1999 Kenmore 385.15202 / 385.15208 Sewing Machine Owner's Manual (P/N 304-800-009)

This Sears, Roebuck and Co. owner's manual, 304-800-009, covers the 1999 Kenmore 385.15202 and 385.15208 sewing machines, with instructions for machine setup, stitch selection, and routine maintenance.

Text search and navigation: PDF text search is available through an embedded OCR layer, although recognition errors can affect exact matches. There are no embedded PDF bookmarks.

• Machine setup: Power and foot-control connections, spool pins, extension-table removal and attachment, needle replacement, and presser-foot holder changes.

• Threading and tension: Bobbin winder spindle operation, bobbin-case insertion, thread take-up lever routing, and needle- and bobbin-thread tension adjustments.

• Stitch settings: Straight and zigzag sewing, four-step buttonholes with the sliding buttonhole foot, and model-specific utility and decorative patterns.

• Sewing techniques: Zipper attachment, darning, monogramming, applique, bar tacking, overcasting, button sewing, and optional twin-needle stitches.

• Routine care: Feed-dog cleaning, shuttle-hook removal and reassembly, sewing-light replacement, and lubrication behind the face cover and around the shuttle.

• Troubleshooting: Symptom-and-cause charts for thread breakage, needle breakage, skipped stitches, seam puckering, uneven feeding, failure to run, and noisy operation.

With illustrated threading instructions and a needle-selection chart, this manual suits owners learning the machine's controls and carrying out the routine care it describes.

Model-Specific Stitches and Accessories

Model 15208 has dedicated instructions for multiple zigzag, blind hem stitching, lace work, shell stitching, and decorative stitch patterns. The Stitch Pattern Selector diagrams distinguish each model's available patterns.

Accessory notes identify the zipper foot, straight stitch foot, lint brush, and small screwdriver as items not furnished with the 15202. The illustrated parts reference supplies part numbers for the shuttle hook, bobbin case, presser feet, and foot control to support repair planning.

Foot-controller identification covers YC-482J or TJC-150, with machine numbers 385.15202XXX and 385.15208XXX; XXX denotes model suffixes from 000 through 999.

Needle Selection, Thread Tension, and Fault Checks

The Selecting Needle and Fabric chart matches fabric types and weights to needle styles and sizes. Threading the Machine illustrations show the upper thread path and bobbin-thread pickup.

Straight- and zigzag-tension illustrations compare balanced stitching with excessive or insufficient tension on both sides of the fabric.

The troubleshooting chart cross-references the relevant instructions. Its skipped-stitch checks distinguish needle selection, needle installation, and threading problems, helping owners assess those causes before considering mechanical repair.

Buttonholes and Needle Clearance

Stitch-setting references pair each pattern with the appropriate presser foot, tension, length, and width. The buttonhole instructions address stitch density and the sliding foot; separate sections explain lowering the feed dogs for darning and button sewing.

The straight-stitch foot warning explains how an unsuitable needle position can make the needle strike the foot and break. Twin-needle instructions warn that excessive stitch width can cause contact with the needle plate or presser foot. The twin-needle section also distinguishes the decorative patterns available only on model 15208.

Shuttle Care and Repair Limits

Drawings in Cleaning the Shuttle Race show the removable cover, shuttle driver, center pin, and pointed hook, including the orientation used when replacing the shuttle assembly. The oiling illustrations identify the points behind the face cover and in the shuttle area.

Coverage is limited to operating adjustments and owner maintenance. Motor or foot-control repair, wiring diagrams, hook-timing adjustments, and internal overhaul procedures are outside this manual's scope.

Disconnect the power supply before opening the face cover or performing shuttle race maintenance.

PDF Languages and Page Breakdown

One printable PDF contains English, Spanish, and French text. The 75-page file includes the front cover (1 page), introductory material (8 pages), the numbered section from pages 2–66 (65 pages, including one intentionally blank page), and the Sears service-information back cover (1 page). All are included in the total.