How to Thread a Sewing Machine
So you finally found a pattern you want to sew. You’ve got your mom’s trusty sewing machine out, but before you can start sewing away, you must first learn to thread the machine. It can be difficult and challenging at first, but once you get used to it, you’ll be sewing any piece of fabric you like.
What You’ll Need:
Sewing machine
Spool of thread
Sewing machine needles
Threaded sewing bobbins
Procedure:
Familiarize yourself with the parts of a sewing machine. Knowing the basic parts, like the presser foot, throat plate, handwheel and tension assembly will make the process easier for you. If your machine has a manual, read it thorougly before threading.
Wind a bobbin, or a small spool of thread.
Find the sewing machine needle, and raise it as high as it can go. This can be done by turning the handwheel, going to your direction.
Raise the presser foot carefully. Doing this allows the thread to pass through the threading points easily, and also prevents the machine needle from unthreading as you begin stitching.
Get your winded up spool of thread, and position it on the spool pin found at the sewing machine top. There are some sewing machines that position the spool horizontally instead of vertically. If your model has this, secure the thread using the cap provided.
Find the thread end and hold it properly, passing it through the threading points designated. These are found on the machine casing’s top, then down the tension assembly. You can find the assembly on the machine’s left side. It works to control the flow of thread.
Put the thread under the tension assembly, then back it up through the succeeding threading point found at the machine’s top left. Make sure the thread passed properly between the two tension discs, and also through the hook attached to the tension dial’s left side.
Push the thread end going through the lever found at the machine’s top left (only if applicable). Pas it down through the threading points, then at the bottom left and above the sewing needle.
Thread the needle, going from either the back or the front. The direction where you thread depends on the type of machine you have.
Pull the thread a few inches through the eye, the pull it towards your left.
Put the wound up bobbin in the machine, if needed, then close the throat plate. There should be a few inches of thread pulled out towards the right, and poking from under the closed throat plate.
Hold the thread that’s been threaded through the needle.
Hold the handwheel then rotate it, going towards your direction. Keep doing this until the needle goes into and disappears in the bobbin case.
Don’t let go of the thread, and keep moving the handwheel, so the needle appears again at its highest position. As it rises, a loop of bobbin thread also comes up.
Pull the thread, going left. This will draw the bobbin thread loop outwards, and out of the case.
Let go of the top thread, then pull the bobbin thread, until the end comes up. Pull the bottom and top thread under the presser foot, then to the right and back of the machine.
Keep practicing doing this and it’ll be an easy task. Soon, you’ll be a whiz at threading a sewing machine and at sewing, too!