How to thread a sewing machine

In order to be able to sew using your sewing machine you must run the thread through the machine. We learned on my previous post that the bobbin provides the thread for the bottom stitch. The spool of thread provides the thread needed for the top stitch.

These are the steps I personally follow when setting my machine ready to sew.

Once we have wound our bobbin, place it into the bobbin case. If you do not know how to wind the bobbin go to my tutorial  here.

bobbin inside the bobbin case and ready 
to be inserted into the shuttle assembly
This is where we left off on my previous tutorial.

Let's begin by setting the bobbin into place, just to get it out of your way.

Insert the bobbin case with the bobbin inside it 

into the shuttle assembly.

Make sure the hole in the bobbin and bobbin case 

go rightinto the shaft on the shuttle assembly.

Also, make sure the handle aligns with the groove.

Press until you hear it click.

You are done with this part!

Once you have completed the bobbin part, let's move on to threading the top thread.

Place the spool of thread on the spool holder and secure it with the attachment.

1. First, run the thread through the top thread guide.

2. Then run the thread through the tension disc.

Pull the thread through the thinner groove to the right in 

the direction indicated by the arrows.

Pull the thread around the round thing at the bottom.

Pull the thread up through the larger groove on the left,

 again following the arrows.

Loop the thread up and around the metal bar 

at the top of the larger groove.

Pull the thread down and feed it through the bottom thread guide, as shown above.

Thread the needle from the front.

Pass the thread below the presser foot, 

pulling about 4 inches of thread through. 

You are all done with the top thread!

Now pull the bottom thread from the bobbin to the needle plate.

While pulling on the top thread with your left hand, with your right hand turn the wheel clockwise to move the needle all the way down. Keep turning the wheel and bring the needle back up. When the needle moves up again, it brings the bottom 

thread with it.

See how the two threads are intertwined

Pull the threads so they are both on the needle plate. Leave at least 4 inches of thread free.

DONE! You are ready to sew!

Tote bags

I've always loved tote bags. I think they are very practical and useful. They can be used as a personal bag or as a carry-the-extra-stuff bag. Taking up sewing made me want to make my own. I wanted to make it quilted and colorful, just for myself. Searching all over the internet trying to come across a free tutorial was hard. Most of the patterns I found were for sale. I wasn't willing to pay. I am trying very hard to make this hobby as inexpensive as possible. Eventually, I came across this wonderful lady who is my sewing angel! She has a lot of tutorials on almost everything sewing. I have learned a lot from her. You should check her out here. At the time I was trying to make everything with 60° triangles. I was more worried about the design on the bag then the bags' own design. I made this one for my mom as a Christmas present.

I came to find that this bag was too basic and was missing pockets, a zipper and snaps. I did not know how to add any of these. I went again on a search to find a tutorial, but nothing made sense. I saw somebody post a very neat tote bag on instagram, big and fancy with all the things I mentioned I was missing before. After digging around Instagram I found out it was noodlehead's super tote. I just had to buy the pattern. I love the bag, loved her blog, and loved her entrepreneurial spirit. All of a sudden I wasn't worried about spending money on patterns. I bought two of them! Check her out! You will also like her work.

I really really loved the super tote. Have I mentioned that already? Well I can't stop making them!

Inside out!

Guess what?! I have not made one for myself yet! So far I've made a bag for my mom. I made a super tote for my mother-in-law. I loved it! So, I went on to make one for Seth's grandmother and another one for his great aunt. It is very satisfying and makes sewing much more fun to sew for someone you already have in mind. I put projects for myself on hold because sewing for a loved one fills my heart. Does this happen to you too? 

Me, myself and my sewing machine

On September 7th of 2009 Seth and I went out and got the first sewing machine we came across. We got a SINGER SIMPLE 2263 at Walmart. It was $99 + tax. I love my sewing machine, it began this journey with me and allowed me to explore and learn in the sewing world. Unfortunately, my skills and my needs are advancing faster than this basic one can keep up with. It now seems weak, slow, and it is very hard to use for free motion quilting. Now that I have more experience and have done research, I dream of a Juki TL2000QI. This Juki sewing machine is stronger and faster, with adjustable feeding dogs, which help feed the fabric through smoothly, thus making free motion quilting a breeze. It also sews the stitches even and equal on both sides of the fabric (this is a big deal!). While I save up for a new machine this Singer Simple will have to do. 

SINGER│Simple 2263

Front view

Accessory drawer: Removable drawer in which you can store most used items (brush, screwdriver, etc.)

Bobbin winder: Where you wind the thread onto the bobbin, which then goes into the bobbin case. This feeds the bottom thread. 

Hand wheel: Used to manually move the needle up or down.

Length Knob: Lets you set the length of every individual stitch. 

Light: The light turns on automatically and it aides in better seeing where your stitches are going.

Presser foot: Puts pressure on the fabric to feed it through smoothly. There are many different types.

Reverse stitch: To have the stitches go backwards you must press this button at the same time. Once released it sews forward again.

Spool: It hold the spool of thread. This is your top thread on stitches.

Stitch selector: Different stitches to choose from straight lines, to zig zag and curvy lines. Other machines come with more styles of stitches to choose from. This one only comes with 21.

Width: Lets you set how long the stitch will go from side to side.

Tension dial: Upper stitch tension regulator.

Side view

Pedal: Controls the speed in which you are sewing.

Main plug socket: Attach the electricity cord here.

Power and light switch

Back view

Horizontal spool pin: Holds the spool of thread to provide the upper stitch thread to the stitch.

Presser foot lifter: This is to lift and lower the presser foot. 

Upper thread guide:  The path the thread should follow when winding the bobbin or sewing.

These are the accessories it came with.

From left to right.

Quilting guide bar: Makes it easy to follow previously stitched lines.

Needles: You need lots of these! Especially if you are like me and force fabric through or are a beginner at free motion quilting

All purpose foot: Remember the presser foot? this is one of them. This one allows you to sew in a straight line or in a zig-zag.

Unknown item: I to this day have no idea what this is, and what to call it. I can't even look it up.

L shape screwdriver:  This is the item I always have on hand. It is very useful and much needed when changing those broken needles and maybe into one of the larger presser feet.

Another unknown item: :/

Lint brush: Used to clean bobbin case and needle plate.

Bobbins: Used to feed the bottom thread. It only comes with 4; you will need many, many more for each color you sew in.



So, go get a machine and let's start learning together! Any machine will do for a beginner. If you do not wish to make a large investment on a hobby that you don't know you will stick to, then I recommend buying a used one online or at a flea market. Let your last resort be a big chain super store. If you want to invest in a nicer sewing machine then I recommend going into a sewing machine store, like a sew & vac. There you might find better deals on higher quality machines, new and refurbished.