Core skills

Threading the Upper Thread

The general path the top thread follows from the spool to the needle, and why the presser foot must be up while you do it.

Beginner10 minMachine

What you will learn

Switch off and unplug the machine. Raise the needle to its highest point with the handwheel. Raise the presser foot with the lifter.

Place the spool on the spool pin. Fit the spool cap so the thread feeds smoothly. Pull out about 6 in (15 cm) of thread.
1. Spool pin
2. Thread guides
3. Tension dial
4. Take-up lever
5. Needle clamp and needle
6. Presser foot
7. Feed dogs
8. Needle plate
9. Bobbin and bobbin case
10. Presser-foot lifter
11. Stitch selector
12. Stitch length control
13. Reverse lever or button
14. Handwheel
15. Foot pedal
Raise the presser foot. This opens the tension discs so the thread seats between them. If you thread with the foot down, the thread sits on top of the discs and will bunch under the fabric.
Guide the thread through the first thread guide at the top of the machine. Most machines show the path with numbers or arrows on the body.
Bring the thread down and around the tension discs, following the arrows. Pull gently so it clicks into place between the discs.
Take the thread up and through the eye of the take-up lever. It is a small hole at the end of the moving lever. The lever must be in its highest position.
Take the thread down again through the lower guides near the needle bar.
Thread the needle from front to back, or from the side your manual shows. A built-in needle threader on some models helps. Leave a tail about 4 in (10 cm) long.
Check that the thread slides freely when you pull gently from the needle, and that it passes through every guide.

Cut the thread end at a sharp angle for easier threading.
Thread slowly and follow the numbered path. If one guide is skipped, stitches will be uneven.

Thread bunches in a messy nest under the fabric.

The presser foot was down or the thread missed the tension discs. Raise the foot, remove the thread and rethread from the spool.

The thread keeps snapping.

The path has a missed guide or the thread is caught on the spool notch. Rethread and check the spool.

The needle threader will not work.

The needle is not at its highest position or is a different size from the threader allows. See the manual.

Safety and fabric care

Switch off and unplug before threading near the needle. Keep fingers away from the needle point.

The thread passes through every guide, the tension discs and the take-up lever.
With the presser foot up the thread pulls through freely. With the foot lowered, a gentle pull meets firm, even resistance.