Thread a Sewing Machine
So you've found a great sewing project and you dug out Grandma's old sewing machine, but now what? For new sewing machine users, threading the machine can seem daunting, and even put you off the task of sewing altogether. Rather than let your sewing machine sit and gather more dust, take these simple steps to thread your machine and put it to use. You'll be crafting up quilts and clothes in no time!
Contents
Steps
Winding the Bobbin
- Disengage the needle. This can usually be done with one full rotation of the hand-wheel on the side of the machine. Do this so that your needle won't be flailing wildly while you wind the bobbin.
- Get the bobbin out. The bobbin is a small spool that is located under the sewing needle in your machine. It supplies the underside portion of the machine stitch, but doesn’t come prepared with thread. Remove the covering above the bobbin and take it out of its case; it should be empty of thread.
- Put in your thread. Place your spool of thread on the top of the sewing machine, on the spool pin. The spool should be turned so that the thread is released counter-clockwise.
- Pull the thread out. Tug at the thread to pull it out, and wind it around the bobbin winding tension disc at the top of the sewing machine. If you have a newer sewing machine, there will likely be a diagram at the top guiding you through this process.
- Begin winding the bobbin. Hold the bobbin up and wrap the thread around it 2-3 times.
- Put the bobbin on the bobbin pin. This is a small pin that is likely on the top of your machine. Slide the pin over to lock the bobbin in place for winding.
- Start the bobbin winder. As you hold the longer thread entering the bobbin, start winding the bobbin for a few seconds by pushing the floor pedal or press the bobbin winding button. Doing this will make sure the thread is securely wrapped around the bobbin. Then, cut off the excess thread on the short tail end that is sticking out.
- Finish winding the bobbin. Apply pressure to the floor pedal again or flip the winder back on and allow it to completely fill the bobbin with thread. Likely, your winder will stop on its own when the bobbin is full; the bobbin should still be able to spin easily when full.
- Remove the bobbin. Slide the bobbin pin over and remove the bobbin. The thread will still be attached to the thread spool as well as the bobbin, so cut the excess with a pair of scissors, leaving a {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} tail. You’re ready to start threading your machine now!
Threading a Sewing Machine
- Re-engage the needle. Now you can prepare the machine to actually sew. The main spool of thread will stay in the same spot on top of the machine. The bobbin's home is under a small door that is either directly below or to the side in front of your needle. Find this chamber and open it.
- Unwind a few inches of thread from the bobbin. (Note that in the pictures, the example shows switching over to a teal colored thread on the bobbin, just so you can differentiate between bobbin thread and spool thread.)
- Drop the bobbin into place. There should be a cutout that you will lay the bobbin thread into. In some machines, there is a C-shaped loop with a blade at the end to cut off the thread. Orient it such that if you pulled on the thread, the bobbin would spin counter-clockwise. You should be able to pull on the tail of thread to the right and the thread should unwind fairly easily. Close the cover over the bobbin when you finish.
- Begin winding the thread. Pull the thread from the spool on the top of the sewing machine. Pull the thread through the thread guide on the top of the machine - a silver piece that is sticking out the top. There will likely be printed guidelines on the top of the machine diagramming how to do this.
- Pull the thread down. Follow the directional arrows on your sewing machine by pulling the thread through the guide and towards you. You will be looping it around the tension discs on the bottom, and then back up towards the top along the second thread guide. This will ultimately create a long, narrow “U” shape with your thread.
- Wrap the thread around the takeup lever. After you’ve completed the “U” shape, you will wind the thread around the takeup lever at the top and back down towards the needle. The take-up lever is a metal piece sticking out of the second thread guide. This metal piece will have a hole cut out near the top that the thread needs to go through. Completing this motion will create a large, narrow, sideways “S” with the thread.
- Thread the needle. Pull the thread back down the machine towards the needle. Thread the needle through the small eye near the bottom. The thread should then be pulled through the small metal presser foot directly underneath it.
- Expose the bobbin thread. The bobbin thread is still hiding under the plate below the needle. To bring out the end of it, grab the round dial/wheel on the right side of your sewing machine. Spin it towards you a few times, and the end of the thread should pop out. Grab it and pull so that a few inches of the thread are exposed.
Tips
- Most machines thread in a generally similar manner. If yours doesn't look quite like this one, see if you can find instructions for one that is similar, or give it your best guess.
- Look for threading instructions printed on your machine. Many newer machines have lines and arrows to help you along.
- Refer to your machine's manual, if you have it. Some companies now post threading information online. It's worth trying a Web search for your model number.
Warnings
- When threading the needle, unplug the machine. You could injure yourself if you accidentally step on the pedal while your fingers are threading the machine.
Things You'll Need
- Spool of thread
- Bobbin (the little clear plastic or metal spool)
- Sewing Machine
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