How to thread a sewing machine (step by step)

To thread a sewing machine, raise the presser foot and the needle, set the spool on the pin, then lead the top thread through the top guide, down and around the tension, up through the take-up lever, down to the needle, and thread the needle from front to back. Wind a bobbin, drop it in, and pull the bobbin thread up through the plate. Threading in that order is what makes the stitch lock.

TL;DR

• Always raise the presser foot before you thread the top. The foot lever opens the tension discs so the thread can seat between them. This is the single most common beginner miss.
• Turn the handwheel toward you to raise the needle to its highest point first.
• Top thread path: spool, top guide, down the right slot, around the bottom, up the left slot, through the take-up lever, down to the needle guides, then the needle front to back.
• Wind the bobbin evenly, drop it in so the thread pulls in the direction your manual shows, then bring the bobbin thread up through the needle plate.
• Pull both threads 4 to 6 inches to the back under the foot before you start, so they do not snarl.

Why does thread order matter?

A machine makes a stitch by locking the top thread with the bobbin thread. The top thread has to run through the take-up lever and sit inside the tension discs, and the bobbin has to feed from below with a little drag. If the thread skips the tension or the lever, the stitch will not form and you get loops or a jam under the fabric. Thread the two paths in order and most stitch problems never start.

How to thread the top thread, step by step

1. Raise the needle and the foot. Turn the handwheel toward you until the needle is at the top. Lift the presser foot lever so the tension discs open.
2. Set the spool. Put the thread on the spool pin and add the spool cap so it unwinds smoothly.
3. First guide. Pull the thread into the top thread guide near the spool pin.
4. Down and around. Draw the thread down the right channel, around the U-turn at the bottom, and back up the left channel. This is where it slips between the tension discs.
5. Take-up lever. At the top of the left channel, pass the thread through the take-up lever, through its eye. Many jams trace back to a missed lever.
6. Down to the needle. Come back down and hook the thread through the lower wire guides just above the needle.
7. Thread the needle. On most machines the needle threads from front to back. Leave a tail of a few inches, or use the built-in threader if your machine has one.

What is the take-up lever, and why do people miss it?

The take-up lever is the metal arm at the top left of the machine that rises and falls as you sew. It feeds the right amount of top thread for each stitch and pulls the stitch snug. It is easy to skip because it sits in a slot and the thread has to hook into its eye, not just pass near it. If your thread misses the lever, you get a tangled nest under the fabric on the very first stitches. When you thread, make sure the lever is raised to its top (turn the handwheel toward you), then hook the thread firmly through the eye before you carry on down to the needle.

How do you wind and insert the bobbin?

A bobbin is the small spool that sits under the needle plate and holds the lower thread.

1. Wind it. Put the main spool on the pin, lead the thread through the bobbin winder guide, and wrap it a few turns around an empty bobbin. Push the bobbin winder to the side to engage it and press the pedal. Let it fill until it stops, so the wind is even and firm, not lumpy.
2. Drop it in or load it. Top-loading machines drop the bobbin into a case under a clear cover. Front-loading machines slot the bobbin into a removable case. Check your manual for the direction the thread should pull, because the wrong way gives uneven stitches.
3. Bring the thread up. Hold the top thread, turn the handwheel toward you one full turn so the needle dips and rises, then tug the top thread to pull up a loop of bobbin thread. Pull both tails to the back.

Common mistakes

• Threading with the foot down. The tension discs stay closed, so the top thread never seats. Lift the foot, then thread.
• Skipping the take-up lever. The thread bunches into a nest under the fabric. Re-thread from the spool.
• Needle not at the top. Hard to thread, and the take-up lever may not be at its top. Raise it with the handwheel first.
• Uneven bobbin. A lumpy wind pulls the stitch tight and loose by turns. Let the winder fill it in one go.
• Both tails left loose at the front. They get dragged down into the plate on the first stitch. Pull 4 to 6 inches to the back.

What should I sew first?

Once the machine is threaded, pick something flat, small and forgiving so you can watch your stitches. A few free beginner patterns in the Sewzy app:

• Scrunchie, free, about 15 minutes. A fabric tube and a line of elastic, ideal for your first go.
• Bowl Cozy, free, about an hour. Straight stitching and simple darts.
• Drawstring Bag, free, about 30 minutes. Side seams and a casing.
• Zipper Pouch, free, about 45 minutes, when you want to practice a zipper.

If your first stitches misbehave, it is almost always the threading. See how to fix thread bunching under the fabric and how to fix skipped stitches. New to choosing thread and needles? Read the needle and thread guide, and browse easy projects for beginners to plan your next few makes.

Related guides: best Sewing Machine for Beginners.