Complete threading guide for your overlocker
How to use an overlocker
Once you've purchased your overlocker you'll need to learn how to use it. And threading your machine correctly is vital for achieving the best results – follow our threading guide to make this task less daunting.
Threading your overlocker
Threading an overlocker can be one of the most daunting things about owning one. Unlike a sewing machine where there is only a needle to thread, there are two needles and two loopers to deal with on an overlocker and lots of poking around inside the machine!
The most important thing to remember is to refer to the manual about to thread your specific machine. Some machines will also have a handy video guide to help you.
Most overlockers require you to thread them in a particular order for them to function – usually from right to left: lower looper, upper looper, right-hand needle, left-hand needle. Each looper/needle will have a different colour to help show which is which.
This is a general threading guide for a Janome overlocker and will give you a good idea of threading, even if you own a different machine, but do refer to your manual for anything particular to your model.
Threading the lower looper
- Raise the presser foot. This opens the tension discs, allowing you to pass the threads through them.
- Open up both the looper cover and the side cover.
- Place a thread spool on the spool pin to the far right.
- Draw up the thread through the right-side thread guide, from the back to the front then slide the thread under the top cover thread guide.
- Insert the thread through the tension discs, ensuring it sits between the discs.
- Follow the illustrations on your machine to pass the thread through the thread guides.
- Turn the handwheel towards you until the needles are in their uppermost position. Push the lower looper thread guide to the left, which will pop the next two lower looper thread guides to the right to make them easier to thread.
- Pass the thread through the remaining lower looper thread guides and then through the eye of the lower looper.
- Place the thread under the presser foot, towards the back of the machine.
Threading the upper looper
- Place a thread spool on the spool pin second to the right.
- Draw up the thread through the second to the right thread guide, from the back to the front then slide the thread under the top cover thread guide.
- Insert the thread through the tension discs, ensuring it sits between the discs.
- Follow the illustrations on your machine to pass the thread through the upper looper thread guides.
- Pass the thread through the eye of the upper looper.
- Place the thread under the presser foot, towards the back of the machine.
Threading the right-hand needle
- Place a thread spool on the spool pin second to the left.
- Draw up the thread through the second to the left thread guide, from the back to the front then slide the thread under the top cover thread guide.
- Insert the thread through the tension discs, ensuring it sits between the discs.
- Follow the illustrations on your machine to pass the thread through the front cover thread guides and the take up lever.
- Insert the needle through the right-hand slot of the needle thread guide plate and through the next needle bar thread guide.
- Use the handwheel to raise the needles to the highest point and thread the right-hand needle from front to back.
- Place the thread under the presser foot, towards the back of the machine.
Threading the left-hand needle
- Place a thread spool on the spool pin to the far left.
- Draw up the thread through the left-hand thread guide, from the back to the front then slide the thread under the top cover thread guide.
- Insert the thread through the tension discs, ensuring it sits between the discs.
- Follow the illustrations on your machine to pass the thread through the front cover thread guides and the take up lever.
- Insert the needle through the left-hand slot of the needle thread guide plate and through the next needle bar thread guide.
- Use the handwheel to raise the needles to the highest point and thread the left-hand needle from front to back.
- Place the thread under the presser foot, towards the back of the machine.
Creating a thread chain
- Pull all four threads to the left of the presser foot and hold on to them.
- Lower the presser foot.
- Close both the looper cover and the side cover.
- Use the foot pedal to run off a chain of stitches about 10-15cm long.
Tying threads
There is an alternative threading method which you can use and may find easier.
- Snip off the existing threads near to the spools and replace the current spools with new ones.
- Tie each thread from the new spool to its corresponding thread in a double knot.
- Change the tension dials to 0, lift the presser foot and slowly pull the threads through one by one.
- You will need to cut the knots and manually thread the left and right needles as the knots will not fit through.
- Return the tension dials to their existing settings.
- Put the presser foot down and create a new chain of stitches.
While this can be a quicker method of rethreading, it is still important that you know how to rethread your machine properly to ensure you can troubleshoot any issues.
Air threaders
Some people really struggle with threading an overlocker due to being a beginner and anyone who has difficulty seeing or struggles with dexterity might find threading an overlocker particularly hard, especially when it comes to threading the bottom loopers.
If you do need a hand with threading, there are now overlockers that have air threading to assist you. These work by using a blast of compressed air to take the thread through the loopers to where it needs to be, leaving you with more time free to sew!
Shopping around
If you are in the market for a new overlocker, do shop around and try out a few if you are lucky enough to have a sewing machine dealer nearby. Open up the machines and see how easy they are to thread. You can browse the latest models at janome.co.uk.