Hobbylock 796

Overview

Janome 9102D

Overview

Training

Training is required. The current serger training covers both the Hobbylock and the Janome. Reach out in the slack channel to schedule a training.

Operation

A serger or overlocker uses multiple threads and has a knife to trim, sew, and finish seams and raw edges in one step. Both sergers can be used with three or four threads.

Safety

• Do not use the serger sewing machine if there is visible or audible damage.
• While in operation, always keep your eye on the sewing area, and do not touch any moving parts such as the thread take-up lever, loopers, handwheel, needles, or knives.
• Turn off the machine when attaching or removing parts like the needle(s), knives, etc.
• Turn off the machine when threading or cleaning the machine.
• Do not attempt to sew over pins! If you are using pins, make sure to remove them before they reach the presser foot.

Setup

Each machine has a power cord with a foot controller that should get plugged into the machine and a power outlet. The power cord for the Hobbylock plugs into the back of the machine. On the right side of the machine, there is a push button to power on the machine. The power cord for the Jamone plugs into the right side of the machine next to the power switch.

Before turning on the machine, change the needle(s) if necessary and make sure the machine is properly threaded. Thread the machine if necessary. The machine is threaded but you need to change the thread color either cut the thread at the cone and tie on new thread or rethread the machine with the desired thread.

Adjust the stitch length, differential feed ratio, upper knife, and cutting width if necessary. On the Jamone set the needle plate setting knob to S (standard serging) or R (rolled hemming).

Usage

Once the machine is threaded and you’ve adjusted the settings for your project, turn on the machine.

If there is no chain on the sewing plate, gently press the foot control and loosely hold on to the threads to make the start of a chain.

Insert the fabric under the toe of the presser foot and gently press on the foot control. The fabric will be automatically fed. Guide the fabric in the desired direction.

When stitching is completed, continue to run the machine slowly to produce a thread chain. You want there to leave a thread chain on the end of your piece as well as leave some shain for the start of the next.

Secure the serged ends.

Monitoring

• Pay attention to what you are doing as you sew.
• Don’t let pins go under the presser foot; this is especially dangerous given the knives and the speed of the machine.
• Make sure that the overlock is happening and that you haven’t lost one of your looper threads.
• Make sure that the needles are working well and haven’t broken or become unthreaded.
• If the serger becomes unthreaded and you are unable to get it rethreaded properly, report in the slack channel which machine is not threaded so someone get it back operational.
• If the machine makes a significant amount of noise or any weird noises, stop using it and report it in the slack channel.

Shutdown & Cleanup

• Power off the machine.
• Sergers generate a lot of lint and fabric scraps. Please discard all cutting scraps and brush out the bottom of the machine after using it.
• Return the serger, foot controller, and accessories to where you found them.
• If there are thread and cuttings on the floor vacuum them up.
• Empty the trash when it gets full.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Cause	Solution
There are only stitch lines on the fabric; the threads aren’t chaining	One of the loopers has become unthreaded	Re-thread the looper that isn’t threaded, and then re-thread your needles
The overlock doesn’t look right, threads aren’t where they are supposed to be	At least one of the tension discs needs to be increased or decreased	Adjust the tension discs, one at a time until you achieve the desired effect
One of the threads is super loose and increasing the tension doesn’t fix it	The thread is not actually between the tension discs, but resting on top of them	Pull the thread into the tension discs

Accessories

The Hobbylock has a small accessories box that is housed inside the machine: swing the left side open and find the box in the back. Accessories include a needles, screwdriver, allen wrench, lint brush, tweezers, lower knife, thread unreeling disk, and rolled hem presser foot. This machine also has a lint box that attaches to the front of the machine.

The Jamone also has accessories and these are stored in a ziplock bag next to the machine. The accessories include needles, screwdrivers, tweezers, and a lint brush.

Materials

A home serger can handle a variety of fabrics: stretch, knits, and light- to heavyweight wovens. Reference the Thred and Needle chart (pg 60 of the Jamone Manual) before starting a project to make sure you use the right materials, needles, and machine settings.

Files & Resources

• Hobbylock Manual
• Jamone Manual
• How to Thread and Use a Serger
• Basic How to Guide with Video
• Tips for Working with a Serger

Specifications

Name	Hobbylock	Janome
Manufacturer	Pfaff	Janome
Year Released
Model	Hobbylock 796	Harmony 9102D
Serial No.	24331	530112914
Software
Other	four-thread or three-thread overlock	four-thread or three-thread overlock

History

This section is for noteworthy events such as:

• Pfaff Hobbylock 796 donated by David Stavis, February 2024
• Jamone Harmony 9102D on loan from Kathleen Norman since February 2024