Getting Started: Threading Your Machine

So you've inherited a sewing machine.

Sewing sounds like a good idea, right? But you've got no manual, and no idea how to use it, so it sits on your table (on your floor, in your garage...) staring at you.

Well lucky for you, most sewing machines, old and new, are all threaded about the same way!

Ready?

Turn the machine on, and lightly press the foot pedal, or twist the big nob on the side to move the needle to the highest position.

Then look at the top of the machine; there should be a skinny little stick-looking thing called a "spool pin":

Slide your spool of thread right on there!

Then look to the left for at least one little metal loopy thing called an "upper thread guide", and snap your thread into it/them.

Below the thread guide, there should be two channels along the front of the machine. Slide the thread down the first channel, and back up the second, to thread the "tension module". (p.s. you don't have to remember these names!)

At the top of the second channel, there will be another little hook to slide your thread over (from right-left). Then come back down that same channel toward the needle.

Near the needle, there will be at least one bottom thread guide for you to slip the thread behind. If your machine has two, do the highest one first.

Your last step is to thread the needle! Sometimes wetting the thread helps to get it in the eye more easily. And if you have a needle threader (see sewing supply list), that would be a great use for it!

Some machine's have an automatic threader (the big hook in the last photo). To use it, press the lever down, wrap the thread around the hook once, and release the lever. As it whips back, it should send the thread through the eye of the needle!

All done!

It seems like a lot of steps to remember just to thread a machine, but once you do it a couple of times, you'll be amazed at how quick it is! Threading the machine is a simple task, but it's important to do it correctly, as it can lead to several problems if it's not.