Easy: How To Thread A Kenmore Sewing Machine Model 158

Threading your Kenmore Model 158 sewing machine might seem tricky at first, but it is easy once you know the steps. This guide will show you how to set up Kenmore 158 sewing by following simple directions. You will learn how to prepare your machine, wind and insert the bobbin (this is the Kenmore 158 lower thread), and run the thread through the top part of the machine (this is the Kenmore 158 upper thread). We will cover everything from placing the spool to the final Kenmore 158 needle threading.

Getting Your Kenmore 158 Ready

Before you start threading your Kenmore 158 sewing machine, take a moment to get things ready. This makes the job smoother and helps stop problems.

Unplug the Machine: Safety first! Make sure the power cord is out of the wall. This stops the machine from starting by mistake while your fingers are near the needle.
Raise the Presser Foot: The presser foot is the little foot that holds the fabric down when you sew. Find the lever on the back or side of the needle area. Push it up. Lifting the presser foot is important for threading the upper part correctly. It opens the tension discs, which we will talk about later.
Lift the Needle to its Highest Point: Turn the handwheel (the big wheel on the side of the machine) towards you. Watch the needle bar move up and down. Stop turning when the needle is as high as it can go. This puts the Kenmore 158 take-up lever in the right place for threading.
Gather Your Supplies: You will need your spool of thread, an empty bobbin that fits your Kenmore 158 (usually a Class 15 bobbin), and a pair of scissors.

Winding the Bobbin for Your Kenmore 158

The bobbin holds the Kenmore 158 lower thread. It is important to wind it correctly. This is the first step for good stitches. This process is called Kenmore 158 bobbin winding.

Setting Up to Wind

Place Your Spool of Thread: Find the spool pin on top of your machine. It might stand straight up. Put your spool of thread on this pin.
Find the Bobbin Winder: Look on the top or front right side of your machine. You will see a small metal pin or spot where the bobbin goes. This is the bobbin winder spindle. There is also usually a guide for the thread nearby.

The Winding Steps

Take Thread from the Spool: Pull some thread from your spool.
Guide the Thread: Look for a thread guide near the spool pin or near the bobbin winder area. This guide helps keep the thread in the right path. Put the thread through this guide. It might be a hook or a small metal loop.
Wrap Thread on the Bobbin: Take your empty bobbin. Find the small hole on the top edge of the bobbin. Push the end of your thread through this hole from the inside to the outside. Hold the thread end.
Put Bobbin on the Spindle: Place the bobbin onto the bobbin winder spindle. Push it down firmly.
Secure the Thread End: Wrap the loose end of the thread around the bobbin a few times by hand. Hold this thread end for a moment. You can even trim the extra thread end close to the bobbin once you have a few wraps.
Engage the Winder: On most Kenmore 158 machines, you push the bobbin winder spindle to the right. This moves the bobbin against a rubber wheel or part that turns when the machine runs.
Start Winding: Put the foot pedal down gently. The bobbin should start to spin quickly and fill with thread. Hold the thread lightly as it winds if needed to help it wind smoothly, but the guides should do most of the work.
Watch It Fill: Let the bobbin fill up. It will wind evenly. Do not overfill the bobbin. It should stop winding or the winder should disengage (pop back to the left) when it is full.
Stop and Remove: Take your foot off the pedal. Push the bobbin winder spindle back to the left if it did not disengage automatically.
Cut the Thread: Use your scissors to cut the thread connecting the full bobbin to your spool.
Take Bobbin Off: Remove the full bobbin from the spindle. Your Kenmore 158 bobbin winding is done.

Self-Correction Tip: If the bobbin is not winding smoothly or the thread is piling up on one side, check that you went through the correct bobbin winding thread guide.

Putting the Bobbin In Your Kenmore 158

Now you have a full bobbin. You need to put it into the machine. This is called Kenmore 158 bobbin insertion. The bobbin goes into a special case or area under the needle. This is where the Kenmore 158 lower thread comes from.

Locating the Bobbin Area

The bobbin on a Kenmore 158 is usually a ‘front-loading’ or ‘side-loading’ bobbin. This means the bobbin case is accessed from the front of the machine, often under a small cover below the needle and presser foot.
Find the slide plate or cover plate right below the needle area on the flat part of the machine. Slide it open or flip it up.
Inside, you will see the bobbin case area. There might already be an empty bobbin case there, or you might need to insert one with your bobbin inside.

Inserting the Bobbin and Case

Prepare the Bobbin Case: If your machine uses a removable bobbin case (most Kenmore 158 models do), you will need to put the bobbin inside the case first.
Put Bobbin in Case: Take your full bobbin. Place it into the metal bobbin case.
Check the Spin Direction: This is very important! The bobbin needs to spin the right way when you put the case in the machine. For most front-loading Kenmore 158 machines, when the bobbin is in the case, the thread should pull off in a specific direction. Often, it pulls off clockwise when looking at the bobbin inside the case before you pull it through the tension spring slit. When you pull the thread through the tension spring slit on the case, the bobbin usually spins counter-clockwise inside the case. Always check your manual if you are not sure, as this is a common spot for errors.
Pull Thread Through Slit: Find the small slit or opening on the edge of the bobbin case. There is a tension spring here. Pull the bobbin thread through this slit. It should slide under the tension spring. This is how the machine puts tension on the Kenmore 158 lower thread. You should feel a little resistance when you pull the thread.
Leave a Tail: Leave about 6 inches (or 15 cm) of thread hanging from the bobbin case.
Insert the Bobbin Case: Hold the bobbin case by the latch (the small flip-up part). Slide the bobbin case into its spot in the machine. There is usually a center pin that it slides onto. Make sure it goes in smoothly.
Close the Latch: Let go of the latch. It should spring back and lock the case in place. Give it a gentle push to make sure it is seated correctly.
Close the Cover: Slide the cover plate back into place.

Bobbin Insertion Tip: If the bobbin case does not go in easily, do not force it. Make sure the needle is in its highest position and the bobbin case is lined up right. Also, double-check that the bobbin is sitting correctly inside the case.

This finishes putting in the Kenmore 158 lower thread. Now you will thread the top part.

Threading the Upper Part of Your Kenmore 158

Threading the top of your machine is running the thread from the spool through a set path down to the needle. This is the Kenmore 158 upper thread path. This is where the Kenmore 158 manual threading steps come in.

Starting the Upper Thread Path

Place Your Spool: Put your spool of thread onto the top spool pin, just like you did for bobbin winding.
Through the First Guide: Find the first thread guide on the top of the machine. It might be a hook or a slot. Pull the thread from the spool and put it through this guide. This is one of the important Kenmore 158 thread guides.

Deciphering the Downward Path

After the first guide, the thread needs to go down.

Go Down the Channel: Look for a channel or slot on the front of the machine, running vertically. Guide the thread down this channel. You will go all the way down to the bottom of this channel.

Entering the Tension Area

This is a very important step for good stitches. The thread must pass through the tension discs. This is part of setting the Kenmore 158 tension setting.

Around the Bottom: At the bottom of the vertical channel, the thread path will usually curve around or go into a U-turn shape. Guide the thread around this point.
Up Through the Tension Discs: As you come around the bottom, the thread goes back up the other side of the vertical channel. As you pull it up, the thread should pass between the tension discs. These discs put pressure on the thread. Remember to lift the presser foot before threading this part! This opens the discs so the thread can sit correctly inside them. If the presser foot is down, the discs are closed, and the thread will just sit on them, not in them. This leads to very loose stitches.

Grasping the Take-Up Lever

After coming up through the tension area, the thread must go through the Kenmore 158 take-up lever. This lever moves up and down as the machine sews and helps feed the right amount of thread.

Find the Lever: The take-up lever is a metal arm with a hole or hook on the end. It is usually found at the top of the vertical path you just followed. You lifted it to its highest point earlier by turning the handwheel.
Hook the Thread: Guide the thread from the tension area up and hook it into or through the hole of the take-up lever. Make sure the thread is securely in the lever. This is one of the most critical Kenmore 158 thread guides.

Heading Back Down to the Needle

From the take-up lever, the thread path goes downwards again towards the needle.

Follow the Downward Path: Look for more Kenmore 158 thread guides below the take-up lever. These are usually small hooks or clips on the arm of the machine near the needle bar. Put the thread through these guides in order. These guides keep the thread from tangling and help control its movement.

Kenmore 158 Needle Threading

You are almost done with the Kenmore 158 upper thread path! The final step is getting the thread through the needle eye.

Check the Needle: Make sure you have the right needle for your fabric and thread. Make sure it is inserted correctly (the flat side of the needle shaft usually faces the back on Kenmore 158 machines).
Cut the Thread End: It helps to cut the end of your thread with sharp scissors. This gives you a clean, non-frayed end that is easier to push through the needle.
Thread the Needle: Hold the thread end and push it through the eye of the needle. For Kenmore 158 machines, you usually thread the needle from front to back.
Pull Through: Pull about 6 inches (or 15 cm) of thread through the needle eye.
Position the Thread: Pull this thread tail under the presser foot (which should still be up) and towards the back of the machine.

You have now completed the Kenmore 158 manual threading for the upper part!

Bringing Up the Bobbin Thread

Now that both the Kenmore 158 upper thread (through the needle) and the Kenmore 158 lower thread (the bobbin thread) are in place, you need to bring the bobbin thread up through the needle plate so you have both threads on top, ready to sew.

Hold the Upper Thread: Keep hold of the tail of the upper thread (the one coming out of the needle). Hold it gently to the side.
Turn the Handwheel: Use the handwheel on the side of the machine. Turn it slowly towards you. Watch the needle go down into the hole in the needle plate. It will grab the bobbin thread.
Bring the Needle Back Up: Keep turning the handwheel towards you until the needle comes all the way back up to its highest position.
Look for the Loop: As the needle comes up, it should bring up a loop of the bobbin thread.
Pull Up the Loop: Use your fingers or the tip of your scissors or a seam ripper (carefully!) to catch this loop of bobbin thread. Pull the loop gently upwards until the end of the bobbin thread comes completely through the hole in the needle plate.
Get Both Threads Ready: Now you should have two threads coming up from the needle plate hole: the upper thread and the bobbin thread. Pull both of them under the presser foot (which is still up) and towards the back of the machine.

Tip: If you turn the handwheel away from you, you can tangle the threads. Always turn it towards you (this is the direction the machine runs when sewing).

Checking Your Threading

Before you start sewing on your fabric, take a quick look:

Is the spool on the pin?
Did the thread go through all the Kenmore 158 thread guides?
Is the thread sitting correctly in the tension discs?
Is the thread through the hole in the Kenmore 158 take-up lever?
Is the thread through the needle eye (front to back)?
Are both the upper thread and the Kenmore 158 lower thread (bobbin thread) pulled under the presser foot and to the back?

If everything looks right, you are ready for a test stitch.

Doing a Test Stitch

It is a good idea to do a test stitch on a scrap piece of the same fabric you plan to sew. This lets you check the stitch quality and the Kenmore 158 tension setting.

Place Fabric: Put a small piece of scrap fabric under the presser foot.
Lower the Presser Foot: Use the presser foot lever to lower the foot onto the fabric. This closes the tension discs on the upper thread path.
Start Sewing: Gently press the foot pedal and sew a short line (about 1-2 inches).
Check the Stitch: Look at the stitches on both the top and the bottom of the fabric.
- Good Stitch: The stitches should look the same on the top and the bottom. They should be locked neatly in the middle of the fabric layers.
- Trouble Stitch (Looping on Top): If the stitches are looping on the top side of the fabric, the Kenmore 158 lower thread tension is likely too loose, or more commonly, the Kenmore 158 upper thread is not threaded correctly through the tension discs. Lift the presser foot, re-thread the upper thread path carefully, making sure it snaps into the tension discs.
- Trouble Stitch (Looping on Bottom): If the stitches are looping on the bottom side of the fabric, the Kenmore 158 upper thread tension is likely too loose, or more commonly, the Kenmore 158 lower thread (bobbin) is not seated correctly in its case or not pulled through the tension spring slit on the bobbin case. Take out the bobbin case, make sure the bobbin is in correctly, pull the thread through the tension slit again feeling for resistance, and re-insert the case. Also, check that the upper thread is correctly in its path.

You might need to adjust the tension dial on your machine if the stitches are tight or loose even after re-threading. The Kenmore 158 tension setting dial usually has numbers. A middle number (like 3, 4, or 5) is a good place to start. Higher numbers mean more tension (tighter thread). Lower numbers mean less tension (looser thread). Make small changes and test again.

Troubleshooting Common Threading Issues

Even when you follow the steps, sometimes things go wrong. Here are common problems related to Kenmore 158 manual threading and what to check.

Thread Keeps Breaking

Check Threading Path: Go back through the Kenmore 158 upper thread steps. Is the thread caught on anything? Did you miss a guide? Is it snapped into the take-up lever? Is it through the tension discs (with presser foot UP when threading)?
Check Bobbin Area: Is the Kenmore 158 lower thread tangled in the bobbin case? Is the bobbin winder engaged by mistake?
Needle Problem: Is the needle bent, dull, or inserted wrong? A bad needle can cut the thread. Is the needle the right size for the thread?
Tension Too Tight: If the Kenmore 158 tension setting is too high, it can break the thread.
Old Thread: Old thread can become weak and break easily. Try fresh thread.
Lint: Lint build-up in the thread path or bobbin area can snag the thread. See the maintenance tip below.

Skipped Stitches

Needle Problem: This is often a needle issue. Is it inserted correctly (flat side usually to the back)? Is it the right kind of needle for the fabric? Is it bent or dull?
Threading Problem: Double-check the Kenmore 158 upper thread path, especially the take-up lever. If the thread is not correctly in the take-up lever, you will get skipped stitches.
Bobbin Problem: Is the bobbin thread coming freely from the bobbin case?

Looping Stitches (Top or Bottom)

Looping on Top: Almost always an issue with the Kenmore 158 upper thread not having enough tension. Make sure the thread is correctly seated between the tension discs. Remember, lift the presser foot to thread tension! Also, check that the thread is correctly in the take-up lever.
Looping on Bottom: Usually means the Kenmore 158 lower thread (bobbin thread) is too loose. This often happens if the bobbin case is not put in correctly, the thread is not pulled through the tension spring slit on the case, or there is lint in the bobbin case tension area.

A Quick Maintenance Tip

Keep your Kenmore 158 sewing machine clean! Lint and dust can build up in the thread path, tension discs, and bobbin area. This affects how smoothly the thread runs and how your tension works. Use a small brush to gently clean these areas often.

In Closing

Threading your Kenmore 158 sewing machine, including the Kenmore 158 upper thread and Kenmore 158 lower thread, involves following a specific path. While it might seem like many steps, each one is simple. By going through the Kenmore 158 bobbin winding, Kenmore 158 bobbin insertion, following the Kenmore 158 thread guides, getting the thread through the Kenmore 158 tension setting area, hooking the Kenmore 158 take-up lever, and doing the final Kenmore 158 needle threading as described in this Kenmore 158 manual threading guide, you will be able to set up Kenmore 158 sewing for good stitches. Practice a few times, and it will become quick and easy!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What kind of bobbin does the Kenmore 158 use?
The Kenmore Model 158 typically uses Class 15 bobbins. These are common bobbins. They can be plastic or metal. Make sure you use the right type for your machine as suggested in your Kenmore 158 manual if you have it. Using the wrong bobbin can cause problems.
My thread keeps coming out of the needle. What am I doing wrong?
This often happens when you start sewing. Make sure you pull both the upper and lower threads under the presser foot and towards the back of the machine for a few inches before you start sewing. Hold them gently for the first few stitches if needed. Also, check that your presser foot is down when you start sewing.
How tight should the Kenmore 158 tension setting be?
Start with the tension dial in the middle (like 3, 4, or 5). Do a test stitch on your fabric. If the stitch looks good (same top and bottom), that tension is right for that fabric and thread. If the loops are on top, increase the number slightly. If loops are on the bottom, decrease the number slightly. Always re-thread the upper path carefully before changing the dial, as improper threading is the most common cause of looping.
Do I need to lift the presser foot to thread the machine?
Yes! Lifting the presser foot is very important when threading the Kenmore 158 upper thread through the tension discs. It opens the discs. If the foot is down, the discs are closed, and the thread won’t sit inside them correctly. This leads to very loose upper tension and messy stitches.
Why is it important to turn the handwheel towards me?
Turning the handwheel towards you moves the machine parts (like the needle and take-up lever) in the direction they move when sewing. Turning it away can make the threads twist or tangle inside the machine parts.
How do I know if the Kenmore 158 take-up lever is in the right spot for threading?
The thread must go through the take-up lever when the lever is at its highest point. You can move the lever to its highest point by turning the handwheel towards you before you start the upper threading process.
Is Kenmore 158 manual threading different from other machines?
While the basic idea (spool -> guides -> tension -> take-up lever -> needle -> bobbin meets top thread) is the same for many machines, the exact path and location of the Kenmore 158 thread guides and tension area are specific to this model. Following the steps for the Kenmore 158 is important.
Where does the Kenmore 158 lower thread come from?
The Kenmore 158 lower thread comes from the bobbin, which is placed in the bobbin case under the needle plate. Proper Kenmore 158 bobbin insertion is needed for the lower thread to work right.