I have an Elna SU. I cannot get my cam stitches to work....what could I be doing wrong? I have followed the manual.

The owner's manual would have instructions for that:

Elna SU SP ST Sewing Machine Instruction Manual

However, a lot of older mechanical machines are not able to do a blanket stitch.

http://www.needlebar.org/main/elna/


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have you turned the stitch length and stitch width dials back to zero? this is important to disengage the "Feeler" arm which reads the Elnagraph where the disc is locked in. Turn stitch width to zero, stitch length to zero and make sure that the stitch selecter is on the "Disc" icon. Then press down ******* the metal centre button.

A transcript from the Elna SU manual reads as follows, and the manual can be viewed on line at http://sewingonline.co.uk/instructions/elnasp/

First make a few trial runs with a scrap of material exactly as the buttonhole will be stitched, with the machine adjusted as you intend to use it.
1. Use the embroidery and buttonhole foot. It can be chnged without a screwdriver by using the fixation screw.- With the stitch width knob at "0", turn the selector to zigzag "1".
2. De-center the needle to the left.
3. Set the stitch width knob at 2, with the solid mark on top.
4. Set the stitch length dial between 1/2 and 1/4.
5. a) Mark the desired length on the material.
b) Sew the first side of the buttonhole. Stop with the needle in the material and the mark (right).
c) Raise the foot and pivot the material round the needle. Lower the foot and raise the needle.
6. a) Set the stitch width knob at 4.
b) Sew a few stitches. Raise the needle.
7. a) Set the stitch width knob at 2.
b) Sew the second side and stop just short of the length of the first. Raise the needle.
8. a) Set the stitch width knob at 4.
b) Finish off the buttonhole by sewing a few stitches. Raise the needle.
9. a) Set the stitch width knob at "0".
b) Sew a few stitches to fasten the threads, holding the material back by hand.
10. Open with the buttonhole knife, which you will find in the accessory box.

Remove thread from machine and open door to where you put cams in. Step on pedal and run at full speed. It the mechanism where the cams go spinning? It is likely that your elna graph gear is broke

Remove thread from machine and open door to where you put cams in. Step on pedal and run at full speed. It the mechanism where the cams go spinning? It is likely that your elna graph gear is broke

Is this a Supermatic (green), Star SU (white with blue top) or an Air Electronic SU model, I'm guessing that it is one of these Elna models?
If it is one of the two latter models, then you need to set the stitch width to zero, stitch length to zero to disengage the feeler arms that read off the disc. Then press on the cam release knob in the middle of the Elnagraph.

The earlier Supermatics were a bit different and there was a tool you used to remove the cams I think.

You could try to remove to the top cover and then see if you can get some oil in under the Elnagraph, this may help to free up the mechanisim. There is a little finger that goes into the cam from the underside and you don't want to damage this as you remove the cam.

My other suggestion is to join the "Elna Heirlooms" user group on Yahoo.com and see if one of the members there has a suggestion on how to get the cam off. There are some really knowledgeable Elna owners there so one of them may have encountered this problem too.

Throughout the Swiss Elna range there were several of their top of line models that have the black cams for additional stitches and they all have an "Elnagraph" device in the top of the machine case where you insert the cams.

There are single cams where the needle just moves ffrom side to side while the fabric moves forward. And double cams where the needle moves from side to side while the feed dogs move the fabric forward and backwards to get a combination stitch. The trick is to get the Elnagraph to engage so the arm in it can "read" off the disc.

There are a couple of other knobs that you need to adjust to get the cam stitch though.

Star Series: (white machine with blue top) you need to put the stitch selector inside the elnagraph flap to "A" on the Star series and then stitch width to 4 and stitch length to the red A zone.

Air Electronic SU or Carina: you have 3 knobs from left to right - stitch selector (put it on 7) , stitch width (put it on 4, orange area) and stitch length (turn it around to the orange zone for the automatic stitches).

And on the early Supermatic the adjustments are a little different again.

And ALWAYS turn the stitch width and length dials back to zero, before you change the stitch selector, or pop out a cam.

I hope this helps you get your Elna stitching from the cam, there is a great Yahoo group called Elna Heirlooms too where there are lots of knowledgeable Elna owners and some files listing all the cam stitches.

There are two types of discs - single and double.
For the thinner single discs do as follows:
1.Turn stitch width knob to "0"
2. Turn stitch length knob to "0"
3. Insert the single disc
4. Turn the top selector to "A"
5. Make sure the needle selector is in the centered position.
6. You may now choose any stitch length or width you wish. I usually try "3" for the width and 1/2 for the length to start.

For the thicker double discs do as follows:

1.Turn stitch width knob to "0"
2. Turn stitch length knob to "0"
3. Insert the double disc
4. Turn the top selector to "A"
5. Make sure the needle selector is in the centered position.
6. You may now choose any stitch width.
7. The stitch length must be put on "A" - this is the difference between the single and double discs!
I hope this helps!