Sewing Master Class: Lesson 2 Threading your machine

 

Today in week 2 of sewing master class, we are going to learn how to thread your sewing machine. If you missed it, you can find lesson 1 on choosing your sewing machine here. Whether your brand new sewing machine arrived in the mail or you are digging mum’s old machine out of the closet, threading your machine is an easy! Correct machine set up will guide you toward success as a seamstress!  In troubleshooting my machine, ninety percent of the time it is due to incorrect threading. So, learning how to thread your machine will be your greatest tool in learning the sew!

 

Every sewing machine is different, but the same.

Think of your new sewing machine as a car. There are hundreds of different kinds of cars. They are different brands and speeds. At the end of the day, they all run the same.

Before we get started learning to thread your machine, I wanted to spend some time explaining the parts of your machine. The bobbin is the circular disk on which you wind thread. It sits underneath your machine, inside the bobbin case. When threaded correctly, your bobbin thread should come up from the bottom of the machine and sit in between the feed dogs, the grooved feet on the thread plate that help move your fabric when sewing.  Your spool of thread sits on the spool pin. The thread then travels through your machine and into the needle. Your needle is right above the pressor foot, the lever you press down to create a tight seal between the thread plate and your fabric, so the feed dogs can work properly. The stitch selector is seen on the right of the machine, this is where you can customize the type of stitch. On the far right is the flywheel, this allows you to manually run the machine – which is essential in threading. The tension, which will be explained in detail later, is controlled by a numbered dial.

Threading your bobbin

1. First, place your spool of thread on the spool pin. Place the end of the thread down through the pin on the side of the machine. This just holds tension on your thread (as pictured)

2. Next, wind your thread counter clockwise through the circular feeder pictured on the top of the machine. My machine has a diagram on the machine to demonstrate correct threading

3. Once wound once through the circular feeder, you should have a loose ‘tail’. The tail is what I’m holding on to in this photo. You will thread this through one of the holes in the side of the bobbin.

4. Place the bobbin on the bobbin spool. Thread the tail of the thread through any of the holes on the side of the bobbin

5. Push the bobbin spool to the right. This will signal to the machine that it is winding the bobbin. Correct position of the bobbin will signal to the machine not to stitch, and the bobbin will begin to spin

6. Wind until ¾ full of thread. If the thread extends past the outer rim it won’t fit into the bobbin case

7. Next place into the case, threading through the notch in the hood.

8. Lastly, place in the bottom of your machine with the arm of the bobbin case extending up. The tail of your thread should be on the right side of the arm. Make sure about 6 inches or more is extending. This way when you go to thread the machine it can pull your bobbin thread up to the thread plate.

 

 

Threading your machine

1. Similar to threading your bobbin, place the spool of thread on the spool pin. First, thread around the extending pin on the side of the machine and wind once around the circular feeder. However, this time, thread counter clockwise to face the front of the machine.

2. Thread down the farthest slit to the right. When the thread appears at the bottom of the machine, sharply thread it upward into the parallel slit or opening

3. Using your flywheel to reveal the “eye”, thread through the opening. My mom used to call this guy the turtle. You wind him out of his shell and then thread through the eye

4. Once threaded through the eye, trace straight downward to meet the needle

5. Many times machines will have another pin to hold the thread in place next to the needle. If your machine does not have this element, don’t fret

6. I have an automatic threader so I never have to worry about the direction of the thread. However, in older machines you thread the needle front to back or right to left. If you have an older machine, replace the needle. A dull needle can ruin your day like a bad coffee.

 

Bringing the bobbin thread through the thread plate

7. Now that your machine is threaded, we are going to bring up the thread from the bobbin. Make sure your tail on the thread extending from the needle is also about 6 inches long. If needed you can just pull on the thread and the thread should flow easily

8. Next, with one hand on the edge of the thread extending from the needle, place the other hand on the flywheel. Gently turn the dial. I usually do this step with the bottom door open. Here you will see the thread acing around the bobbin case, eventually pulling up the bobbin thread. Lastly, once you can see the needle thread interlocked with the bobbin thread, pull on the needle thread to reveal through the thread plate.

 

if you learn with videos I’ve linked some great options here:

 my Instagram under sewing 101

Youtube

 

Want the FULL guide? subscribe to my newsletter here in the side bar –

 

Stay tuned for next week’s lesson on stitches!