1980 Kenmore Model 385.1284180 Sewing Machine Owner's Manual (P/N 649800133)

This owner's manual covers the 1980 Kenmore 385.1284180 center-needle, low-bar zigzag sewing machine. Published by Sears, Roebuck and Co. as Part No. 649800133, the original publication was printed in Taiwan.

• Machine setup: Power connections, spool pins, the removable free-arm extension table, bobbin winding, bobbin-case installation, and upper threading.

• Stitch adjustment: Straight- and zigzag-stitch tension, stitch selection, stitch length, reverse stitching, and stretch-stitch balance, supported by needle and thread charts.

• Sewing applications: Buttonholes, zipper installation, darning, blind hemming, and utility, decorative, and stretch stitches, with presser-foot and accessory guidance.

• Routine maintenance: Feed-dog and shuttle-race cleaning, shuttle removal and reinstallation, lubrication diagrams, and light bulb replacement.

• Troubleshooting: A Performance Problems Chart covering irregular stitches, needle and thread breakage, puckering, feeding problems, machine jamming, and knocking noises.

• Parts identification: A 29-entry parts list with needle references, presser feet, and component illustrations for identifying and ordering repair parts.

The illustrated explanations of threading and controls make this manual suited to owners learning to operate the machine and handle its routine care.

Machine Setup and Stitch Adjustment

The removable extension table allows free-arm sewing around sleeves, waistbands, and other circular garment areas. Setup coverage also explains foot-control operation, the presser-foot lever, and changing presser feet.

Thread tension and stitch balance: Illustrations compare correct, loose, and tight tension on both sides of the fabric. Stretch-stitch adjustment addresses the balance between forward and reverse stitches.

The Fabric, Needle, Thread and Stitch Length Chart matches fabric types with the color-coded Kenmore needle system, thread choices, and stitch settings, from stretch fabrics to heavy canvas.

The needle guidance warns that an incorrect replacement length can cause skipped stitches or needle breakage, while a damaged point can permanently snag delicate fabrics. A separate stitch-selector warning identifies the risk of needle or fabric damage when the control is moved with the needle still in the material.

Stitch Applications and Presser Feet

The Practical Stitch Chart connects each stitch with its foot, accessories, needle guidance, tension, and stitch-length settings. Presser-foot instructions distinguish the straight stitch foot's center-needle use from the zigzag foot required for left-needle-position sewing.

Application sections explain three-step zigzag, satin stitch, applique, and bar tacking. Edge-finishing coverage includes overcasting and serging, also called pine leaf stretch stitching. Shell stitching, smocking, elastic stretch, and box stitching have their own setup illustrations.

Buttonholes and garment work: Coverage includes buttonhole stitch-density adjustment, button sewing with the darning plate, and separate blind-hem applications for woven and stretch fabrics.

The zipper section covers standard insertion, invisible zippers, and cording. For invisible zipper and cording work, it specifies the optional Low Bar Sewing Machine Zipper Foot 6757, which the parts list identifies as an accessory not originally furnished with the machine.

Troubleshooting, Maintenance and Repair Coverage

The Performance Problems Chart links symptoms to probable causes and corrections. Its entries distinguish threading and tension problems from conditions such as burrs on the needle plate or shuttle, helping owners assess those possibilities before selecting repair parts.

Shuttle and feed system: The cleaning section illustrates needle-plate removal for feed-dog access. The Clean the Shuttle Race section shows the shuttle, race cover, retaining levers, and their positions during removal and reinstallation.

Lubrication diagrams identify points behind the face cover plate, under the top cover, and along the machine's underside. The instructions specify good quality sewing machine oil and caution against excess oil staining fabric.

Always disconnect the machine from power before inspecting mechanical parts to avoid accidental injury.

The illustrated parts list identifies the shuttle, bobbin case, needle clamp, motor belts, and sewing accessories. Motor repair, internal timing adjustments, and electrical wiring diagrams are outside this owner's manual's scope.

PDF Text Search and Navigation

OCR text search is available, but recognition errors and omissions can prevent exact matches. The printed table of contents and alphabetical index provide navigation; there are no embedded PDF bookmarks. The 52-page English PDF includes 48 numbered pages plus four unnumbered pages: the front cover, introductory/model-record page, original warranty page, and back cover.