In this case, jamming down on the foot pedal could get you into trouble with your hand so close to the needle. If a backstitch is needed, slowly start your stitching and after about three stitches press down the reverse lever and hold it while the machine backstitches two to three times. Follow the same steps when ending a stitch if necessary. When finished, the Kenmore machine comes with a built in thread clipper. Simply pull your thread against the clipper to free your project from the machine.
  
  

Selecting Your Style

• There are a number of dials on a Kenmore sewing machine that offer a variety of stitches from the classic straight line and zigzag to feathers and swags. Depending on the project and the type of stitching you want to display, you may choose one or many stitches for each project. Basic sewing usually requires the standard line, but any appliqué, patches or pockets may instantly ask for more. Other stitches offered may have nothing to do with function, but can be the most appealing to play with. Choose a stitch and sew a trial piece of cloth to see how it looks with your thread. Mark on your sample fabric if you need help remembering which stitches you liked. You may also want to vary the stitch length to see what kinds of designs and stitching are available just by asking it to stretch longer or creating a tighter look.
  
  

Regular Care and Maintenance

• Your Kenmore sewing machine, like most household appliances, will need regular care to maintain it in good working order. However, most people don't continually sew, non-stop, like clockwork everyday, and it may become hard to track the hours of use your machine has had between tune-ups. The easiest way to keep tabs on your machine is to keep a pad of paper nearby and track the number of times your rewind and add a fully loaded bobbin to the machine. After ten bobbins it is time to change the needle, wipe off the outside of the machine, and oil the inner workings of the machine that are easily accessible. While the timing and motor are better left to the experts, become familiar with opening the light cover and also removing the foot plate to clean the feed dogs and behind the bobbin casing. A well-oiled and taken care of Kenmore can last and keep you sewing for decades.