Important Safety Information
There are a few things to know before operating the machine to ensure that you are using the machine safely and responsibly. When the machine is turned on never:
- When leaving the machine unattended.
- When attaching or removing parts like needles and presser feet
- When cleaning the machine
- When Threading the Machine
While operating the machine, always keep your hands away from moving parts and keep your eyes on the sewing area.
When the machine is in operation your hands should never be near any moving parts:
- Needle
- Needle Clamp Screw
- Thread take-up lever
- Hand-wheel
Sewing Machine Parts
Before we begin, it is important to be able to identify key parts of the sewing machine:
Setting Up the Machine
On the right side of the machine, plug the power cord into the machine and an outlet and then plug the foot pedal into the machine as well.
On the right side of the machine, turn on the power button. You’re now set up and ready to begin!
Winding the Bobbin
Place thread on the spoon pin and use the spool holder to prevent the thread from moving. Be sure that the flat side of the spool holder is against the spool of thread and the teeth are facing outwards.
Following the dotting line as a guide, pull a strand of thread and floss the thread between the metal tension disk.
Thread the bobbin using the small hole and pull about 4 inches.
Place bobbin on the metal pin called the bobbin winder and push to the right while holding onto the thread. You should now see a bobbin icon on the screen.
While holding the thread, press the foot petal to wind the bobbin. Wind bobbin for a few seconds. Stop and cut the thread close to the bobbin hole. Continue to wind the bobbin until the bobbin stops automatically or to desired fullness.
When winding is complete, press the bobbin winder to the left. Cut the thread and remove the bobbin. You have now winded a bobbin !
Threading the Machine
Inserting the Bobbin
Power off the machine. Move the black button on the needle plate to the right to remove the bobbin cover. Remove old bobbin if necessary.
Pull a strand of thread from the bobbin that is at least 4 inches. Holding the bobbin so that it looks like the letter “P”, place the bobbin in the bobbin case so that bobbin will spin in a counterclockwise fashion. Place the strand of thread in the small slit and pull the thread following the direction of small arrow. Pull the thread a to check that the bobbin is moving counterclockwise.
Threading the Upper Thread
Follow the solid lines to bring the thread from the spool:
- around the bottom of the sticking up rectangle of plastic on the top of the machine
- Down and then under the bit of plastic sticking out on the lower part of the top of the machine
- Back up and around the metal hook
- Back down and from right to left
Guide thread to the metal plate and hook just above the needle.
Pull the auto-threader lever down and guide thread from left to right.
Move the lever up to thread the needle. If the auto threader doesn’t work, thread the needle by feeding the thread through the eye of the needle manually.
Raise the presser foot and pull thread through the eye of the needle
Power on the machine. Press the “needle up and down button” once to bring the needle down and again to bring the needle up. You should see the bobbin thread come up though the hole in the needle plate
Pull both the bobbin thread the the upper thread towards the back of the presser foot. Use the thread cutter to cut your threads. You have now threaded the machine and can begin to sew!
How to Change The Needle
Step 1: Switch off the power switch.
Step 2: Lower the presser foot. Raise the needle to its highest position by turning the hand wheel counterclockwise.
Step 3: Loosen the needle clamp screw by turning it counterclockwise. Use a small flat head screwdriver if necessary. Remove the needle from the needle clamp.
Step 4: Locate the flat side of the new needle. Insert the new needle into the needle clamp with the flat side to the rear. When inserting the needle into the needle clamp, push it up as far as it goes.
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Step 5: Tighten the needle clamp screw firmly by turning it clockwise.
TIPS
To see if the needle is good, place the flat side of the needle onto something flat (stitch plate, glass, etc.).
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The gap between the needle and the flat surface should be consistent. Never use a bent or blunt needle. A damaged needle can cause permanent snags or runs in knits, fine silks and silk-like fabrics.
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How to Change The Presser Foot
CAUTION Always turn OFF the power switch before changing the foot.
Always use the proper foot for the selected pattern.
The wrong foot can cause the needle to break and damage to the machine. To identify a foot, locate the identification letter on the presser foot
Removing The Presser Foot
Step 1: Raise the needle to its highest position by turning the hand wheel counterclockwise.
Step 2: Raise the presser foot using the black lever located to the right of the needle.
Step 3: Press the lever on the back of the presser foot holder.
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Attaching the presser foot
Step 1: Place the desired presser foot so that the pin on the foot lies just under the notch on the presser foot holder.
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Step 2: Lower the presser foot lever to lock the foot in place. [gif]
How to Change Stitch Type
There are 345 stitches available on the Bernina B38 sewing machine and 50 stitches available for the B37 sewing machines. To see what stitches are available for a particular machine, refer to the stitch pattern guide located in the small compartment located at the base of the sewing machine.
B38
There are 6 modes available for the B38.
Mode 1
You can select this stitches directly by pressing the pattern keys
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Modes 2- 6
To select stitch patterns in mode 2–6, first press the mode button to select your desired mode. Each time you press the mode button, the folder indicated on the left side of the screen will change, and the mode changes as follows:
Mode 1: Direct Selection
Mode 2: Utility Stitches
Mode 3: Decorative Stitches
Mode 4: Alphabet and Number Stitches
Mode 5: Alphabet, Additional Characters
Mode 6: Cyrillic Alphabet
The number on the folder indicates the selected mode number. Enter the 2-digit number of the desired stitch pattern with the corresponding number button.
[Show an example here]
B37
How to sew a straight stitch
Select the straight stitch pattern using the touch screen by pressing the “Mode” button so that you are on Mode 1. The straight stitch pattern, “01” should be selected. Alternatively, press the “Mode” button so that you are Mode 2. Use the keypad to punch in “01” to select the straight stitch.
Raise presser foot and position the fabric next to a seam guide line on the stitch plate (5/8˝ (1.6 cm) is most common). Use a magnetic guide if necessary. Lower the needle to the point where you want to start by pressing the needle up/down button
Lower the presser foot and pull the threads toward the back. Start the machine by pressing on the foot pedal. Adjust the speed if necessary. Gently guide the fabric along a seam guide line letting the fabric feed naturally.
Securing Your Seams
To secure the beginning and the ends of your seam so that they do not unravel, press the reverse sewing button while pressing the foot pedal to sew several reverse sewing stitches.
Press the thread cutter button to trim threads after sewing.
Tip
The quality of your stitches is directly related to your settings. Be sure to select a needle, thread tension, and presser foot that is appropriate for your sewing project.