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Common questions
Common Questions
28 totalCan I oil my Brother XH2149-001 sewing machine myself?
No, this machine must not be oiled by the user. The machine was manufactured with the necessary amount of oil applied to ensure correct operation, making periodic oiling unnecessary. If problems occur such as difficulty turning the handwheel or unusual noise, immediately stop using the machine and contact an authorized Brother Service Center.
What thickness of fabric can this machine handle?
Do not sew fabric more than 6 mm (15/64 inch) thick, as the needle may bend or break. If fabric is thicker than recommended, do not push the fabric with too much force, otherwise the needle may bend or break.
What should I do if the stitches are bunched together while sewing?
If the stitches are bunched together, lengthen the stitch length and continue sewing. Do not continue sewing without lengthening the stitch length, otherwise the needle may break and cause injury. Adjust the stitch length dial to increase the stitch length.
How do I fix uneven thread tension on my XH2149-001?
If loops appear on the surface of the fabric, the upper tension is too tight — reduce it by turning the upper tension control dial to a lower number. If loops appear on the back of the fabric, the upper tension is too loose — increase it by turning the dial to a higher number. Also check that both the bobbin and upper thread are correctly threaded, as incorrect threading is a common cause of tension problems.
What safety precautions should I follow when changing the needle?
Always turn off the machine before changing the needle, as accidentally pressing the foot controller could start the machine and cause injury. Only use sewing machine needles designed for home use, and never sew with a bent needle as it can easily break and cause injury. Before replacing the needle, place fabric or paper under the presser foot to prevent the needle from falling into the hole in the needle plate.
How do I correctly install a new needle on the XH2149-001?
Insert the needle with the flat side facing toward the back of the machine, pushing it in until it touches the stopper. Then tighten the needle clamp screw with a screwdriver, being careful not to use excessive force when tightening or loosening the screw. If the needle is not inserted all the way to the stopper or the screw is not secure, the needle may break or the machine may be damaged.
Show 22 more questions
How do I sew thin or delicate fabrics without misalignment?
What is the stitch length dial setting used for sewing buttons?
How do I perform reverse sewing on the XH2149-001?
Where should I store my XH2149-001 sewing machine to keep it in good condition?
How do I clean the XH2149-001 sewing machine safely?
What should I do if the machine is not working properly or has been damaged?
What should I do if loops appear on the surface of my fabric when sewing?
How do I sew thin fabrics without stitching problems?
What is the correct way to wind the bobbin?
How do I perform reverse sewing on this machine?
What safety precautions should I take before changing the presser foot?
How should I store my sewing machine to prevent damage?
Can I oil the Brother XH2149-001 sewing machine myself?
What should I do if the upper thread tension is too tight?
What should I do if the upper thread tension is too loose?
How do I safely replace the needle on the XH2149-001?
How do I sew thin fabrics that are not feeding correctly?
What is the maximum fabric thickness I should sew on this machine?
How do I sew in reverse on the XH2149-001?
Where should I store the XH2149-001 sewing machine, and what storage conditions should I avoid?
What safety precautions should I follow when operating the foot controller?
What should I do if the sewing machine is not working properly or has been damaged?
Full Manual
2 pages
4 5 2 3 1 4 2 1 Using Your Sewing Machine
Caution
● ●Always turn off the machine before you change the needle. Otherwise, injuries may occur if the foot controller is accidentally pressed and the machine starts sewing. ● ●Only use sewing machine needles for home use. Other needles may bend or break and cause injury. ● ●Never sew with a bent needle. A bent needle will easily break and cause injury. Replacing the needle■ ■Checking the needle Slower Faster 1 2 3Caution●
●Make sure you insert the needle until it touches the stopper, and securely tighten the needle clamp screw with a screwdriver, otherwise the needle may break or the machine may be damaged. Parallel space Level surface Turn the screw counterclockwise. With the flat side of the needle toward the back of the machine, insert the needle until touching this stopper. Tighten the needle clamp screw. Note ● ●Do not use excessive force when loosening or tightening the needle clamp screw.Xh2149-001
Caution
● ●Always turn off the machine before you change the presser foot. If you leave the power on and step on the controller, the machine will start and you may be injured. ● ●Always use the correct presser foot for the stitch pattern you have chosen. If you use the wrong presser foot, the needle may strike the presser foot and bend or break, and may cause injury. ● ●Only use presser feet that have been designed to be used with this machine. Using any other presser foot may cause accident or injury. If the fabric does not fit easily under the presser foot, raise the presser foot lever even higher to bring the presser foot to its highest position. Sewing thick fabricsCaution
If fabric more than 6 mm (15/64 inch) thick is sewn or if the fabric is pushed with too much force, the needle may bend or break. Mark on the wheel points up to raise the needle.■ ■Presser foot installation orientationCaution
● ●If the presser foot is not installed with the correct orientation, the needle may strike the presser foot, which may bend or break the needle and cause injury.Caution●
●If the stitches are bunched together, lengthen the stitch length and continue sewing. Do not continue sewing without lengthening the stitch length, otherwise the needle may break and cause injury. Stabilizer material or paper The main parts■ ■Flat bed attachment The accessories can be stored in a compartment inside the flat bed attachment. Slide the attachment to the left to open. Storage compartment Thread tension Stitch length dial■ ■Correct tension Correct tension is important as too much or too little tension will weaken your seams or cause puckers on your fabric. Lower thread Upper thread Surface of fabric Back of fabric■ ■Upper tension is too tight Loops will appear on the surface of the fabric. Note● ●If the bobbin thread was incorrectly threaded, the upper thread may be too tight. In this case, refer to “1 Lower threading” on the back side to rethread the bobbin thread. Solution: Reduce the tension by turning the upper tension control dial to a lower number. Upper thread Lower thread Loops appear on surface of fabric Back of fabric Surface of fabric Solution: Increase the tension by turning the upper tension control dial to a higher number. Upper thread Lower thread Back of fabric Note ● ●If the upper thread was incorrectly threaded, the upper thread may be too loose. In this case, refer to “2 Upper threading” on the back side and rethread the upper thread. Surface of fabric■ ■Upper tension is too loose Loops appear on the back of the fabric. Loops appear on back of fabric The tension of the thread will affect the quality of your stitches. You may need to adjust it when you change fabric or thread. We recommend that you do a test sample on scrap of a fabric before you start to sew. Depending on the selected stitch, you may need to adjust the stitch length for best results. The numbers marked on the stitch length dial represent the stitch length in millimeters (mm) (1/25 inch). THE HIGHER THE NUMBER, THE LONGER THE STITCH. With the “0” setting, material is not fed. This is used when sewing a button. The “F”-“1” range is for making a satin stitch (closed zigzag stitch), which is used for making buttonholes and decorative stitches. The position needed for making the satin stitch varies according to the material and thread being used. To determine the exact dial position, first test the stitch and length settings on a scrap piece of fabric to observe the feeding of the material. This snaps in to the shank. Press the black button at the back of the presser foot holder to release the presser foot. Install the twin needle in the same way. 9 For repair or adjustment:Save These Instructions
This machine is intended for household use.For Users In Countries Except
Cenelec Countries
This appliance is not intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge, unless they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance by a person responsible for their safety. Children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the appliance.For Users In Cenelec Countries
This appliance can be used by children aged from 8 years and above and persons with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities or lack of experience and knowledge if they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance in a safe way and understand the hazards involved. Children shall not play with the appliance. Cleaning and user maintenance shall not be made by children without supervision.For Users In The Uk, Eire, Malta And Cyprus
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Important
Danger
Warning
Important Safety
Instructions
Shank Black button Presser foot holder Stitch length dial Stitch length dial Shorter Longer Slide the flat bed attachment to the left to release it. Slide the part that you wish to sew onto the arm, and then sew from the top. Note● ●When you are finished with free-arm sewing, install the flat bed attachment back in its original position.Caution
● ●Before replacing the needle, place fabric or paper under the presser foot to prevent the needle from falling into the hole in the needle plate. Upper tension-control dial a Bobbin winder This winds the thread onto the bobbin for use as the lower thread. b Stitch length dial Rotate the dial to control the stitch length. c Spool pin This holds the spool of thread. d Upper tension-control dial This controls the tension of the upper thread. e Thread guide This is used when winding the thread onto the bobbin and then threading the machine. f Thread take-up lever g Thread cutter Pass the threads through the thread cutter to cut them. h Flat bed attachment with accessory compartment i Presser foot j Reverse sewing lever Push this lever to stitch in the reverse direction. k Pattern selection dial Rotate the dial in either direction to choose the stitch you want. l Handwheel Used to manually raise and lower the needle. m Buttonhole fine-adjustment screw n Air vent The air vent allows the air surrounding the motor to circulate. Do not cover the air vent while the machine is being used. o Main power and sewing light switch You can turn the main power and sewing light switch on and off. p Foot controller jack / socket Plug in the foot controller plug and connect the machine to the power supply. q Presser foot lever Used to raise and lower the presser foot. r Handle Carry the machine by its handle when transporting. s Foot controller You can use this to control the sewing speed, and to start and stop sewing. 1 3 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 0A
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Slower Faster Note (For U.S.A. only)● ●Foot Controller: Model KD-1902 This foot controller can be used on the machine with product code 888-X03, 888-X13 and 888-X23. The product code is mentioned on the machine rating plate.Warning
● ●Use only regular household electricity for the power source. Using other power sources may result in fire, electric shock, or damage to the machine. ● ●Make sure that the plugs on the power cord are firmly inserted into the electrical outlet and the power supply jack on the machine. Otherwise, a fire or electric shock may result. ● ●Do not insert the plug on the power cord into an electrical outlet that is in poor condition. ● ●Turn off the main power and remove the plug in the following circumstances:Caution
● ●Use only the power cord included with this machine. ● ●Do not use extension cords or multi-plug adapters with many other appliances plugged in to them. Fire or electric shock may result. ● ●Do not touch the plug with wet hands. Electric shock may result. ● ●When unplugging the machine, always turn off the main power first. Always grasp the plug to remove it from the outlet. Pulling on the cord may damage the cord, or lead to fire or electric shock. ● ●Do not allow the power cord to be cut, damaged, modified, forcefully bent, pulled, twisted, or bundled. Do not place heavy objects on the cord. Do not subject the cord to heat. These things may damage the cord and cause fire or electric shock. If the cord or plug is damaged, take the machine to your authorized Brother Service Center for repairs before continuing use. ● ●Unplug the power cord if the machine is not to be used for a long period of time. Otherwise a fire may result. Note ● ●If a power outage occurs while the sewing machine is being operated, turn off the main power and unplug the power supply cord. When restarting the sewing machine, follow the necessary procedure to correctly operate the machine. (For U.S.A. only)● ●This appliance has a polarized plug (one blade wider than the other). To reduce the risk of electric shock, this plug is intended to fit in a polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully in the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install the proper outlet. Do not modify the plug in any way.■ ■Connecting plugs■ ■Main power and sewing light switch■ ■Foot controller Press the power switch toward the “I” mark to turn the main power and sewing light on. Press toward the “O” mark to turn off. Press the foot controller down to start sewing. Take your foot off the foot controller to stop sewing.Caution
● ●Do not allow pieces of cloth and dust to build up on the foot controller. Doing so could cause a fire or an electric shock.2 1 1 7 8 5 6 2 3 4 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 8 7 3 1 2 3 7 8 9 4 5