SINGER 414 - Manual (Page 30)

FREE MOTION WORK
Darning (Cont'd) —
• Position the work under the needle and
lower the presser bar lifter to activate
the tension. Hold the needle thread
loosely with the left hand, turn the
hand wheel over and draw the bobbin
thread up through the fabric with the
loop of the needle thread. Hold both
thread ends and lower the needle into
the fabric.
• Outline the area to be darned, with
running stitches for reinforcement.
Place the stitches V
4
" from the edge of
the open area. •
• Stitch across the opening, moving the
hoops under the needle at a slight
angle from lower left to upper right.
Keep lines of stitching closely spaced
and even in length.
28
• Run machine at a moderate speed and
control the hoops with a steady conti­
nuous movement. Slow movement of
hoops will produce a short stitch, while
more rapid movement lengthens the
stitch.
Fairly long stitches are best for knit
and tricot fabrics as they are softer and
more flexible when the garment is worn.
Short stitches are best for cottons and
household linens as they approximate
the weave of the fabric and are strong
enough to withstand many launderings.
The darning and embroidery foot (avai­
lable separately) will also contribute to
the smooth handling of difficult materials
as it provides a close control of both
stitch and fabric.