Kenmore 158.12020 can't unzig
 

My friend just got a Kenmore 158.12020 and asked me to help her with it since she has no clue about sewing. I can get it to sew alright but when I position the needle to sew straight it ends up at the left of the pressure foot. I know i'm doing something wrong but have never worked with Kenmore so I'm clueless also. The thing is sitting my my sewing room making me crazy.

I looked for online manuals for this model but having no luck.

Can anyone help?

Does the machine have a RML (Right - Middle - Left ) needle position lever?
If not it may park the needle to the left. If it parks the needle to the left place the stitch width lever at "0" and it should do a straight stitch.
I have two machines like that.

Our Kenmore is a 158.13470. Here is how our owners manual says to set the machines controls for a straight stitch:
[quote]STRAIGHT STITCHING
Set your machine just as shown in the illustration in order to straight stitch.
It is important each dial have the following settings.
SETTINGS

Special Stitch Dial - Red Dot
Stitch Width Control - Red Dot
Stitch Length Control - 12 to 6

Our Kenmore does not have a needle position lever and it parks in the center.


If it has a needle position lever, it most likely needs oiled in the zig-zag components. Some of which you might not be able to see.

Joe

where do i dinf the rml needle position lever? This one has a 0 to 5 lever. 0 parks it far left and the rest give it a zig zag stitch. Do I have to sew with the needle far left?

If it has a needle position lever it will be somewhere on the arm. They are easy to see. If it does park to the left, yes you straight stitch with the needle in that position. These machines use an off-set straight stitch foot or the zig-zag foot.

Joe

Here is a picture of my Dial 'n Sew. It is a zig-zag that parks to the left. It has no LMR lever and the needle rod control dial goes from "0" on the left to "5" on the right.
I have an off set straight stitch foot for it I use when not zig-zagging.

Joe

Here's a pic of the Kenmore

So it looks like I need to get an off set straight stitch foot. Are they hard to come by?

I'd say that machine is one that parks the needle to the left. I got both of my off set straight stitch feet from my local sewing machine guy. I haven't seen any on the internet. But then, I haven't been looking.

Joe

Open the top of the machine up and make sure you oil everything that remotely moves. Then open up the bottom of the machine and oil everything that remotely moves. If you see some dried up oil, it could keep the machine from moving as it should. You will need to clean off any dried up oil. There are some videos on line about oiling. Then like Joe said check your settings.

There is a Yahoo group called Vintage Kenmores that can answer a whole bunch of questions. Just go to Yahoo and search!! HTH