Having a Free-Arm is a great feature on any sewing machine. This machine is a Free-Arm but if you do not need to use it this way you can still access the bobbin by opening the shuttle cover. In the next images, I point out the different knobs and levers on the machine in case your machine did not include a manual. Read my review on this sewing machine here. That’s it! Lay both threads under the presser foot and you are ready to sew.
If the bobbin thread does not come up, it may be that the thread is too short. Hold the needle thread with with your left hand then turn the hand wheel towards you until you see the bobbin thread come up.
Slide plate is closed and now you are ready to bring the bobbin thread up. You want to make sure that the thread is caught in the notch on the slide plate. Now close the slide plate while you hold your thread. Position the thread to the second ridge pulling it in the direction of the arrow. Then pull the thread in the direction the arrow is pointing. With your finger or tweezers, draw the thread through the first ridge. Here you will essentially be pulling the thread between the case and the tension spring. In the next photo, the arrows point to 2 notches (that I will be calling ridges for this instructional pictorial) which your thread needs to travel through. Place the bobbin back in the case and pull the lead thread up (towards the back of the machine). Take the bobbin out of the bobbin case and pull some thread out (3 or more inches) in the direction of the arrows. It is not difficult but the bobbin case on this machine is a little quirky. In this post, I am going to show you how I thread the bobbin case on a Singer 185J sewing machine.