How to fill a bobbin on this machine. No manual

To get that same thread onto the bobbin, you'll need to windit. Here are the steps:1. Removethebobbin from the sewing machine. If your machine has a free arm, you'llhave to remove this first. Open the bobbin door to reveal the bobbin case, forvertical loading models. If your machine has a drop-in bobbin (horizontalloading) you may have to simply slide the metal plate open, which sitsunderneath the presser foot.2. Lift the latchand pull the bobbin case out of the machine (for vertical loaders). Butfor drop-in bobbins, simply lift the bobbin out of the housing.3. Tip the bobbincase over and let the bobbin fall into your hand. (Some bobbin caseshave a latch on the side, that when lifted releases the bobbin). If the bobbinhas another color thread on it, use a new bobbin. Or, if it's not too muchthread, roll it all off and reuse the bobbin. Just make sure the bobbin youwind begins empty. (But in a pinch, you can wind a new color thread over theold color. Just know that you may have to rewind the bobbin fairly soon, as thedesired color thread finishes faster.4. Place yourselected thread onto the spindle and insert a holder over it, if there is one(usually on horizontal spindles only). Many machines just use gravity toretain the thread, so if your spindle is vertical and you have no such part,don't worry about it. If thisis a brand new spool of thread, you may need to free the end. Look for a smallnotch on one end of the spool. You may have to peel back the label a bit to getat it. Then yank it free.5. Loop the free endof the thread over the bobbin tensioner and any hooks on it. Thelocation of this part varies, but it generally looks about like this. Thread the end of the thread through the pinhole in the top of the bobbin. 6. Press the bobbinall the way onto the bobbin winding spindle. Make sure any springs orclips engage. Put it on so that the end of the thread that you put through thepin hole sticks out towards you (or sticks up, depending on if your bobbinwinder is at the top of your machine). 7. Disengage theneedle mechanism. Many machines have this control in the handwheel. It may require a push, pull or twist of the middle of the hand wheel.Check your sewing machine manual to be sure. The sewing machine may run fasterwhen winding a bobbin than when sewing and you don't want the needle moving upand down wildly. Engage the bobbinwinding mechanism. On some machines, it's done by pushing the bobbinspindle over to one side. You may also need to move the stitch selector to abobbin winding position.8. Hold the free endof the thread and, keeping fingers clear of all moving parts, press the footpedal or knee lever. The bobbin spindle will turn. If you have thebobbin threaded correctly, the bobbin will wind smoothly, evenly, and snugly,with perhaps a slight bulge in the middle. You should cut off the end of thethread you were holding in your hand (very close to the bobbin) as soon asthere's enough thread on the bobbin to hold itself in place so it won't slipout. This will prevent this thread from tangling onto any moving parts.9. Fill the bobbincompletely. It may seem like a lot of thread, but you don't wantto run out too soon while you're sewing. Many machines have a built-in deviceto stop winding when the bobbin is full, often a small blade that automaticallycuts the thread when the wound bobbin is full. If your machine has such adevice, let it tell you how much to fill the bobbin. If not, fill the bobbin nofurther than its edges. Hold the bobbinand case so that they are oriented as shown. Check that thebobbin will unwind in the correct direction. If not, flip it.10. Insert thebobbin into the bobbin case. Pullthe thread under the bobbin tensioner (a thin metal latch). The threadshould advance with a little resistance when you pull at it. Allow this excessthread to just hang. Lift the latch onthe bobbin case and hold it as shown.11. Insert thebobbin case into its housing. Make sure it is all the way engaged (youshould hear it click into place) and that the direction is correct. The bobbincase shouldn't spin and shouldn't come loose when you release the tab. Itshould be locked in. And the loose end of the thread should hang free. Do notclose the bobbin door.12. Re-engage theneedle at the hand wheel, disengage the bobbin winder, and set the machine backtoa straight, forward stitch. Thread the machine with the top thread as usual. Once the threadis through the needle, you must raise the bobbin thread. Hold the end of thethread with your free hand. Turn thehand wheel towards yourself. The needle should go down and back up to itshighest position. One full rotation should do it. The top thread will passaround the bobbin.13. Watch as the topthread pulls the bobbin thread up through the hole in the plate under thepresser foot. Pull the looseends to extend them, and continue to hold them firmly so they don't get tangledas you begin to sew.Closethe bobbin door before sewing.Hope this will help you. Good Luck.

I can't see this manual available at the usual spots of:
www.sewingpartsonline.com
www.sewusa.com or
www.diplodocs.com
but you could email either of the first two websites and ask them.

If you look at the threading up diagram here,
http://www.sewusa.com/Threading_Diagrams/Threading_Pages/Elna_Sewing_machine_threading/Elna_225_threading_diagram.htm
it may be sufficient info to get your machine running.

I'm presuming it is a front loading bobbin and case model? Many models are this style Singer, Jones/Brother, Toyota, Bernina, once you've mastered the bobbin case and bobbin, they are all very similar.
If it is a top loading bobbin style then look at the threading up diagrams for the Janomes, it may be more like them. These there is no removable case, you load the bobbin into the bobbin holder and click the thread into the tension spring.

The critical thing for threading up all sewing machines, is winding the bobbin nice and smoothly, getting it into the bobbin holder or case the right way and placing the thread tail into the tension spring correctly so the thread is under tension as it feeds out.
And for the top thread, it must go through the take up lever, tension dial (usually two metal discs that press together with a spring) and then down through the needle eye.
Always, thread up the top thread with the pressure foot up - this opens up the tension device.

Hope this helps out a little at least.

Hello

Set the tension on the sewing machine for the weight of the material you want to sew. The tension setting shows in the stitch on the material. Use the chart on the machine that matches types of stitches with suggested material tensions. An example of this is, the stitch to sew jean material is different than the stitch to sew silk.

Take the bobbin and wind the thread around it. Make sure the bobbin is empty and don't fill it too full of thread. A bobbin filled too full won't stay tightly spun.

Thread the string evenly on the bobbin. Move the thread back and forth evenly and in layers that are level. Many Singer sewing machines have a bobbin winder on the top of the sewing machine, and the consistency of how it threads can save you frustration later.

Find the hole on the bobbin that is located near the inside spindle of the bobbin. Take the thread sitting on the sewing machines spool and insert the thread in the hole from inside the bobbin to the outside. Set the threaded bobbin on the spool designated for spinning on the top of the sewing machine for some Singers.

Turn the side drive wheel slowly until the threaded bobbin has a layer or two of thread on it. Push down on the drive peddle and fill the bobbin, but don't thread it to the very edge. If the bobbin is too full the thread will release erratically. Cut the thread from the spool.

Drop the bobbin into the bobbin case under the area where the needle sews the material. Close the case and turn by hand the side wheel drive until the bobbin threads into the sewing machine. You can tell when the bobbin is threaded by the tiny piece of thread that juts out of the bobbin case where the needle goes up and down.

Grab the thread with your fingers and pull it out approximately 4 inches. Your bobbin is now spun and threaded.

Is this a Swiss made Elna Lotus with top loading bobbin (check machine plate on right beside power inlet for manufacture details) ? (the original Lotus was released back in 60's but that name has been reused on a number of different models since, some made under licence elsewhere) If yes, then the following applies:

Bobbin should have holes on one side only, always wind it with the holes on top and load it into the bobbin holder the same way so it is rotating anti clockwise when you pull the thread.

Drop wound bobbin into bobbin holder and, while holding the bobbin still with one finger, pull the thread tail towards you into the tension spring, then press down on the thread until you hear it "Click" into the tension spring.

Then hand wind the fly wheel towards you while holding the top thread tail to catch the bottom thread and bring it up to the top needle plate, close the back sliding plate over the bobbin.

Other thing with these machines is ALWAYS hold the two thread tails firmly when you start a new seam so the threads don't get pulled down into the bobbin holder area. Really important.
You can dowload a manual from www.arizonaexpressionz.com for most of the Swiss machines.

If it is not Swiss made one, then your bobbin may be vertical front loading (like the Brothers).

There are threading diagrams for lots of machines at www.sewusa.com, there might be one there that covers your machine.

I do not know this model but why don't you visit www.about.sewing.com, there is good general threading information there as well as care and maintenance tips for sewing machines. Older machines need oiling, many modern ones have nylon parts or oiling wicks so not required so often. If you can see red marks on parts of the machine, these are usually oiling spots.

sewing machines are usually horizontal top loading bobbins where the bobbin goes into a bobbin holder and the thread gets clicked into a tension spring.

Or vertical front loading bobbins inside a removable bobbin case with a tension spring on the outside of the bobbin case.

Top threading up is usually through a number of eyelets, through a tension device of some sort, then down to the needle.

Remember, the scarf (cut out) of the needle should face to the back of the machine. Most domestic sewing machines use 130/704H needle system and the needle has a flat shank which goes to the back in the needle holder so you get this right.

You can also try www.sewingpartsonline.com or www.sewusa.com, both list some instruction manuals and threading diagrams for some makes and models.

This could be one of the following:

• wrong bobbin for the machine
• bobbin loaded the wrong way - must rotate anticlockwise when you pull the thread
• thread not into the tension spring/device on the bobbin holder correctly
• bobbin wound badly, uneven tension, loose or uneven across the bobbin
• poor quality or old dry brittle thread could cause the breaking (but the loops is definitely tension issues).

This is a top loading bobbin machine machine and you can download a manual from
http://www.singerco.com/accessories/manuals.html

Here is the threading diagram from the manual.

It is important to click the thread down into the tension spring on all top loading bobbin machines and then pull gently on the thread to check that it is under tension, you should feel firm resistance when you pull the thread. If not, then take it out, and try again.

Other thing to look at is how the bobbin is wound. It is necessary to wind a bobbin smoothly and with some tension on the spool as the thread comes off it. Best analogy is the garden hose reel. If you wind it up and don't control where the hose goes onto the reel it will all lump up in the middle, and you won't get all the hose onto it. And then when you go to pull the hose out, it will jam and be difficult to pull. Same with bobbin thread. You want a nice neat even fill across the whole width of the bobbin, not just the middle. To achieve this make sure you use the bobbin winder tension disc when winding. Also use the spool cap on top of the thread spool to stop it from bouncing around as it unwinds - the thread will then wind off around the spool cap and this keeps it running smoothly and not twisting and jerking. If you don't have a spool cap then put the curved handle of a pair of scissors on top of the thread spool to tension it while you wind the bobbin. Also watch the bobbin as it winds, give the thread a nudge with your finger to control the fill onto the bobbin so it winds top, bottom and middle of the bobbin evenly.

I would suggest the following:
clean out the race following the manual directions to remove the bobbin holder, clean in this area, replace it. Wind a fresh bobbin and then load it into the machine, following the manual instructions carefully. Also thread the top of the machine following the manual, put in a new sharp needle from the pack, turn the top tension dial to a medium number (often 5 if dial goes from zero to 10).

Now test sew again. Look at the seam, if you have loops on the bottom of the fabric, underside, then the top thread tension is too loose or not in the top tension discs fully. Generally you should not need to adjust the tension on the bobbin thread for these machines.

A link to a supermatic manual is here
http://www.arizonaexpressionz.com/elna_instruction_manuals/Supermatic.pdf - I suggest you download this and print it out as this machine is over 50 years old now and manuals are scarce.

Disengage the clutch by holding the outside of the fly wheel and turning the inner knob of the wheel towards you.
You need to take the thread from the spool across to an eyelet on top left, then back to the bobbin winder, up through a hole in the top of the bobbin and hold the thread tail. Flick the bobbin across against the stopper. Now press the presser foot or knee control to start the motor. Hold the thread tail until youve got coverage across the bobbin enough to hold the start, then stop winding and cut the thread tail with scissors. Now continue winding but put the handle of your scissors on top of the thread spool to stop it bouncing and ensure your thread winds smoothly and under tension.

Watch the bobbin fill and give the thread a nudge to fill top and bottom as well as the middle evenly, you want a nice even wind. Fill to 3/4 and stop, flick bobbin back off the stopper, then cut the thread. Remember to re-engage the clutch by reversing the first step.



This is a lovely heirloom Elna machine - you need to thread the bobbin as the manual describes and get the thread into the tension spring. Please read the manual information on oiling too, this machine needs to be oiled on the red spot locations every time you use it according to the manual, use good quality clear sewing machine oil for this purpose.

The handwheel may have a pull out/push in action to disengage/engage the clutch, or it may automatically disengage when the bobbin winder is moved to the right for winding........hold a short tail of thread to get it started and you should be away.

Move the winder to the left for sewing, or push handwheel in, according to the mechanism.