Kenmore Sewing Machine question

Bottesini said:
That's a nice dress! You are a very good seamstress, Kristina.
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Thank you very much. There are 3000 tiny pearl white seed beads all over the skirt and another 100 on each sleeve. It has 50 buttons up the back with loops for the buttonholes.
 
p.s. I did promise to post an update today. So far, no success. I checked all the machinery (the motor, etc.) -- it is clean as a whistle. Probably due to the fact that I always put it away when done, and didn't use it too often. I fully checked out the bobbin area to be sure there wasn't a jumble of threaded knots, it's all clear. Changed out stitching again (like going from a straight stitch to otherwise, etc.) Changed tension both up and down. Still no progress on getting it to start sewing. What I don't get is that the motor worked just fine for the bobbin part, why not the top (sewing) part ?
 
AlleyCat said:
p.s. I did promise to post an update today. So far, no success. I checked all the machinery (the motor, etc.) -- it is clean as a whistle. Probably due to the fact that I always put it away when done, and didn't use it too often. I fully checked out the bobbin area to be sure there wasn't a jumble of threaded knots, it's all clear. Changed out stitching again (like going from a straight stitch to otherwise, etc.) Changed tension both up and down. Still no progress on getting it to start sewing. What I don't get is that the motor worked just fine for the bobbin part, why not the top (sewing) part ?
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Have you checked here? Kenmore Sewing Machine Manuals Instruction and Repair Manuals
 
KristinaB said:
Not a real good picture, but you get the idea. Man in the middle is our Pastor and the churches walls are no longer this dark. Since the hurricanes came through and the church lost it's roof and had major damage, they redid it and they are now white or cream colored. This was taken on 2/13/93.
View attachment 15986
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It's beautiful!
 
KristinaB said:
Thank you very much. There are 3000 tiny pearl white seed beads all over the skirt and another 100 on each sleeve. It has 50 buttons up the back with loops for the buttonholes.
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Wow, sounds complicated! Must have taken you a long time to make the entire dress! You must be so skilled at this, you have a talent for sewing! :)
 
AlleyCat said:
p.s. I did promise to post an update today. So far, no success. I checked all the machinery (the motor, etc.) -- it is clean as a whistle. Probably due to the fact that I always put it away when done, and didn't use it too often. I fully checked out the bobbin area to be sure there wasn't a jumble of threaded knots, it's all clear. Changed out stitching again (like going from a straight stitch to otherwise, etc.) Changed tension both up and down. Still no progress on getting it to start sewing. What I don't get is that the motor worked just fine for the bobbin part, why not the top (sewing) part ?
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I know nothing about sewing machines....but many tools with moving parts have a pin you put in when storing....is there a pin you may have forgotten about?
 
which model of Kenmore you got? best if you link it
 
try removing the bobbin, lifting out the bobbin case and see if there is a loop or more of thread binding the movement.. be sure to oil it properly there while it is out and to remove any loose lint. Now replace the shuttle, the bobbin and be sure that your bobbin faced correctly so that the thread is coming off properly so no loops do form.
Good luck
 
TXgolfer said:
I know nothing about sewing machines....but many tools with moving parts have a pin you put in when storing....is there a pin you may have forgotten about?
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Thanks for that idea. Unfortunately, no.
 
LDNanna said:
try removing the bobbin, lifting out the bobbin case and see if there is a loop or more of thread binding the movement.. be sure to oil it properly there while it is out and to remove any loose lint. Now replace the shuttle, the bobbin and be sure that your bobbin faced correctly so that the thread is coming off properly so no loops do form.
Good luck
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Hi LDNanna -- good ideas too! I did check all that -- there are no loose threads, etc. I will be posting another update below.
 
Okay, we have had 2 friends (who are real handymen and know their stuff! :) ) look at the machine. Both have the exact same opinion in that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the machine, only that it needs to be oiled. I didn't even go that far in the manual, I read it further last night and it said it was supposed to be oiled a minimum of once per year, if not more (based on usage). And I have NEVER oiled this sewing machine, despite having it for 12 years. So it is totally dried out ... Will go buy some oil, and see if that doesn't solve this. If it does, I'm gonna feel like my blonde hair really signifies me today :lol:
 
AlleyCat said:
Won't even go down to hit the front plate. The motor just grinds as it's trying to come down. As if something is holding it from doing so.
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Take the bobbin completely out and reinsert it. Sounds like it is stuck in position. It needs to be able to move to allow the needle to come down through the plate.
 
jillio said:
Take the bobbin completely out and reinsert it. Sounds like it is stuck in position. It needs to be able to move to allow the needle to come down through the plate.
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No, the bobbin's okay. It moves freely. It's the needle that wont. (And apparently because it's so dried out -- too much friction.) We'll see! :)
 
AlleyCat said:
No, the bobbin's okay. It moves freely. It's the needle that wont. (And apparently because it's so dried out -- too much friction.) We'll see! :)
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Gotcha! I misunderstood. I thought the needle was moving, but not going through the plate.
 
LuciaDisturbed said:
Wow, sounds complicated! Must have taken you a long time to make the entire dress! You must be so skilled at this, you have a talent for sewing! :)
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The sewing of the dress took only 2 weeks and the bead work took another 2 weeks. We were still sewing on beads the night before the wedding. Luckily, we were able to sew them on while it was hanging on the hangar. At that point, it was just the edge of the train.
 
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