My New Machine - Kenmore 1030
 

So I took a chance on an auction and bid on a machine on a whim. I am so pleased that I did. My little machine arrived safely today. I am totally smitten with this little guy:

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It runs and sews perfectly. It does have a bad bobbin winder which is really disappointing, but I have a shoddy Simplicity Sidewinder in order. It came with a case and most of the accessories. Not bad for $44!

Nice! What a cute machine.

I bought one just like it! Haven't tried it yet, but what a cutie! Yay to both of us!

I love my Kenmore 1030. I'm sorry FW fans, but this little machine is lighter and it zigzags. If you find one with the original case, it's way cuter than that solemn black Singer apothecary case. A wonderful little machine that always turn heads at the quilt club. =) (Oh, and sews well too! :thumbup:)

Wonderful. I still have my first machine—a 40-year-old Kenmore, which runs great. Enjoy your new machine!

Very pretty! Yeah, I bought that Sidewinder and it's shoddy as heck, but it did wind a class 66 bobbin while I'm waiting for the new bobbin tire for the Rocketeer.

This is my very first machine!!! My Dad bought it for me when my oldest son was a baby and I adore it!!!
The first thing I made on it was Christmas stockings :)
I could never part with it. Haven't used it lately but cleaned and oiled and it still runs well. I used it for almost 25 years exclusively.

So I have been sewing on my machine periodically (I bought it mainly for sewing while at someone else's house) and I have noticed there is something it's struggling with. I was sewing some HSTs in a 9-patch formation, and anytime I had to start a seam where there was a diagonal HST seam at the beginning, the machine struggles to pull the fabric under the needle. I tried using a leader scrap bit of fabric to make sure the fabric wasn't sucked into the needle plate, but this didn't help.

I believe the 1030 only came with a zigzag plate, so I don't know if I can get a straight stitch plate for it or if that would help. It almost feels like the feed dogs are unable to grab the fabric like they are supposed to. The feed dogs are moving as they should as far as I can see. I tried adjusting the presser foot pressure, that doesn't seem to help.

Anyone have any ideas for the problem or a solution?

Are you using a zig-zag foot or a straight stitch foot?

Another idea would be to make sure the first stitch on the diagonal is slightly in from the edge.and holding onto the leader scrap the first few stitches.

Another idea would be to place tissue paper or tear-away stabilizer (maybe wash-away would be better) under the start of the seam.


Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

That's exactly why my Elna 62C can't piece. I've never found a cure - yes, I did. I bought a 301.

I am using a straight stitch foot. It's a 1/4" patchwork foot that is normal width, but the "toe" of the foot is skinny.

I have a Kenmore 1040 which is the same machine. I love it and it is small like a FW but with zigzag. You can get
a straight stitch plate for it. The bobbin winder should be able to be adjusted or fixed. The parts should be like a lot
of other Kenmore models. I think there is a hidden lever to lower the feed dogs. Check to see that they are in the
full up position. If adjusted this machine should sew just like any other heavy Kenmore.

Watch out when lifting up the plastic lid just in front of the needle plate. The hinges are plastic pins and like to break off.
Most machines you find will already have these broken off and the plate won't stay put on the machine. If yours break
off I have devised a fix.

Don't give up on the machine. They sew great when cleaned, adjusted, and lubed. Just like any full sized Kenmore.

Hey lovely forum folks, would any of y'all who posted about having a 1030 or 1040 have a sec to answer a few questions for me? I recently acquired one but it has a broken special stitch selector knob. I'm trying to ascertain what that knob does (aka it seems like a 'cam' of some kind that pushes levers on the top of the machine when you twist it). This is so I can maybe rig something up to enable it to zig zag (right now it only straight stitches, even if I change the stitch width). Thanks in advance!

Do you have a manual? Have you serviced the machine?

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Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

Thanks Janey - I have a manual from online, and have read through it, and am going to clean/oil things soon. Just started poking around before getting in there deep :)

That is what I was afraid of. Sorry, I'm no help when it comes to the knob. It looks like something I don't want to mess with on mine. The plastic bits are the pits. I know that there are some people that are starting to 3D print some of the sewing machine parts. I'm too tired to go looking for that. I think https://www.searspartsdirect.com/mod...-machine-parts might have what it is named and maybe even a part number, that might help searching. Based on the shape and pin, I'm guessing that it needs to ride on something to turn the cams underneath. Then knowing where the "Red Dot" is so can get it set right or at least so can sew with ZZ. Maybe you can find someone parting out a machine on ebay.

Good luck. It seems are there are quite a few of these machines out there. And they really are cute. I know I sewed something on mine, but don't remember what.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
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Thanks so much, Janey, I appreciate it. If you do happen to have your 1030/1040 out some day and would be willing to take the lid off and snap a pic of what the underside of the dial looks like when it's on "red dot" that would be amazing, but no worries if not.

I know this is an old thread, and you've probably figured this out by now, but the needle plate is reversible, so you just take it out and flip it around to get your straight stitch opening.

I mentioned somewhere that this was my first machine which I bought new. It came with straight and zigzag plates.