Threading your first sewing machine can be a bit difficult for some. Yet, with a few instructions and a bit of practice, even a beginner can master the technique quite quickly. Although each sewing machine is different, the basics of threading a sewing machine are, for the most part, universal.
Prepare to thread
Set up the sewing machine in an uncluttered location, placing it on a sturdy desk, table or work surface. Make sure the sewing machine cord is plugged directly into a working electrical outlet.
Select an ample spool of thread for your sewing project. Mount the spool on the spool pin of the sewing machine. (Usually, this is located on the very top of the machine.) Affix the thread spool guard (usually a disc-shaped piece) over the spool pin to hold the thread spool in place.
Gently pull about 12 inches of thread loose from the spool.
Turn the sewing machine power switch to its "on" position. The light should come on at this point. Gently power the sewing machine until the needle reaches its highest position.
Raise the pressure foot on the sewing machine. Open the bobbin case, which is located under the sewing machine's pressure plate. The pressure plate is the sewing surface through which the needle passes when sewing.
Fill the sewing machine bobbin
Carefully remove the thread bobbin from the bobbin case. Generally, a sewing machine will have a sliding pressure plate, located under the needle mechanism. Sliding this plate forward will usually open the bobbin case.
Grasp the open end of the previously mounted thread spool. Feed the thread through the thread guide - located on the top of the sewing machine - toward the back. Some sewing machines have several thread guides through which the thread must be routed. Check the owner's manual for specific guidelines.
Next, wind the thread around the bobbin a few times before poking the end through the thread hole in the side of the thread bobbin.
Mount the thread bobbin onto the machine's bobbin-winding mechanism. This will be located either on the front of the sewing machine, by the stitch guide, or on the top of it, next to the flywheel.
Disable the sewing needle mechanism by loosening the flywheel, if necessary.
Power-up the sewing machine to wind the thread onto the bobbin. Stop when the bobbin is full. Trim excess threads, leaving at least 12 inches coming out of the bobbin.
Smart sewers usually prepare multiple bobbins at this point, particularly for longer sewing projects. By having additional bobbins ready, a sewer will not have to rethread the sewing machine later simply because the first bobbin has run out of thread.
Insert the bobbin into the sewing machine
Place a filled thread bobbin into the bobbin case of the sewing machine. (Often, the bobbin case cover will bear a diagram for this purpose.) Allow the loose end of the bobbin thread to drape across the sewing machine below the needle.
Do not close the sliding pressure plate yet.
Thread the upper portion of the sewing machine
Gently tug the loose end of thread from the top-mounted thread spool. Hold the end of the thread between your thumb and index finger so that you can slide its length sideways through the required sewing machine components.
Allow the side of the thread to pass through the thread guide. Feed the thread counter-clockwise through the tension disks located on the front of the sewing machine. Pull the thread up through the take-up lever and down through the lower thread guide, located just in front of the needle mechanism.
At this point, you will be ready to thread the needle. With the power switched on, you can use the sewing machine light to assist you. Poke the end of the thread through the sewing machine needle, from front to back. Pull this upper sewing thread toward the back until you have at least 12 inches of spare thread through the needle.
Pick up the bobbin thread
Still holding the end of the thread, engage the sewing machine for one stitch so that the needle passes through the pressure plate. The bobbin thread will appear, looped up through the pressure plate. Grasp the bobbin thread and pull it toward the back, along with the upper thread.
Gently replace the bobbin case lid and snap it securely shut.
The sewing machine is now fully threaded and ready for operation.
Be sure to check the thread tensions, adjusting the tension disks on the front of the machine if necessary. Also inspect the pressure using the pressure foot adjustment guide, if needed. (The amount of pressure required will be determined by the weight and texture of the fabric you are sewing.)
Each sewing machine is different
Mechanisms and maintenance instructions may vary.
For this reason, sewing machine retailers almost always offer hands-on sewing classes as part of an equipment purchase. Helpful experts demonstrate sewing machine threading, operation, features and techniques. Sewers may often enroll in such classes directly, even without a sewing machine purchase.
It is always a good idea to keep the owner's manual handy when operating a sewing machine. These can prove invaluable over time. If the owner's manual has been misplaced or destroyed, an additional copy may be obtained, either online or through the mail, from the sewing machine manufacturer.
Although sewing machine threading may seem like a challenging endeavor at first, it is far less complex than it may seem.
 | The key to sewing for beginners is not to take on too much too soon. Enlist the help of a friend who sews before investing in materials or a sewing machine and choose a basic project geared toward beginners. Sewing skills can take time to perfect, so don't give up after only one try. |
Doing some simple Christmas sewing projects can save you money and add spice to your home during the holiday season. |
Whether you're just getting started in garment construction, or you've been doing it a long time, there are certain things you can do to make it go a little smoother. |
Knowing a few simple sewing tips can do wonders for your wardrobe, not to mention your bank account. |
The first thing any comedian does, on getting an unscheduled laugh, is to verify the state of his buttons. |
