Incorrect sewing machine thread problems often force sewers to seek professional sewing machine care.

Thread is a necessity. The sewing machine needs thread to form stitches and connect fabrics. In most cases, it uses two threads.

One thread fills a bobbin and is placed under the arm of the sewing machine. One thread comes from above through the eye of the needle.

The needle moves up and down through the presser foot, fabric, and needle plate drawing the upper thread with it. This thread is caught by the mechanism below and wrapped around the bobbin thread. When the needle rises, the threads pull tighter until they form a locked stitch in the fabric.

However, improper threading can leave a mess when you try to sew. Each make and model has it own special threading, and it must be followed precisely every time.

What is the procedure for threading a Janome MC4000? Or a Singer 730? Or a Bernina 240? What steps are needed to insure proper threading? What is the proper procedure for threading most sewing machines? What easy techniques helps make sure threading is right?

If you follow this procedure, you will achieve perfect threading almost every time. It is a quick and easy way to thread most machines.

Begin by threading the upper thread. Your thread is wrapped around a spool with a hole down its center. The spools are made in a variety of shapes and designs, yet they all work alike. The spool of thread is placed on a spool pin which may be horizontally or vertically mounted to the sewing machine. It may by on the back or at the top. Place the spool over the spool pin on top of the sewing machine. If the pin is horizontal, you will need to use a spool cap to prevent snags.

Before threading further, look from right to left across the top of the sewing machine. You should see at least one and possibly more thread guides. It is essential that you inspect each guide to make sure it is smooth and has not rough edges that might snag the thread. File or smooth out these edges if necessary. Draw the thread from the spool from right to left through each guide sequentially. Make sure the thread flows freely off the spool and through the guides.

Some spool pins attach to the back of the sewing machine, and a few sewing machines have spool pins at the base behind the machine. Many people use an optional free standing accessory spool pin stand. These are usually sit behind the machine. Thread nets may be helpful. Smooth thread flow if vital, so double check by drawing a few inches of thread while you feel for snags.

Next, pull the thread through the tension assembly. Some tension assemblies are front mounted and quite obvious. Other machines have the tension mechanism enclosed under the cover. In either case, the mechanism uses two or more metal discs that press against the thread as it passes through them. This makes tension or resistance on the thread.

This is a common point of problems. Unless the thread is properly seated in the tension assembly, the resistance applied to the tension may be far more than desired or far less. Often when threading the sewing machine, users fail to properly seat the thread here.

This problem is easily prevented. Clean out the tension assembly of any debris, lint, rust, or rough spots. When you start threading, lift the presser foot. Leave it up until you are ready to thread the needle. This will hold the tension discs open allowing the thread to properly seat between them.

Once the tension is properly threaded, draw the thread through the tension spring or take up spring. This device maintains constant pressure on the thread and prevents it from flopping around.

Following the tension spring, the thread is threaded up and through the take up lever. Miss this lever and stitches mess up. Draw the thread through any final thread guides to the needle.

Now take hold of the thread with your left. Gently tug on thread to make sure the thread moves freely. Then drop the presser foot. Tug on the thread again. If you feel a significant amount of resistance, the top of the sewing machine is properly threaded. Thread the needle.

Finally, thread the bobbin. Check to make sure the bobbin is smoothly wound on the bobbin " not too tight or too loose. Insert the filled bobbin into the bobbin carrier. Draw the bobbin thread through the bobbin tension.

Hold the thread behind the needle with your left hand. Turn the hand wheel forward with your right. Advance the needle all the way down and back up. Tug on the thread with your left hand to draw the bobbin thread through the needle plate.