Kenmore 385.17124 Sewing Machine Owner's Manual (P/N 752800309)

This Sears Owner's Manual, P/N 752800309, covers the Kenmore 385.17124 household sewing machine, including setup, stitch selection, routine maintenance, and troubleshooting.

Text search and navigation: Searchable OCR text is included, but recognition errors can prevent some exact-word matches. There are no embedded PDF bookmarks.

• Threading and bobbin setup: Upper-thread routing, bobbin winding, push-pull clutch operation, bobbin insertion, and bobbin-winder stop adjustment.

• Stitch adjustment: Stitch selector, stitch length and width controls, straight-stitch and zigzag tension, presser-foot pressure, and stretch-stitch balance.

• Buttonholes and twin needles: Manual buttonholes, automatic attachment installation, template selection, stitch-density adjustment, and threading for the optional twin needle.

• Sewing and fabric repair: Zipper sewing, darning, button sewing, seam finishing, and setup for utility, decorative, and stretch stitches.

• Routine maintenance: Needle and presser-foot replacement, light-bulb replacement, bobbin-holder cleaning, hook-race and feed-dog cleaning, and lubrication.

• Troubleshooting: A chart linking thread breakage, skipped stitches, seam puckering, poor fabric feed, distorted patterns, and noisy operation to causes and references.

Suited to home sewing machine owners, the manual explains threading and basic controls before moving into stitch applications and routine care.

Machine Setup and Stitch Adjustment

The power-connection instructions identify foot controller YC-482P for model designation 385.17124XXX, where XXX represents suffixes 000 through 999.

The Bobbin Winding and Threading the Machine diagrams cover horizontal and additional spool-pin arrangements and the thread take-up lever. Separate tension views compare correct, tight, and loose settings for straight and zigzag stitches.

The pressure adjusting lever section gives settings for different fabric weights. Stretch-stitch correction uses the feed balancing dial; the drop feed lever is covered for darning and embroidery.

The straight-stitch foot warning explains how an incorrect width setting can make the needle strike the foot and break. The stitch-selector notes also flag needle and fabric damage from changing stitches while the needle remains in the fabric.

Needles, Presser Feet, and Fabric Repair

Needle-selection tables match fabric weight and type to needle size, including choices for knits, denim, leather, and upholstery. The presser-foot guide matches the A zigzag, H straight-stitch, J sliding buttonhole, E zipper, and F satin-stitch feet to their applications.

Multiple zigzag and stretch patching cover fabric repair, while blind hem and overedge stitches cover hemming and edge finishing. Fagoting, smocking, and monogramming each have their own setup guidance. The Use the Seam Guide illustrations explain seam spacing and square corners.

Manual and Automatic Buttonholes

The sliding buttonhole foot and the snap-in automatic attachment have separate procedures. Buttonhole Style and Size identifies round-end templates 213-504-005 and 213-505-006 and keyhole template 213-506-007.

Attachment installation covers the base plate, guide plate, gear alignment, and buttonhole-foot positioning. Twin-needle instructions explain separate thread-guide routing, compatible presser feet, and the restricted stitch-width zone; the twin needle is an optional accessory.

Hook-Race Care and Troubleshooting

Care procedures cover needle-plate and bobbin-holder removal for cleaning the hook race and feed dogs, plus bobbin-holder alignment during reassembly. Lubrication guidance identifies the oiling points, suitable oil, and maintenance frequency.

Troubleshooting before repair: The Troubleshooting chart links symptoms to possible causes and reference pages. Its no-operation checks distinguish a disengaged push-pull clutch from trapped thread in the hook race or a power-connection issue, helping owners check routine causes before seeking mechanical repair.

Service limits: This is an operating and maintenance manual, not an internal repair manual. It does not cover motor overhaul, hook-timing adjustment, electrical test specifications, or wiring diagrams.

Always verify the machine is completely disconnected from the power supply before making any mechanical adjustments or inspecting internal components.

Trilingual PDF and Included Pages

Supplied as one printable 99-page PDF with English, Spanish, and French text. The total includes one front cover, eight preliminary pages, 88 pages of instructions and reference material, one intentionally blank page, and one rear service-information page.