Thread the bobbin before you insert it into the machine
A bobbin is the small spool that holds thread underneath your fabric. Before you put it in the machine, you need to wind thread onto it and then thread that wound bobbin through a small tension guide. Most Singer machines come with empty bobbins, and you'll wind new thread onto them as you use up the old thread.
Start by placing an empty bobbin on the bobbin winder — a small post on the top or side of your Singer machine (the exact location varies by model). Pull thread from your top thread spool, wrap it around the bobbin two or three times by hand to anchor it, then press the bobbin winder against the machine's wheel or press the foot pedal. The bobbin will spin and wind thread onto itself automatically. Stop when the bobbin is full — most machines have a sensor that stops the winding automatically, or you'll see the bobbin is tightly packed.
Once the bobbin is wound, remove it from the winder. Now you're ready to insert it into the bobbin case.
Key Takeaways
- Wind thread onto an empty bobbin using your machine's bobbin winder before loading it into the machine.
- The bobbin case is a small metal or plastic compartment below the needle plate, accessed by removing the needle plate or a small door on the front of the machine.
- Insert the wound bobbin into the case so the thread feeds through the tension spring, then pull the thread into the slot to set the tension.
- Pull up on the bobbin thread to bring a loop of it to the surface, then thread that loop under the presser foot before you start sewing.
Locate and open the bobbin case on your Singer
The bobbin case is a small compartment directly below the needle. On most Singer machines, you access it by removing the needle plate — the flat metal plate under the presser foot that has a hole for the needle to pass through. On some newer models, there's a small hinged door on the front of the machine instead.
To remove the needle plate, lower the presser foot, then unscrew the two small screws holding the plate in place (keep these screws in a safe spot — they're straightforward to lose). Lift the plate straight up and set it aside. You'll now see the bobbin case, which looks like a small metal or plastic shuttle with a hook on one side.
If your machine has a front-loading door instead, straightforward open it by pressing or unlatching it. The bobbin case will be visible inside.
Insert the bobbin into the case with thread feeding through the tension spring
Hold the wound bobbin so the thread unwinds from the top. Look at the bobbin case — you'll see a small metal or plastic spring on one side. This is the tension spring, and it controls how tight the bobbin thread is.
Slide the bobbin into the case so it sits flat in the bottom. The thread should feed up and over the tension spring — you'll see a small notch or slot where the thread sits. Pull the thread gently so it settles into that slot. The tension spring should hold the thread in place without you having to force it.
Some Singer models have a removable bobbin case that you lift out entirely before loading the bobbin. If yours does, load the bobbin into the case while it's out of the machine, then slide the whole case back into the machine until you hear or feel it click into place.
Pull the bobbin thread up to the surface
Once the bobbin case is closed and locked in place (or the needle plate is screwed back on), you need to bring the bobbin thread up to the surface so it's ready to sew. Hold the top thread — the one coming from your top spool — gently in one hand.
Turn the hand wheel on the right side of your machine toward you (this lowers the needle). Turn it until the needle goes all the way down and then comes back up. As the needle comes up, it will catch the bobbin thread and pull a loop of it to the surface. You should see a small loop of thread pop up through the needle plate hole.
Reach down with tweezers or a small hook and pull that loop up and out. Now you have both your top thread and your bobbin thread on the surface, ready to thread under the presser foot.
Thread both threads under the presser foot before sewing
Before you start sewing, both threads need to be positioned under the presser foot. Raise the presser foot using the lever on the back of the machine — this opens the tension discs and lets you slide thread through easily. Take both the top thread and the bobbin thread loop and slide them under the presser foot from left to right, leaving a few inches of thread trailing behind the foot.
Lower the presser foot back down. The threads are now held in place and ready to sew. When you start sewing, the machine will lock the two threads together inside your fabric, creating a stitch.
Common mistakes that cause bobbin problems
The most common mistake is not threading the bobbin thread through the tension spring. If the thread sits loose in the case instead of feeding through the spring, your stitches will be loose and uneven on the bottom of your fabric. Always check that the thread is seated in the tension slot before closing the bobbin case.
Another frequent problem is winding the bobbin too tightly or too loosely. If thread is packed so hard that it's difficult to unwind, the tension will be too tight. If it's wound so loosely that thread hangs slack inside the case, your stitches will skip. Wind at a moderate speed and stop when the bobbin feels full but not rock-hard.
Forgetting to bring the bobbin thread to the surface is also common, especially for new sewers. If you start sewing without pulling up that loop, your machine will make only top stitches with no bobbin thread underneath, and your seams will fall apart. Always turn the hand wheel once after closing the bobbin case to bring the thread up.
How to tell if your bobbin is loaded correctly
The easiest test is to sew a few stitches on scrap fabric and look at both sides. The top of your fabric should show neat, even stitches. The bottom should also show neat, even stitches — not loose loops or tight puckers. If the bottom looks loose and loopy, your bobbin tension is too loose. If it looks tight and puckered, your bobbin tension is too tight.
You can also gently pull on the bobbin thread while it's in the case. It should have slight resistance — you should feel the tension spring holding it — but it should not be so tight that you can't pull it at all. If it pulls out easily with no resistance, it's not threaded through the tension spring correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I forget to thread the bobbin through the tension spring?
Your stitches will be loose and loopy on the bottom of your fabric because the bobbin thread has no tension control. The thread will unwind too freely from the bobbin case. straightforward remove the bobbin case, rethread the bobbin thread through the tension spring, and try again.
Can I use a bobbin from a different brand of sewing machine?
Some bobbins fit multiple machines, but Singer bobbins are designed specifically for Singer machines. Using the wrong bobbin can cause tension problems or damage to your machine. Stick with Singer bobbins or universal bobbins labeled as compatible with your specific Singer model.
How often do I need to wind a new bobbin?
It depends on how much you sew. A full bobbin typically holds enough thread for a small project or several seams. If you're sewing a large quilt or garment, you may need to wind two or three bobbins. Wind a new one whenever the current bobbin runs out of thread.
Why is my bobbin thread breaking while I sew?
Bobbin thread breaks most often when it's wound too tightly, when it's not threaded through the tension spring, or when the bobbin case is damaged or dirty. Check that the thread is in the tension slot, inspect the case for dents or rough spots, and try winding a new bobbin at a slower speed.
Do I need to rethread the bobbin every time I change the top thread color?
No. The bobbin thread and top thread are separate. You only need to change the bobbin when it runs out of thread or when you want to change the bobbin thread color to match a new project. Most of the time you'll just change the top thread and keep the same bobbin.