Your SINGER 9985 Quantum Stylist Touch

Singer's instructions rewritten in plain English, with every setting kept exactly as Singer intended, and with tips from our team added along the way. Stuck on something? Ask the Live Sewing Advisor at any point.

This manual applies to UK spec machines.

Main things to know

Red light on? The machine will not startThe monitor lamp turns red when the presser foot is up or the buttonhole lever is not lowered for a buttonhole. Lower the foot (or the lever) and it turns green. The machine also stops if the top thread is missing.Thread cutter button - with fabric onlyOnly press the thread cutter button with fabric under the foot, and never for threads thicker than #30, nylon or speciality threads, or with a twin or wing needle. Use the cutter on the side of the machine for those.Twin needle? Turn on twin needle mode firstBefore sewing with a twin needle, touch Setting and then the twin needle button. The machine reduces the stitch width so the needle does not hit the needle plate and break.No oiling needed - just keep it cleanSinger says there is no need to lubricate the 9985. Brush out the bobbin holder, hook race and feed dogs regularly instead.Keep the box and packagingIf your machine ever needs to go to Singer’s warranty department or our service department, it must travel in its original box and inner packaging.

Getting to know your machine

Important safety instructions

This sewing machine is intended for household use. When using a sewing machine, basic safety precautions should always be followed, including the ones below. Read all the instructions before using.

DANGER - to reduce the risk of electric shock

Never leave the machine unattended while it is plugged in. Always unplug it from the socket straight after use and before cleaning.

WARNING - to reduce the risk of burns, fire, electric shock or injury

Do not let the machine be used as a toy. Take close care when it is used by or near children.
Only use the machine for its intended purpose, as described in this manual. Only use attachments recommended by the manufacturer, as listed in this manual.
Never use the machine if the cord or plug is damaged, if it is not working properly, or if it has been dropped, damaged or dropped into water. Take it to your nearest authorised dealer or service centre to be examined, repaired or adjusted, electrically or mechanically.
Never use the machine with any of its air openings blocked. Keep the ventilation openings of the machine and the foot control free from lint, dust and loose cloth.
Never drop or insert any object into any opening.
Do not use outdoors.
Do not use where aerosol (spray) products are being used or where oxygen is being given.
To disconnect, turn the power switch to O (off), then take the plug out of the socket.
Do not unplug by pulling the cord. Hold the plug, not the cord.
Keep your fingers away from all moving parts. Take special care around the needle.
Always use the correct needle plate. The wrong plate can make the needle break.
Do not use bent needles.
Do not pull or push the fabric while sewing. It can bend the needle and make it break.
Turn the power switch to O (off) when making any adjustments in the needle area - threading the needle, changing the needle, threading the bobbin, changing the presser foot and so on.
Always unplug the machine from the socket when removing covers, or making any other adjustment mentioned in this manual.
Handle the foot control with care and do not drop it on the floor. Never put anything on top of it.
Only use the handle to lift and move the machine.
Do not leave the machine or its case in direct sunlight, and do not keep it somewhere very warm or damp.

Servicing should be carried out by an authorised service representative.

For Europe and the UK

This machine can be used by children aged 8 and over, and by people with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities or lack of experience and knowledge, if they are supervised or have been given instruction on using it safely and understand the hazards involved.
Children must not play with the machine.
Cleaning and user maintenance must not be done by children without supervision.
Switch off or unplug the machine when you leave it unattended.
Unplug the machine before carrying out maintenance.
Only use the foot control supplied with the machine, or one supplied by an approved SINGER retailer.

The mains lead (UK)

The wires in the mains lead are coloured: blue - neutral (N), brown - live (L). If these colours do not match the markings on the terminals in your plug: the blue wire goes to the terminal marked N or coloured black, and the brown wire goes to the terminal marked L or coloured red. If a 13 Amp (BS 1363) plug is used, a 3 Amp fuse must be fitted. With any other type of plug, a 5 Amp fuse must be fitted either in the plug or adaptor or at the distribution board. Neither wire is to be connected to the earth terminal of a three-pin plug.

NoteThis sewing machine is for household use only. Please keep these instructions. This manual can be printed.

Parts of the machine

Face plate
Thread take-up lever (inside)
Pressure regulator
Removable extension table (accessories)
Handle
Handwheel
Presser foot lifter
Stitch balance adjusting screw (underneath the machine)
Thread cutter
Buttonhole lever
Needle threader
Needle threader lever
Presser foot release lever
Presser foot screw
Presser foot holder
Presser foot
Feed dogs
Needle clamp screw
Needle thread guide
Needle
Needle plate
Bobbin cover
Bobbin cover latch
Top cover
Pattern chart
Thread guides
Spool pin
Bobbin winder thread guide
Felt washer
Extra spool holder
Bobbin winder shaft
Bobbin winder stop
Speed control lever
Reverse stitch button
Start/stop button
Needle up-down / slow button
Thread cutter button
Touch panel LCD
Drop feed lever
Power switch
Terminal box
Controller jack
Foot control
Power cord

Accessories

Accessories are kept in the accessory case (see Removable extension table).

Needle pack
4 SINGER Class 15 bobbins (1 is in the machine)
Seam ripper
Brush
Auxiliary spool pin with felt washer
Screwdriver
Screwdriver for the needle plate
Thread cap (on the machine when delivered)
Small thread cap
Seam guide and screw
Overcasting foot (C)
Blind hem foot (D)
Zipper foot (E)
Rolled hem foot
Button sewing foot
Satin foot (B)
Quilting bar
Open toe foot
Cording foot
Straight stitch / patchwork foot
Darning / embroidery foot
Even feed foot
Buttonhole foot (F) and underplate
General purpose foot (A) (on the machine when delivered)

Dust cover

Cover the machine with the dust cover when it is not being used.

Optional extras (not supplied)

Twin needle (Singer says to use only SINGER branded twin needles)Twin Needle£4.99
Embroidery hoop (for free hand embroidery) and eyelet punch

Useful for this

Class 15 Bobbins x 10£8.49

Connecting the machine and the foot control

Safety

DANGER - never leave the machine unattended while it is plugged in. Always unplug it from the socket straight after use and before maintenance.
WARNING - do not unplug by pulling the cord. Hold the plug, not the cord.

Put the machine on a stable table.
Connect the power cord to the machine by pushing the 2-hole plug into the terminal box.
Plug the power cord into the wall socket.
Turn on the power switch.
A lamp lights up when the switch is turned on.
To disconnect, turn the power switch to O (off), then take the plug out of the socket.

Foot control

The foot control lets you start, stop and control the speed with your foot. When the foot control is connected, the Start/stop button does not work.

Turn the power switch to O (off).
Push the foot control plug into the jack on the machine.
Put the foot control at your feet.
Turn on the power switch. A lamp lights up when the switch is turned on.
The harder you press the foot control, the faster the machine sews. The machine stops when you let go of the foot control.

Safety

Turn the power off when connecting the foot control to the machine.
Handle the foot control with care and do not drop it on the floor. Never put anything on top of it.
Only use the foot control supplied with the machine, or one supplied by an approved SINGER retailer.

Machine control functions

A. Start/stop button

Press the Start/stop button to start the machine, and press it again to stop. The machine runs slowly at the start of sewing.

NoteWhen the foot control is connected, the Start/stop button does not work.

Monitor lamp

Green light on - ready to sew or wind a bobbin.
Red light on - the presser foot is not down, or the buttonhole lever is not lowered. While the red light is on, the machine will not start even when you press Start/stop.

If the upper thread is not threaded, the machine stops (upper thread sensor).

B. Reverse stitch button

The machine sews in reverse at low speed while you hold this button, and stops when you let go.

NoteWhen the foot control is connected, the machine sews in reverse while you hold the button, and sews forwards again when you let go.

C. Needle up-down / slow button

Press this button with the machine stopped to move the needle from down to up, or up to down. Press it while sewing and the machine sews at slow speed; press again to go back to the normal speed.

D. Speed control lever

Slide the lever to the right to sew faster, and to the left to sew slower.

NoteWhen the foot control is connected, the lever sets the top speed.

E. Presser foot lifter

Raises and lowers the presser foot. The machine will not start when the presser foot is raised (except for bobbin winding).

F. Thread cutter button

Press this button after sewing to cut the upper and bobbin threads automatically.

Safety

Do not press this button when there is no fabric under the presser foot, or when the threads do not need cutting - the thread may tangle and cause damage.
Do not use this button for thread thicker than #30, nylon thread or other speciality threads. Use the thread cutter (H) instead.
Do not use the thread cutter button when sewing with a twin needle or a hemstitching (wing) needle.

G. Drop feed lever

The feed dogs come up through the needle plate under the presser foot and move the fabric as you sew. The drop feed lever controls them. For ordinary sewing, move the lever to the right - this raises the feed dogs to their highest position, where they should be for most sewing. For darning, free motion embroidery, or whenever you move the fabric by hand, move the lever to the left to lower the feed dogs.

NoteAfter sewing with the feed dogs lowered, push the drop feed lever back to the right, then turn the handwheel towards you one full turn. This re-engages the feed dogs.

H. Thread cutter

Use this cutter when you do not use the thread cutter button.

Raise the presser foot and bring the fabric and threads to the back after sewing.
Hook the threads into the thread cutter from back to front.
Pull the fabric to cut the threads.

I. Pressure regulator

The right pressure lets fabrics feed properly while sewing. It depends mainly on the weight of the fabric: decrease it for lightweight fabrics such as sheers, batiste and voile, and increase it for heavyweight fabrics like denim or canvas.

To increase the pressure, turn the dial to 3.
To decrease the pressure, turn the dial to 1.
For most fabrics, turn the dial to 2.

J. Top cover

To open the top cover, lift the left side of the cover.

K. Handwheel

Turning the handwheel raises or lowers the needle. Always turn the handwheel towards you.

Touch panel LCD and the home screen

When you turn on the power, the touch panel shows the start up screen. Touch the panel or press any control button to go to the Home screen.

Safety

Do not press the screen too hard and do not use sharp objects on it - it can damage the screen. Touch the screen with your finger only.

Home screen buttons

a. Utility stitch button - choose a utility stitch (see Selecting a utility stitch).
b - h. Decorative and letter stitch buttons - choose decorative and letter stitches, which can easily be combined (see Decorative and letter stitches).
i. Setting button - change the audible beep and twin needle mode (see Beep and help, and Twin needle).
j. Help button - shows you how to do the basic operations (see Beep and help).

Pattern chart

The pattern chart is inside the top cover. It shows every stitch and letter on the machine, separated into utility stitches and decorative and letter stitches.

Continue reading

Hold the thread lightly and turn the handwheel towards you until the needle reaches its highest point. Raise the presser foot and guide the thread through each point in turn, checking it sits in the tension discs.

Choose your setting, sew a few stitches on a scrap of the same fabric and look at both sides. Adjust a little at a time until the stitches lie flat and even.

Switch the machine off at the power switch.
Raise the needle and the presser foot.
Follow the guide for your model shown in the drawing.
Check the result before you start your project.

Next steps

Choose your setting, sew a few stitches on a scrap of the same fabric and look at both sides. Adjust a little at a time until the stitches lie flat and even.

Switch the machine off at the power switch.
Raise the needle and the presser foot.
Follow the guide for your model shown in the drawing.
Check the result before you start your project.

Choose your setting, sew a few stitches on a scrap of the same fabric and look at both sides. Adjust a little at a time until the stitches lie flat and even.

Switch the machine off at the power switch.
Raise the needle and the presser foot.
Follow the guide for your model shown in the drawing.
Check the result before you start your project.

The rest of this manual is for our customers

45 more sections, including step-by-step guides, stitch settings and troubleshooting.

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