Kenmore 385.17026 & 385.17828 Sewing Machine Owner's Manual PDF (P/N 38517026)

Published by Sears, Roebuck and Co., this owner's manual covers the Kenmore 385.17026 and 385.17828 center-needle, low-bar sewing machines. It explains machine setup, stitch operation, routine maintenance, and troubleshooting for household sewing.

Text search and navigation: The PDF has an embedded OCR text layer, with recognition errors that can affect keyword searches. There are no embedded PDF bookmarks; the printed table of contents provides page references.

• Threading and bobbin setup: Illustrated needle-thread routing, bobbin winding, bobbin-holder loading, push-pull clutch operation, and upper-thread tension adjustment for straight and zigzag stitches.

• Needles and presser feet: Needle-clamp instructions, presser-foot changes, pressure adjustment, and the Fabric, Needle, Thread and Stitch Length Chart.

• Stitch controls: Separate stitch-selector instructions for each model, stitch length and width settings, stretch-stitch balance adjustment, and the Practical Stitch Chart.

• Buttonholes and twin needles: Manual buttonholes, the buttonhole attachment supplied with Model 17828, and threading instructions for the optional twin needle.

• Troubleshooting and machine care: Performance Problems Chart, bobbin-holder removal and refitting, hook-race and feed-dog cleaning, sewing-light replacement, and machine oiling.

This manual is suited to home sewing-machine owners learning the controls or handling routine care, with illustrated explanations of threading and stitch setup.

Threading, Tension, and Fabric Feeding

Initial setup covers power connection and foot control use, accessory storage, the thread cutter, and free-arm conversion. The power-connection instructions specify a 110–120 V AC supply.

The upper-thread tension illustrations compare loose, tight, and balanced stitches on both sides of the fabric. Separate examples show how the correct thread appearance differs between straight and zigzag stitching.

Bobbin-winding diagrams explain the push-pull clutch and winding-stop adjustment. The feed-system instructions identify the drop feed lever and its use for darning and embroidery.

Model-Specific Controls and Buttonholes

Model 17828 has a guide message window showing the recommended stitch width, stitch length, and presser foot for the selected pattern. Separate selector illustrations help distinguish its controls from those of Model 17026.

The buttonhole attachment section identifies the base plate, guide plate, and templates for round-end and keyhole buttonholes. Manual buttonhole coverage explains the sliding buttonhole foot and stitch-density adjustment.

Twin-needle stitching uses an optional needle for both models. Its dedicated illustrations show the additional spool-pin arrangement and thread routing, with a restriction on stitch width.

The stitch-selector instructions warn about needle and fabric damage when changing patterns with the needle in the fabric. The straight-stitch-foot section also identifies needle breakage as a risk from an incompatible width setting.

Stitch applications range from zipper insertion and blind hemming to darning, embroidery, and decorative stretch patterns, with the corresponding presser-foot and control settings.

Troubleshooting, Cleaning, and Owner Maintenance

The Performance Problems Chart links skipped stitches, thread bunching, puckering, needle breakage, and jamming or knocking to probable causes and corrections.

For fabric-feed problems, it distinguishes feed-dog position and clutch engagement from stitch-length and thread-handling causes. That helps owners check setup-related causes before arranging a repair.

The care section illustrates needle-plate and bobbin-holder removal for cleaning, followed by refitting using the holder's locating marks and the hook-race stopper. Lubrication views identify the oiling points behind the face cover plate.

Coverage is limited to owner adjustments and routine care; it does not include motor repair, internal mechanism overhaul, or electrical wiring diagrams. The illustrated Parts List identifies accessories and their numbers when ordering repair parts.

Always unplug the machine before removing covers, replacing the sewing light, or lubricating internal components.

Printable English, French, and Spanish PDF

All three languages are supplied in one printable file. The 128-page PDF includes 114 pages of machine instructions, troubleshooting, care, and parts information, plus the cover (1 page), introductions and safety instructions (6 pages), contents pages (3 pages), original warranty text (3 pages), and rear service information (1 page).