A fool and her sewing machine. Help. [whimper]

[BroccoliSpears]

I recently came to own a sewing machine. Oldish but modern and in good working order. No instruction booklet.

In a nut-shell, I've sniffily told everyone I know that of course I can thread a sewing machine. How hard can it be? God, it's not rocket science.

I've haughtily rejected offers of help and demonstrations because,
(a) I am a wally
(b) uhhh...
and (c) I am such a wally.

I sneakily ordered the instruction booklet on the internet... but now I discover they're out of print and I can't get one and I CAN'T thread my sewing machine and a barely know which way up to stand it on the table and there are SO MANY buttons and dials and hooks and switches that I want to cry.

What should I do?

(I mean, what should I do apart from learn a valuable lesson about not being too proud to admit I don't know something when all my friends do.)

(And, just to clarify, I still won't ask a friend for a demo. I need a sneaky way of discovering how to work it that doesn't involve eating humble pie.)

What make and model is it?

It's a Janome 106

Apparently you can download the manual here for $10.

They are all different but they do basically work in a similar way. Have a look on google image search, you might find something that relates to your machine and shows it clearly.

this might help?

Thank you for those links. I shall investigate and let you know how I get on.

All machines thread up in a fairly similar way don't they? I speak as textile teacher who has to thread up a variety of different machines because one simple identical model to the other 14 would just be too simple

Thread along back, through tension discs, up and through take up lever (that hook thing ypou get by moving the balance wheel up and down), and through all little hooks and needle!! Does this help?.

Explain all little dials and stuff, and I'm fairly sure I could help.

Sorry...that should read through tension discs, down, then up and through take up lever...........

Hmmmmm.....

Well, have set up machine next to computer and tried to follow tutorial on snowleopard's link but have not got it quite right.

It's the tension mechanism bit that's confusing me I think.

Thread sitting on the spool holder.
Round a guide nubbin on top.
Down in front... then no cogs or wheels, just a flat hooky bit and a sticky-out, hangy-down bit. Not sure where to put thread here before going up and slipping it into the moving-up-and-down bit.

(you see, this is why I never learned to sew - I could never thread a sewing machine, even with instructions).

errmm

You need to 'catch' the thread on the hooky bit, it's a bit of a faff, (most sewing machines of the older variety are) but you can do it. I sometimes turn the machine off at mains and use a pair of tweezers to pull it up above the hook so that it catches.

Is it possible to scan an image in do you think???? Am totally bemused by hooky bits and uppy downy bits

Would guess you went through flat hooky bit, and sticky out hangy downy bit, and then up through moving up and down bit.

I despair at the use of technical language on here Do I teach them anything?

Good luck...am looking forward to description of dials and buttons. Will book an early seat for that one

Move the balance wheel (round thingy on side of machine)to thread uppy downy thing. That should make it easier

Have found a very small picyure of one online. I would think: bearing in mind that picture is minute, you come down the gap, through some hook at the bottom, though take up level (movey uppy downy thing)and back down, through any hooks at side of needle and through needle.

They all thread up in a similar up and down way. Have you mastered the spool yet?

Can you see photos on this link?

And what's a spool???

Erm... should I just give up and freecycle the bloomin thing?

See if this works

Take the end of the cotton (after putting cotton reel on its sticky holder thing) and thread it from right to left through the rectangular hole on the top

then take it down and thread from left to right through the hole in the sticky out pointy bit

then take it up and thread from left to right through the hole in the moving up and down bit

then thread through the 2 rectangular holders before threading through the needle

I've "drawn" on one of your pics here

I'm not guaranteeing it will work but it might!!

that didn't work - maybe this will

pic

A spool is the bottom thread

Thanks to all the help so far, and dizzy's drawing I think I may be getting there.

So, top thread is threaded in a fashion. I hope it's right.

What do I do about the bottom thread? I've found the secret little compartment with a metal barrel that clicks in and out, and I have teeny plastic spools of thread to put in the barrel. How do I persuade the thread to come out of the barrel and play sewing with me?

Drop the spool of thread into the metal barrel, but make sure there is some thread hanging over the edge. Now, look closely at the case. There should be a little notch on the edge. Hold the plastic spool so it can't spin in the case, then pull the thread against the notch. It should catch- keep pulling, then the thread should appear to come out of the side of the metal case. Job done! Now just pop the whole lot into the place in your sewing machine, hold the thread that's coming from the needle, and manually turn the wheel on the side of the machine. The needle will now go down into the bowels of your sewing machine, and pick up the bobbin thread.

You're now ready to go!!

Houston we have a problem.

I think it's the bottom thread I've got wrong - it's not 'engaging'.

When I press the pedal I get about two needle stabs and then it all gets stuck. The needle can't go up and down any more, the top thread goes slack and when I open it up the bottom thread doesn't appear to have done anything.

Is it shoved into spool case properly?

Does spool case come out and you put spool in, and then insert whole thing, or do you just put in the spool?

If the spool case comes out,insert spool, pull thread out and open little door on front. Hold it open and, make sure needle is in highest position. Insrt spool case, release little door, until you hear it click. Then you should be able to pull up bottom thread with needle by turning handwheel. Is this any help?

Have you got it yet BS? Fizzbuzz is spot on (mental note; sewing machine problems, shout for Fizzbuzz.
Once you've threaded it once, you'll get the general idea. Don't get rid of it, think of all those wonderful hours you'll lose creating something.

I take out the spool case, put the spool in, wriggle the thread through so it's coming out of the side and then click the whole thing back in. I'm fairly sure it's in right as it's a satisfying click into place.

Then there is the end of the spool thread flapping free - should I be doing anything with that? Or just closing the box?

I wind the side wheel and watch the needle plunge into the bowels of the machine and pulls the thread up again having obviously caught it around something down below. Now though, if I take hold of the very end of the top thread where it trails away from the foot and try to pull it, it won't budge.

I do appreciate everyone's time on this. I am probably being quite frustrating.

Now when I press the pedal it just makes a rrrrrr noise but nothing moves.