Shuttle bobbin

In preparation for using my Singer 128 (knee controller) this month, and to refresh my own memory, I'm reposting my tutorial for threading the shuttle bobbin.

Singer 128 Model

First off, this is not an intuitive bobbin. The thread doesn't go where you think it's going to go. So rest assured, any problems you're having aren't your fault.

The yellow line shows the path the thread will take. The metal overlay hides the channel the thread will travel through. You do NOT want to try to guide the thread around the bottom, by the screw. I wasted more time than I care to admit trying to thread it that way!

Let's get started

A picture is worth more words than I can come up with to describe the correct direction the thread must go when the bobbin in slipped into the case.

Guide the thread through the channel.

Hold the top of the bobbin firmly in its case so it doesn't rotate or try to unwind as you continue pulling the thread down through the channel.

This is where you got stuck, right? Ask me how I know...

Don't even try to guide it around the bottom. You know now that the thread is going to loop back up, so the trickiest part here is to get the thread into the next part of its channel. (Once that's accomplished, the rest is a piece of cake.)

By the way, these pictures show me holding everything with one hand (my other hand is holding the camera). You'll find it much easier using both hands!

Pull the thread up again along the curve of the metal overlay. If the thread has "caught" and is going where it should, you'll see it gliding along under the overlay, as in this picture. If it didn't "catch", it'll come back out of the channel. Just keep doing this step (try applying various degrees of tautness as you pull the thread up and down the "D curve") until the thread makes it into the rest of its path.

Continue pulling the thread up along the "D curve" until it goes around the prong (follow the yellow arrow in the picture).

Your threaded bobbin, ready for use.