craftgrrl | sewing machine help (Reply)

I just borrowed a sewing machine and I didn't get instructions with it. It's so different from the machines I'm used to.. and I haven't used a machine in a long time, I mean I'm usually good at figuring stuff out but this is really weird. It's a Kenmore 15 stitch, pretty old.. I don't even know if the person who owns it has instructions (I'm going to hopefully find out tomorrow) but I need to figure this out ASAP so can anyone give me hints?

I tried putting the bobbin on the tube-like thing but it only clicks on partway and then the thread winds around it instead of the bobbin... AHH! So I threaded the bobbin manually b/c I got frustrated trying to figure out how the machine is supposed to do it. And I THINK I figured out how to thread the needle (yes, even that is different than the machines I'm used to) but the bobbin thread isn't picking up, and it wouldn't really stitch at all, it just got caught in this big tangle. I'm not sure what the dials are..

there are 2 like this.. one says WIDTH and one says LENGTH. the width one has 1-4 as options and the other knob has 0-24, 12, 8, 6.

this is on top of the machine. I'm assuming it's what stitch to make, but I mean.. that isn't 15. And which one is just a straight stitch? ahh..

There is one more knob I didn't take a picture of that's above the needle area. It has 0, 3, 6, 9 as options.

Any tips at all.. even guesses.. PLEASE! I feel so dumb. I don't even know which one to start playing around with. I'm sewing with a cotton-poly mix if that matters.