How to thread a bobbin

Correctly threading your sewing machine is the first step to achieving perfect stitches in every project.

While most sewing machines provide easy visual directions for threading the needle, bobbins can confuse many beginner sewers.

If you’re having trouble with your stitches, your threads seem loose, or your needle doesn’t want to catch that bottom thread, you can typically trace the issue back to a bobbin issue, such as an incorrectly wound bobbin.

No matter what type of sewing machine you use, setting up the bobbin correctly is essential.

Here’s an easy step-by-step tutorial for getting your bobbin perfect every time.

How to wind a bobbin

There are quite a few different types of sewing machine bobbins.

Some are plastic, and some are metal. Some have a flat bottom and top, while others feature a slight curve.

Regardless of the material or shape of the bobbin, the bobbin winding technique will follow the same steps.

1. Set up your bobbin winder

Most sewing machines have a built-in bobbin winder on the top of the machine. It’s usually located near the thread-spool pin.

Start by winding your thread according to the threading pattern indicated on the top of your machine.

In most cases, you’ll wrap the thread around the thread-tension disc and then over to the bobbin winder.

Take your empty bobbin and look for a small hole in the top, close to the bobbin’s center spool.

Run the thread tail through that hole, from the inside of the bobbin to the top side.

Place the bobbin on the bobbin winder, ensuring the end of the thread extends through the top.

2. Activate the bobbin winder

Push the bobbin holder to the right side to engage the sewing machine’s motor, activate the bobbin winding mode, and deactivate the sewing needle.

3. Wind the bobbin

Press the sewing machine’s foot pedal to wind the bobbin.

You may need to hold the thread tail so it stays in place for the first few rotations.

The bobbin will stop once it’s fully wound. If you don’t need much of that thread color, you can also stop winding before it is full.

4. Remove the bobbin

Push the bobbin winder back toward the left. This will disengage the winder from the motor.

Trim the thread, and you can put the bobbin on your machine.

How to insert a bobbin into your machine

There are two main bobbin styles in modern sewing machines: top-loading and front-loading bobbins.

You can always refer to your sewing machine manual for specific instructions for your machine model, but we’ll cover the steps for both top-loading bobbins and front-loading bobbins.

Top-loading or drop-in bobbins

If your Brother sewing machine has a drop-in bobbin compartment, then the next part is really easy.

Open the bobbin compartment

Lift the presser foot and use the hand wheel to raise the needle out of the way.

Remove the plastic lid for the bobbin compartment.

Drop in your bobbin

Check which direction your bobbin is facing. You’ll want the end of the thread to come across the bottom, toward the right side of the bobbin.

In this position, the thread is in the correct counter-clockwise direction for your machine.

Drop the bobbin into the bobbin compartment.

Front-loading bobbins

Machines with front-loading bobbin compartments have a bobbin case or bobbin carrier.

Open the bobbin compartment

This compartment is found on the front of your machine. The door typically hinges downward.

Remove the bobbin case

You’ll see a metal latch on the front of the bobbin case. Pull this toward you to release the case from the machine.

Load the bobbin

Orient the bobbin so it winds the thread in a clockwise direction.

With the arm facing up and the opening facing toward you, place the bobbin in the case.

Pull the thread tail through the notch in the bobbin case and under the tension spring.

Put the case back in the machine

Pull the case latch to engage it and secure the bobbin inside.

Put the case back into the shuttle, then release the latch to secure the bobbin assembly.

How to thread a bobbin

If you’re using a sewing machine with a front-loading bobbin, then you can jump to step 2 below.

For drop-in bobbins, start with step 1.

1. Run the bobbin thread through the thread guide

With your bobbin in its compartment, hold the thread end and follow the symbols on your machine.

The thread will run to the left under the bobbin thread guide.

Your Brother sewing machine may have a built-in thread cutter to trim the bobbin once it’s correctly threaded into the machine.

2. Close the compartment

Slide the bobbin compartment cover back into place.

3. Engage the needle

Ensure your needle is correctly threaded from the top spool of the thread.

Turn the handwheel toward you to engage the needle.

Your needle should enter the sewing machine and pull the bobbin thread back up to the sewing platform.

4. Pull the thread tails

Pull the thread tails of both the needle thread and the bobbin thread toward the back of your machine and slightly to the left.

This will leave a long enough tail to start sewing without losing the upper or lower threads.

It’s time to start sewing!

Congrats! You can start sewing if you’ve successfully wound, loaded, and threaded your bobbin.

If you have any problems with tension or missed stitches after following these instructions, you should troubleshoot or try starting over.

It can take some practice to master the steps perfectly, but once you do, the process will feel second nature.

If you need more help threading a bobbin, watch the excellent video below from Brother Sews Ambassador Angela Wolf on how to thread a bobbin using the Brother Luminaire Innov-ís XP1.