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Threading your sewing machine

Need some help setting up your machine? Follow our guide and you'll be stitching up a storm in no time!

How to wind the bobbin

A properly wound bobbin will help create neat, perfect stitching. Use the bobbins provided with your machine and follow these simple steps.

Place the thread on the spindle, then follow the marked path to take the thread round the bobbin winding tension on the left and bring it back towards the bobbin.
Feed the thread end through the hole in the bobbin, from inside to outside, then place the bobbin on the spindle. Push the spindle over, or the lever towards the spindle (depending on your model).
Hold the thread tail while you start winding the bobbin. Once a little of the thread is wound round the bobbin, stop winding and cut off the thread tail. Continue to fill bobbin.

All sewn up!
On some machines you need to disengage the needle manually to prevent it going up and down as the bobbin winds. To do this, you will need to either pull out a section of the balance wheel or move a lever. Remember to put it back when the bobbin has been wound.

How to fit the bobbin

It is very important that the bobbin is dropped into the bobbin casing correctly even though it looks as if it can go either way up.

Place the thread on the spindle, then follow the marked path to take the thread round the bobbin winding tension on the left and bring it back towards the bobbin.
Feed the thread end through the hole in the bobbin, from inside to outside, then place the bobbin on the spindle. Push the spindle over, or the lever towards the spindle (depending on your model).
Hold the thread tail while you start winding the bobbin. Once a little of the thread is wound round the bobbin, stop winding and cut off the thread tail. Continue to fill bobbin.

All sewn up!
Lower and raise the needle to pick up the bobbin thread before replacing the plastic cover, to avoid trapping the thread tail in the cover, which can prevent it being picked up.

Fitting a front-loading bobbin

Place the thread on the spindle, then follow the marked path to take the thread round the bobbin winding tension on the left and bring it back towards the bobbin.
Feed the thread end through the hole in the bobbin, from inside to outside, then place the bobbin on the spindle. Push the spindle over, or the lever towards the spindle (depending on your model).
Hold the thread tail while you start winding the bobbin. Once a little of the thread is wound round the bobbin, stop winding and cut off the thread tail. Continue to fill bobbin.

Upper threading

Most machines are threaded in a similar way, following four or five steps. Make sure the needle and presser foot are raised.

Place the thread on the spindle, then follow the marked path to take the thread round the bobbin winding tension on the left and bring it back towards the bobbin.
Feed the thread end through the hole in the bobbin, from inside to outside, then place the bobbin on the spindle. Push the spindle over, or the lever towards the spindle (depending on your model).
Hold the thread tail while you start winding the bobbin. Once a little of the thread is wound round the bobbin, stop winding and cut off the thread tail. Continue to fill bobbin.

Checking stitching

Once you have threaded your machine, test the stitch to ensure it is working perfectly. It is a good idea to do some test stitching every time you change your stitch selection.

Place the thread on the spindle, then follow the marked path to take the thread round the bobbin winding tension on the left and bring it back towards the bobbin.
Feed the thread end through the hole in the bobbin, from inside to outside, then place the bobbin on the spindle. Push the spindle over, or the lever towards the spindle (depending on your model).
Hold the thread tail while you start winding the bobbin. Once a little of the thread is wound round the bobbin, stop winding and cut off the thread tail. Continue to fill bobbin.

How to thread a sewing machine All sewn up!
If something is wrong with the stitching, try rethreading the machine rather than changing the tension as it is more likely to be a problem with the threading.

Get the book
For how essential how-tos, take a look at The Very Easy Guide To Using Your Sewing Machine by Wendy Gardiner (£12.99, Search Press).