Threading the needle on your Singer Fashion Mate
Threading a Singer Fashion Mate takes about two minutes once you know where each part goes. The machine has a clear path from the spool pin at the top down through tension discs, a guide, and finally into the needle. You thread from top to bottom, making sure the presser foot is up (this opens the tension discs so thread can pass through), and you seat the thread firmly in each slot before moving to the next one.
The most common mistake is threading with the presser foot down, which keeps the tension discs clamped shut and stops the thread from reaching them. If your stitches look loose or uneven after you thread, the presser foot position is usually the culprit.
Key Takeaways
- Raise the presser foot all the way up before threading — this opens the tension discs and lets thread pass through.
- Thread from the spool pin at the top, down through the tension discs, the guide, and into the needle from front to back.
- Push the thread firmly into each slot so it seats completely; loose thread in the tension discs causes skipped stitches.
- Wind the bobbin and insert it into the bobbin case before threading the needle, so you can pull up the bobbin thread once you are ready to sew.
Step-by-step threading from spool to needle
Start with the presser foot lever in the up position. Place your thread spool on the spool pin at the top of the machine — the pin is vertical and sits toward the back left. The thread should unwind smoothly from the spool without twisting.
Pull the thread down and to the right, into the first guide (a small hook or slot near the top of the machine). From there, guide the thread down and slightly left into the tension discs — you will see two metal discs stacked together. Push the thread between them until you feel it click or seat firmly. This is the most important step: if the thread is not fully seated in the tension discs, your stitches will be loose.
Continue down to the next guide (usually a small hook below the tension discs), then down to the needle guide just above the needle. Finally, thread the needle from front to back, left to right. The needle eye on a Singer Fashion Mate is large and straightforward to see. Pull the thread through until you have a tail of about 4 to 6 inches hanging below the needle.
Why the presser foot position matters
The presser foot lever controls whether the tension discs are open or closed. When the foot is down, the discs clamp together. When the foot is up, they separate slightly. Threading with the foot down means the thread cannot enter the discs at all — it will sit on top of them and slip out as soon as you start sewing.
If you thread with the foot down and then raise it, the thread may not be seated properly in the discs. The safest approach is to raise the foot before you start threading and keep it up until you have threaded the needle and pulled up the bobbin thread.
Winding and inserting the bobbin
Before you thread the needle, wind the bobbin and insert it into the bobbin case. The bobbin winder is on the right side of the machine. Place an empty bobbin on the winder spindle, guide the thread from your spool around the bobbin winding tension guide, and then wrap it around the bobbin a few times by hand. Press the bobbin winder against the wheel on the right side of the machine — this engages the winder and disengages the needle.
The bobbin will wind automatically. When it is full, the winder will stop or click. Remove the bobbin and trim the thread. Insert the bobbin into the bobbin case (the small metal or plastic housing below the needle plate) with the thread end going under the tension spring. The bobbin case slides into the machine from the left side, under the presser foot area.
Pulling up the bobbin thread
Once the needle is threaded and the bobbin is in place, you need to pull the bobbin thread up through the needle plate so both threads are ready to sew. Hold the needle thread lightly with your left hand. Turn the handwheel (the large wheel on the right side of the machine) toward you one full rotation. The needle will go down and come back up, and as it does, it will catch the bobbin thread and pull a loop to the surface.
Gently pull the needle thread to bring the bobbin thread loop all the way up through the needle plate. You should now have both the needle thread and the bobbin thread lying on top of the needle plate, ready to sew. Pull both threads toward the back of the machine and under the presser foot before you start stitching.
Troubleshooting uneven or skipped stitches
If your stitches look loose on the bottom (the bobbin thread shows on top) or you are skipping stitches, the needle thread is usually not seated in the tension discs. Raise the presser foot, pull the thread out of the needle, and rethread from the tension discs down. Make sure you hear or feel the thread click into place in the discs.
If the top thread looks loose, the bobbin thread may not be wound tightly enough or may not be threaded through the bobbin case tension spring. Rewind the bobbin, making sure it fills evenly, and check that the thread end is under the tension spring in the bobbin case. A thread that is too thick for your needle can also cause skipped stitches — use a needle size that matches your fabric weight.
Changing the needle safely
If you bend or break a needle, you will need to rethread. Raise the presser foot and the needle to its highest point by turning the handwheel toward you. Loosen the needle clamp screw (a small screw on the side of the needle bar) and slide the old needle out. Insert a new needle with the flat side facing the correct direction — on a Singer Fashion Mate, the flat side usually faces toward the back or toward the left, depending on your model. Check your manual if you are unsure.
Tighten the needle clamp screw firmly so the needle does not shift during sewing. Then rethread the needle and pull up the bobbin thread as described above. A loose needle can cause skipped stitches and may bend or break during sewing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the thread keeps slipping out of the needle?
The needle may be inserted backward or upside down. Raise the presser foot, loosen the needle clamp, and check that the flat side of the needle faces the correct direction for your machine. Also make sure the needle is pushed all the way up into the clamp before you tighten the screw. A needle that is not fully seated will slip out as you sew.
Why do I have loops of thread on the bottom of my fabric?
Loops on the bottom mean the needle thread is too loose. The thread is not seated properly in the tension discs. Raise the presser foot, unthread the needle, and rethread from the tension discs down, pushing the thread firmly into the discs until it clicks. Then rethread the needle and try again.
Can I thread the machine with the presser foot down?
You can, but the tension discs will be clamped shut and the thread will not pass through them. Your stitches will be loose and uneven. Always raise the presser foot before threading, and keep it up until you have threaded the needle and pulled up the bobbin thread.
How tight should the thread be in the tension discs?
The thread should be snug enough that you feel resistance when you pull it, but not so tight that it is hard to move. When you pull the thread down from the spool with the presser foot up, it should move smoothly but with a slight drag. If the thread slides through without any resistance, it is not seated in the discs.
Do I need to rethread every time I change the bobbin?
No. You only need to rethread the needle if you change the needle, break the thread, or if the stitches become uneven. Changing the bobbin does not require rethreading the needle — just insert the new bobbin into the bobbin case and you are ready to sew.