Straight stiches great. select any other stitch and it stitches about an inch and then stops

The manual for your machine is indispensable for answering these type of questions. A good thing to read before you try out your machine:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwinq5zGj-bSAhWEMGMKHcmRDo4QFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brother-usa.com%2FModelDocuments%2FConsumer%2FUsers%2520Manual%2FUM_XL_2600_2610_3500_3510_EN_206.PDF&usg=AFQjCNGxRYCu023uIgfNhqFvn7XXwkK2CA

Set the stitch width to zero. Set the stitch length to around 2 or 2.25. Make sure there is no decorative stitch selected--should be straight stitch--appears to be stitch #2 on the dial.

There is probably a general presser foot that was installed on your machine when you got it (it's shown on pg 9 of the manual). That is sufficient for straight stitch.

On normal strait stich position.

Hi Susie,

I can't tell whether you mean straight stitching and then turning your work 180 degrees to stitch atop the straight stitches in zig-zag, or continuing around the corner of your straight stitched side using zig-zag. But you can do either. You can mix up straight and zig-zag stitching at will.

Just ease up to a stop, ensuring the needle is positioned down inside the work when you stop.
Lift the foot.
Adjust to your desired stitch setting.
Lower the foot.
Turn the wheel toward you manually to ensure the stitches will be placed where you want them, and
Slowly engage the power again (via foot or thigh lever).

Hope this helps.

Please go to Kenmore model 385 1249380 sewing machine sell shop and ask the machanic or shopkeeper.

it's possible that the part that sews the other stitches needs to be checked to see if it's worn or damaged.

I can't find an image clear enough to actually see the stitch selection on the front of this machine.

Does it have a stitch that looks like three or 4 straight stitches, then one zig zag, then more straight stitches? This is the stitch you want to select to do a shell tuck.

Then hold your fabric with right side up and turn edge under about 8mm and seam along the edge using this stich so that the zig zag stitch goes over the folded edge each time to the right. This should pull in the folded edge a little giving a scalloped edge.

Just do a couple of trials to work out the best position for the folded edge on the needle plate to get the effect right, probably just the edge of the normal straight stitch but it varies for each machine. If your machine does this stitch with a variable adjustment on the width of the zig zag part, then you could finesse it with this too.

That stitch is called a coverhem or a coverstitch. It is made with a coverhem machine which is basically a serger with an orbiting looper. Many upper end home sergers have coverstitch capabilities (Elna 945)

To use a double needle, simply thread two threads the same way that you would thread one. ONLY USE A STRAIGHT STITCH, AS THE NEEDLE WILL STRIKE THE PLATE IF IT ZIG ZAGS TOO WIDE.

hi! this particular problem is common when tension and stiches adjustment does not match and complied to fabrics your trying to sew,there a is hard way to find manual specialy to old ones. but if you want it may help you some i got here on manual sears 1803.if your control look similar to this in figure there are stitch control one for straight stitching and one
on special stitching.the small dial near needle is tension dial.You can set tension on # 3 to 5
stitch dial as in figureif you are
sewing a straight stiches set to # 8 to 12 trial are needed somtimes to acquired smooth sewing,Be sure no mechanical problem regarding in machine operation.try to sew a cotton fabric for trial then if sewing another fabrics sudden adjustment should be done.If your machine is equipted by auto tension just select on the fabrics.well small information can sometime helpfull ...nice sewing

Have you changed your needle? If you have a dull or bent needle it can cause the machine to not lock the stitches together and the result is a straight stitch on every pattern. Also, check your stitch width selector and make sure that it did not get accidently moved.

this sounds like its set for zippers check settings!