Shows photo of a threaded sewing machine with numbers for the sequence of steps and text "How to Thread a Sewing Machine"

How to Thread a Brother Sewing Machine For Beginners (Detailed Pictures)

Learn to quickly and easily thread your Brother sewing machine by following this simple step-by-step tutorial. Start sewing on your machine in no time!

Image with text "How to easily Thread a Sewing Machine" with photo of brother sewing machine with numbers to show how to thread

Did you know that 9 times out of 10 when your sewing machine is “acting up”, there’s actually nothing wrong with the machine? Most of the time, it’s because you have threaded the machine incorrectly. Yes, you! However, the good news is that this is a very easy fix and you have full control over it.

When I was in sewing school, every time a student approached the instructor to say that the machine is broken, his response was always “did you check the threading? If not, thread it again!”

While there are definitely other reasons a machine may act up, I have found that re-threading is one of the easiest and fastest ways to set the machine in full function again. And when you are working on a sewing project, that’s exactly what you want! A quick fix so you can keep sewing!

9 times out of 10 when your sewing machine is “acting up”, there’s actually nothing wrong with the machine. Most of the time, it’s because the machine is threaded incorrectly.

In today’s tutorial, I will be showing up step-by-step how to thread a Brother CS-6000i Sewing Machine. You may not own this exact model, but MOST models of home sewing machines these days are threaded the same way, with a few minor difference.

It is always a good idea to refer to your sewing machine manual for the most accurate way to thread it. If you can’t remember the last time you’ve seen your manual, don’t worry! You can most likely find it online.

WHERE CAN I FIND MY MACHINE MANUAL?

However, there are times I find the manual hard to understand or the diagrams to be super unclear (anyone else agree?). That’s why I decided to create this step-by-step guide to show you EXACTLY how to thread a Sewing Machine.

Because one can’t do any sewing if the sewing machine isn’t threaded properly, right? So this is a SUPER IMPORTANT step!

Since the Brother CS-6000i Sewing Machine also comes with an automatic needle threader, I have also included a step-by-step tutorial on How to Use a Built-In Needle Threader. However, you can always hand thread the needle if your machine doesn’t come with one.

Once your machine is correctly threaded, you will be ready to start sewing, which is where the fun begins! So let’s get started!

HOW TO THREAD A SEWING MACHINE: STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

How to thread a brother sewing machine. Shows Mark on hand wheel pointing up to raise needle to highest position

First, turn the hand wheel so that the mark on the hand wheel points directly up. See that this mark is aligned to the mid line of the sewing machine This makes sure the needle is in the fully raised position.

How to thread a brother sewing machine. Shows hands raising up lever to raise presser foot

Next, raise the presser foot by lifting the presser foot lever up.

How to thread a brother sewing machine. Shows spool pin being pulled up by hand to highest position before putting spool thread on.

Make sure the spool pin is pulled as high as it can go.

How to thread a brother sewing machine. Shows hands putting thread spool on spool pin so that thread spool turns in clockwise direction when thread is pulled.

Now seat the spool of thread down on spool pin. The thread spool should turn in a clockwise direction when it is seated on the spool pin and you are pulling on the thread.

How to thread a brother sewing machine. Shows left hand pulling thread towards thread guide.

Pull thread to the left towards the groove in the thread guide

How to thread a brother sewing machine. Shows upper thread going through spring in thread guide groove (1).

Pull thread into the spring of the thread guide (1). See the diagram printed on the machine. The solid line and arrow indicate how to thread the upper threader.

How to thread a brother sewing machine. Shows left hand threading upper thread through machine following arrows and numbers on brother sewing machine.

Pull upper thread down, following the number (2) and direction of the arrow (down)

How to thread a brother sewing machine. Shows left hand threading upper thread through machine following arrows and numbers on brother sewing machine.

Continue threading the upper thread to (3), following the arrows (U turn)

How to thread a brother sewing machine. Shows left hand threading upper thread through machine following arrows and numbers on brother sewing machine. Shows thread take-up lever on step 4 of threading upper thread

Pull thread up towards thread take-up lever. Guide the thread through the take-up lever from right to left (4) as shown in photo.

How to thread a brother sewing machine. Shows thread going through thread take-up lever from right to left. Right small photo shows hand wheel being turned towards you to raise the thread take-up lever to highest postion

Another view of the upper thread correctly threaded through take-up lever from right to left. Thread take-up lever must be lifted to highest position in order for thread to pass through it correctly. Right photo shows the hand wheel mark is rotated slightly towards you to raise the take-up lever to its highest position.

How to thread a brother sewing machine. Upper thread correctly threaded on sewing machine following numbers and arrows on the machine

Pull upper thread down towards (5)

At this point you can manually hand thread the machine needle or use the built-in needle threader that comes with your machine. If you are unsure whether or not your machine has a needle threader, check the user manual.

HOW TO USE SEWING MACHINE BUILT-IN NEEDLE THREADER

Notes:
1. The needle threader can only be used with home sewing machine needles size 75/11- 100/16.

2. You cannot use the needle threader when using special needles such as the twin needle and wing needle. If you are using those types of needles, be sure to thread the eye of the needle by hand.

3. Make sure to turn off the main power switch before threading the needle by hand.

How to use built-in needle threader. Shows sewing machine with labeled parts: "Needle threader lever", "guide", and "Needle Holder"

Your machine will look something like this after the upper thread is correctly threaded. On certain models, you may need to put the thread behind the needle bar thread guide (located right in front of needle holder is).

My Brother CS-6000i Sewing Machine does not have this thread guide so you don’t see it in the photo.

How to use built-in needle threader. Shows left hand pulling needle threader level down and right hand (not in photo) pulling thread over needle threader guide

Lower the needle threader lever down with your left hand. Using your right hand, hook the upper thread onto the guide

How to use built-in needle threader. Shows left hand pulling needle threader level down and right hand (not in photo) pulling thread over needle threader guide and end of needle threader rotating towards operator. Right photo shows a closeup diagram of hook in needle threader going through eye of needle and thread running underneath the hook.

Pull lever all the way down. As you do this, the end of the needle threader rotates towards you (highlighted in blue). Right photo shows a closeup. There will be a hook that goes through the eye of the needle

Pull upper thread in between the double prongs (highlighted in blue) to catch the hook in the eye of the needle.

How to use built-in needle threader. Shows needle threader lever being released up and thread pulled through eye of needle in a loop

Release the lever of the needle threader up. As you do this, the hook will pull the thread through the eye of the needle, creating a little loop.

How to use built-in needle threader. Shows left hand pulling thread through eye of needle

With your left hand, gently pull on the loop to pull the thread through needle.

How to use built-in needle threader. Shows left hand pulling thread that is threaded through sewing machine needle

You have now successfully threaded the upper thread! See how simple that was? Now all you have to do is wind and thread the bobbin thread and you are ready to sew. If you don’t know how to thread a bobbin, check out my step-by-step guide to How to Properly Thread a Bobbin.

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4 Comments

  1. This was a really helpful post on how to properly thread a sewing machine. I appreciate the advice that the issue is usually just improper threading. The detailed photos and explanations make the threading process seem less daunting. I especially liked learning about common places where machines can be found online if I misplaced my manual. Thanks for taking the time to break down this important task.

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