Full Tutorial: How To Thread Needle On Brother Sewing Machine

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Full Tutorial: How To Thread Needle On Brother Sewing Machine

Threading your Brother sewing machine is a first step to sewing. It is a simple process once you know the path the thread takes. You can easily learn how to thread your machine.

Getting the thread through the needle and setting up the bobbin lets your machine make stitches. We will show you the steps to thread both the top thread and the bobbin thread on your Brother sewing machine. This guide will help you start sewing quickly and correctly. You will learn the main path the thread follows on your machine.

Getting Your Machine Ready

Before you start threading, do a few simple things. These steps make threading easier. They also help your machine work right.

• Turn off the power. Always turn off your sewing machine. This keeps you safe. It stops the machine from starting by accident.
• Gather your supplies. Get the thread spool you want to use. Have your filled bobbin ready. You might need small scissors or thread snips. Your machine’s manual can also help. It shows your specific model’s Brother sewing machine thread path.
• Raise the presser foot. Use the lever on the back of the needle bar area. Lift the presser foot all the way up. Raising the foot opens the tension discs. This is very important. If the foot is down, the thread cannot sit right in the tension system. This causes stitch problems later.
• Raise the needle. Turn the handwheel on the side of the machine. Turn it towards you. Watch the needle bar go up. Stop when the needle is at its highest point. The needle thread uptake lever needs to be up. This lever helps guide the thread. It makes a loop of thread for each stitch. When the needle is highest, the uptake lever is usually highest too.

Inserting the Needle Correctly

Before you thread the needle, make sure the needle is in right. Knowing how to insert needle Brother sewing machine is key. A bent or wrongly placed needle will break thread. It can also make bad stitches.

• Get the right needle. Use the kind of needle your project needs. Use a sharp needle for woven fabrics. Use a ballpoint needle for knits. Match the needle size to your thread and fabric. Your manual tells you what needles to use.
• Hold the needle. Look at the needle. It has a flat side on the top part. It also has a groove down the front.
• Loosen the needle clamp screw. This screw holds the needle in place. It is usually on the side of the needle clamp. Use a small screwdriver if your machine came with one. Some newer machines have a hand screw you can turn.
• Put the needle in. Push the new needle up into the needle clamp. Make sure the flat side of the needle faces the back of the machine. The groove side faces the front. Push the needle up as far as it can go.
• Tighten the screw. Hold the needle in place while you tighten the needle clamp screw. Make sure it is snug. Do not overtighten it.
• Check the needle. Feel the tip of the needle. It should be sharp and smooth. A bent needle needs to be replaced.

Doing these steps makes sure your needle is ready for threading and sewing.

Following the Upper Thread Path

The top thread follows a specific path from the spool to the needle. This is the upper thread path Brother machine uses. Your machine has numbers or pictures showing this path. It is like following a map.

Placing the Thread Spool

• Find the spool pin. This is where the spool of thread sits. It might be on top of the machine. Or it might be a pull-up pin.
• Put the spool on. Place the spool onto the spool pin. Make sure the thread comes off the spool in the right direction. For most machines with a horizontal pin, the thread comes off the front. For machines with a vertical pin, check the first thread guide. The thread should feed smoothly.
• Use the spool cap. Place a spool cap over the end of the spool pin. Choose the right size cap. It should hold the spool in place but let thread come off freely. This stops the thread from jumping off the pin.

Guiding the Thread

Now, lead the thread through the first guides. These guides keep the thread in line.

• First thread guide. This is usually a hook or clip near the spool pin. Pull the thread through this first guide.
• Thread path channels. The Brother sewing machine threading guide on your machine will show you vertical channels. Pull the thread down the first channel. It might go into a deep slot.
• Around the tension discs. This is a key step. The thread must go between two discs. These discs control how tight the thread is. Remember, your presser foot must be up for the thread to go deep into these discs. Pull the thread firmly into this area. There might be a hook or guide before and after the tension discs. Follow the numbers or lines on your machine.

Engaging the Take-Up Lever

This is another very important part of the upper thread path.

• Find the take-up lever. This is an arm that moves up and down as the needle moves. It is usually high up on the front of the machine. Make sure it is in its highest position. You might need to turn the handwheel towards you to raise it.
• Thread the lever. The path on your machine will guide you. You usually bring the thread up from the tension area. Loop it through or around the take-up lever. There is often a hook or hole here. Make sure the thread is securely in or through the lever.
• Continue down the path. After the take-up lever, the thread goes back down. Follow the guides down towards the needle area. There are usually one or two more guides. These guides keep the thread close to the needle bar. They stop the thread from tangling.

By following these steps and your machine’s guide, the upper thread is almost ready. The main Brother sewing machine thread path is complete from spool to needle area.

Getting Thread Through the Needle Eye

Now the thread is down by the needle. You need to get it through the small hole, the needle eye. You can do this in two ways: manually or using the automatic needle threader.

Brother Sewing Machine Manual Threading

This is the classic way to thread the needle.

• Cut the thread end. Use sharp scissors to cut the thread end. Cut it at an angle. This makes the end sharp and narrow. It is easier to push through the needle eye.
• Hold the thread. Hold the thread end between your thumb and first finger.
• Hold the needle. Use your other hand to hold the thread near the needle eye. The needle should be at its highest point.
• Push the thread through. Carefully push the sharp thread end through the eye of the needle from front to back.
• Pull the thread. Once the thread goes through, pull about 6-8 inches of thread through the eye.
• Place thread under foot. Pass the pulled thread under the presser foot. Pull it towards the back of the machine.

This manual threading works on all machines. It is good to know even if your machine has an automatic threader.

Using the Automatic Needle Threader Brother Machine

Many Brother machines have a built-in automatic needle threader. This small tool makes threading much faster and easier, especially if you have trouble seeing small things. The exact steps can differ slightly by model, so check your manual. But the general idea is the same.

• Raise the needle. Make sure the needle is in its highest position. Turn the handwheel if needed. This is important for the threader to work.
• Lower the presser foot (often needed). Some automatic threaders work best or only work when the presser foot is lowered. This brings the needle plate closer. Check your manual.
• Lower the threader lever. Find the lever for the automatic needle threader Brother. It is usually on the side of the needle bar area. Pull this lever down gently.
• Hook the thread. The threader mechanism will come down. It has little hooks or guides. Guide the thread through these guides. There is usually a hook that goes around the side of the needle. And another hook that pushes through the needle eye from back to front.
• Release the lever. Once the thread is in the guides, let go of the threader lever slowly. As it rises, the small hook pulls a loop of thread through the needle eye from the back.
• Pull the loop. You will see a small loop of thread on the front side of the needle eye. Use your fingers or tweezers to pull this loop through. Pull 6-8 inches of thread.
• Place thread under foot. Pass the pulled thread under the presser foot. Pull it towards the back of the machine.

The automatic threader is a great feature. It saves time and makes threading less frustrating.

Setting Up the Bobbin Thread

Now you need to prepare the bottom thread, which comes from the bobbin. This involves winding the bobbin first, then loading bobbin Brother sewing machine correctly.

Winding the Bobbin

You need thread on a bobbin. Your machine has a bobbin winding function.

• Place empty bobbin. Put an empty bobbin onto the bobbin winder pin. This pin is usually on top or front of the machine.
• Place thread spool. Put the spool of thread you want on the spool pin, as you did for the top thread.
• Guide the thread. Follow the bobbin winding path on your machine. It usually involves wrapping the thread around a tension disc or through a guide specifically for winding bobbins. This makes sure the thread winds smoothly and evenly.
• Attach thread to bobbin. Push the end of the thread through one of the small holes on the bobbin edge. Or, wrap it around the bobbin a few times to secure it.
• Push the bobbin winder. Push the bobbin winder pin towards the right (usually). This engages the winder.
• Start winding. Gently press the foot pedal or the start button. The machine will start spinning the bobbin pin. Guide the thread with your finger if needed to make it wind evenly. Do not overfill the bobbin. Stop when it is full but not bulging.
• Cut the thread. Cut the thread connecting the spool to the wound bobbin.
• Move winder back. Push the bobbin winder pin back to its resting position (usually to the left). Remove the full bobbin.

You now have a ready bobbin for threading bobbin Brother sewing machine.

Loading Bobbin Brother Sewing Machine

Loading the bobbin correctly is just as important as threading the top. Brother machines usually have a drop-in bobbin system.

• Open the bobbin cover. This is a clear plastic cover on the needle plate. Slide the latch or button to open it.
• Insert the bobbin. Take your filled bobbin. Look at the thread coming off it. Most Brother drop-in bobbins need the thread to come off counter-clockwise. Place the bobbin into the bobbin case or slot.
• Follow the thread path. The bobbin case area has a small channel or slot marked. Guide the bobbin thread through this channel. There is usually a small cutting blade here too. The thread must go firmly into this tension slot on the bobbin case. This provides the correct bobbin thread tension.
• Close the cover. Snap the plastic bobbin cover closed.

The bobbin is now loaded and ready.

Bringing Up the Bobbin Thread

Before you can start sewing, you need the bobbin thread to come up through the needle plate hole.

• Hold the upper thread. Hold the tail of the upper thread (the one coming through the needle eye) loosely with one hand.
• Turn the handwheel. Use your other hand to turn the handwheel on the side of the machine. Turn it towards you (counter-clockwise).
• Watch the needle. As you turn, the needle goes down into the bobbin area. It grabs the bobbin thread.
• Bring thread up. Keep turning the handwheel. The needle will come back up. As it rises, it pulls a loop of the bobbin thread up through the small hole in the needle plate.
• Pull the loop. Stop turning when the needle is highest. Use your fingers or tweezers to catch the loop of bobbin thread. Pull it fully up through the needle plate hole.
• Pull both threads back. Pull both the top thread and the bobbin thread tails under the presser foot. Pull them towards the back of the machine, about 6-8 inches.

Now both threads are in place, ready to start sewing.

Checking Your Threading and Tension

After threading both the top and bobbin threads, it is smart to do a quick check. This helps avoid problems. It also lets you see if the Brother sewing machine tension adjustment is needed.

• Visually check the path. Look at the upper thread path again. Does the thread follow the numbers? Is it firmly in the tension discs? Is it through the take-up lever hook? Is the bobbin in correctly and its thread in the tension slot?
• Do a test stitch. Get a scrap piece of fabric. Use the same kind of fabric you will sew for your project. Sew a few straight stitches on the scrap.
• Look at the stitches. Examine the test stitches.
  • On the top side, you should see nice, even stitches. The bobbin thread should not show on the top.
  • On the bottom side, you should see nice, even stitches. The top thread should not show on the bottom.
  • The stitches should look the same on the top and bottom. They should lock in the middle of the fabric layers.

If your stitches look uneven, looped, or loose on one side, you might have a tension problem.

Brother Sewing Machine Tension Adjustment

Tension controls how tightly the top and bottom threads pull against each other. Correct tension makes a balanced stitch. Your machine has a tension dial or digital control.

• Grasping Tension Problems:

  • Top thread loops on the bottom: This means the top tension is too loose. Turn your tension dial to a higher number.
  • Bobbin thread loops on the top: This means the bobbin tension is too loose OR the top tension is too tight. First, check if the top thread is seated correctly in the tension discs (presser foot must be up when threading!). If it is, then try increasing the top tension slightly. Bobbin tension is rarely adjusted on modern machines.
  • Both threads are tight and fabric puckers: Tension might be too tight overall, or your needle/thread might be wrong for the fabric.

• Adjusting: Make small adjustments to the top tension dial (usually numbers 0-9). Sew another test stitch. Look at the stitches again. Keep adjusting and testing until the stitches are balanced.

Remember, threading problems are the most common cause of bad stitches, even more than tension settings. Always re-thread both top and bobbin first if you have stitch problems.

Common Brother Sewing Machine Threading Problems

Even when you follow the steps, things can sometimes go wrong. Here are some common Brother sewing machine threading problems and how to fix them.

Problem 1: Thread Breaks Often

• Possible Causes & Fixes:
  • Machine not threaded right: Re-thread the entire top thread path carefully. Make sure the presser foot was up.
  • Needle is bent, dull, or wrong size: Insert needle Brother sewing machine correctly. Replace the needle with a new, right size one.
  • Thread quality: Use good quality thread. Cheap thread can break easily.
  • Tension is too tight: Lower the top tension setting slightly.
  • Upper thread path blocked: Check for lint or old thread stuck in the guides or tension discs. Clean the path.
  • Bobbin loaded wrong: Check the bobbin is going in the right direction (usually counter-clockwise for drop-in). Make sure its thread is in the tension slot.

Problem 2: Stitches are Looping on Top or Bottom (Tension Issues)

• Possible Causes & Fixes:
  • Presser foot was down when threading top: This is very common! The thread doesn’t sit in the tension discs right. Pull out the top thread. Raise the presser foot. Re-thread the entire top path carefully.
  • Top thread not in tension discs: Check that the thread is fully seated between the tension discs.
  • Bobbin thread not in its tension slot: Remove the bobbin cover. Make sure the bobbin thread is guided firmly into the small metal or plastic slot in the bobbin case area.
  • Tension dial needs adjustment: See the “Brother sewing machine tension adjustment” section above. Adjust the top tension dial step-by-step.

Problem 3: Machine Jams

• Possible Causes & Fixes:
  • Not holding thread tails: Always hold both the top and bobbin thread tails for the first few stitches. Pull them under the foot and towards the back. This stops the thread from being pulled down into the bobbin case and making a bird’s nest.
  • Upper path incorrect: Re-thread the top path carefully.
  • Bobbin loaded wrong: Check how the bobbin is inserted and threaded in its case/slot.
  • Needle problem: Check the needle. Replace if bent or dull.
  • Lint buildup: Clean the bobbin case area and feed dogs regularly.

Problem 4: Automatic Needle Threader Not Working

• Possible Causes & Fixes:
  • Needle not highest: Turn the handwheel to make sure the needle is at its top position. The threader hook needs the needle eye to be in the exact right spot.
  • Needle not inserted correctly: The flat side of the needle must face the back. If it’s rotated even a little, the threader hook won’t find the eye. Re-insert the needle correctly.
  • Needle type: Some special needles (like wing needles or extra fine needles) might not work with the automatic threader.
  • Thread is too thick: Very thick or fuzzy threads might not fit the threader hook.
  • Threader is bent: The small hook on the threader can bend. If it looks bent, it might need service.

Most threading problems on Brother machines can be fixed by simply re-threading both the upper thread and checking the bobbin. Follow the Brother sewing machine threading guide printed on your machine.

Summary of Steps (Brother Sewing Machine Threading Guide)

Let’s quickly list the main steps for the Brother sewing machine threading guide:

1. Get Ready: Power off, raise presser foot, raise needle.
2. Insert Needle: Flat side to back, push up fully, tighten screw.
3. Spool: Place spool on pin with correct thread direction.
4. Upper Path:
   • Through first guide near spool.
   • Down the first channel.
   • Crucially: Into the tension discs (foot up!).
   • Up and through the take-up lever (lever highest).
   • Down the guides towards the needle.
5. Needle Eye:
   • Manual: Cut thread end, push through needle eye front to back.
   • Automatic: Lower threader lever, guide thread, release lever, pull loop.
6. Under Foot: Pull top thread under presser foot and back.
7. Bobbin Winding: Wind thread onto an empty bobbin using the winder function.
8. Loading Bobbin:
   • Open bobbin cover.
   • Insert bobbin (thread direction matters, usually counter-clockwise).
   • Guide thread into the bobbin case tension slot.
   • Close cover.
9. Bring Up Bobbin Thread: Hold top thread, turn handwheel towards you, pull loop of bobbin thread up, pull both threads back.
10. Test: Sew on scrap fabric, check stitch quality. Adjust tension if needed.

Following these steps makes the full Brother sewing machine thread path correct for both top and bottom threads.

Maintaining Your Machine for Smooth Threading

Keeping your machine clean helps prevent threading issues. Lint and small bits of thread can build up in thread guides, tension discs, and the bobbin area. This can cause problems.

• Clean regularly. Use a small brush to clean around the needle plate, feed dogs, and bobbin case.
• Check thread path. Look closely at the thread path area. Remove any visible lint.
• Use good thread. High-quality thread makes less lint.

Taking care of your machine ensures smooth threading and stitching.

FAQ – Common Questions

• Q: Why does my thread keep breaking?
  • A: This is often because the machine is not threaded correctly. Re-thread the top thread with the presser foot up. Also check if your needle is bent or dull. Use good thread.
• Q: How do I know if my tension is right?
  • A: Sew a test stitch on scrap fabric. If the stitches look the same on the top and bottom of the fabric, and they lock in the middle, your tension is likely correct.
• Q: My automatic needle threader doesn’t work. What’s wrong?
  • A: Make sure the needle is at its highest point. Check that the needle is inserted correctly with the flat side to the back. Sometimes the threader hook gets slightly bent.
• Q: Which way does the bobbin thread go in?
  • A: For most Brother drop-in bobbins, the thread comes off the left side of the bobbin, meaning it rotates counter-clockwise when you put it in the machine. Always double-check the picture on your machine or in the manual.
• Q: Do I need to raise the presser foot to thread?
  • A: YES! This is one of the most important steps. Raising the presser foot opens the tension discs, letting the thread sit deep inside them. If the foot is down, the thread just sits on top, causing loose stitches.

Threading your Brother sewing machine might seem like a lot of steps at first. But with practice and following the path on your machine, it becomes fast and easy. Proper threading is the foundation for good sewing stitches. Use this guide and your machine’s own Brother sewing machine threading guide to get it right every time. Happy sewing!