How to Thread Your Sewing Machine (and Start Sewing Again!)

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Pull that sewing machine out of your closet. You can start sewing again, I will walk you through it!

First things first. This is your sewing machine. Know it, love it. You can make great things together. (Plus save some money!)

How to Thread Your Sewing Machine

To start out, you will want to thread your bobbin. The bobbin is the small round thing that goes on the bottom of the sewing machine. Use the same color thread on your bobbin that you will want to show on your piece. In other words, if the spool of thread you are using is red make sure the thread on your bobbin is red. Every machine is a little different but my bobbin winder is on the top of the machine. Start the thread around the bobbin a couple of times, place on the bobbin winder and push to the left.

Once your bobbin is pretty full, stop it and cut the thread. Push the bobbin winder back to the left. Now you are ready to thread your machine. Start with the spool of thread on the spool pin.

Most machines will have arrows directing you through this process but the general idea is always the same. Take the thread around the thread guide down towards a second thread guide and ignore my large hand in this picture.

Wrap the thread around the second thread guide then back up towards the thread take up lever.

Pull the thread through the thread up take lever and make sure it is secure inside.

Pull the thread back down towards the needle and hook it around the hook near the needle.

Now you are ready to thread your needle. Sometimes if you cut off the end of the thread it can be easier to thread the needle.

Now press the foot control to make the machine run just a little. This should catch the thread from the bobbin and bring it through the machine. So you should have two strings now.

Before you are ready to start sewing there are a couple other things you should check. Make sure your needle is in the correct position by using the stitch selection panel. You also want to make sure that your width and length are where you need it. I normally sew on the middle position with a length of two and a 6.5 width.  Most new machines will tell you a recommended length and width for different positions.

To control the speed of how fast you stitch use this control:

Also to place a reverse stitch use the reverse lever.

Hopefully this quick tutorial helps you remember how to get started with your sewing machine. You can do this!! Let me see what projects you start working on!!!

Originally published 3/30/2017