How to Thread the Upper Looper on a Serger Sewing Machine

Most of the problems you'll encounter with your serger sewing machine occur with improper threading. Although there are many different models and manufacturers of sergers, most are essentially threaded the same. Once you understand the basic approach of threading the upper looper, you'll be able to easily thread your serger.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Open the door on the front of the serger to expose the loopers. The color-coded threading chart is usually located on the inside of the door. Most of the newer sergers use a different color to specify each threading path, with dots on the guides in the lower looper area.

2. Place your serger thread on the cone holders. Use spool or cone adapters supplied with your machine, if necessary. Raise the thread guides above the cones, to the highest position, to keep the thread up, away from the cones.

3. Follow the color-coded guide, which usually starts with the upper looper, then the lower looper and needles last. From the thread guides, run the thread down to the small spring-loaded thread guide on the top of the serger.

4. Continue through the tension disks, which are adjustable, according to the type of stitch you are making. Make sure the thread is in the tension mechanism by giving each thread a slight tug. There should be a little resistance if the thread is in the right place.

5. Thread the upper looper and lower looper guides and the looper eyes, following the color-coded instructions on the door. The thread guides will hold both threads. It may be a little tricky to get the looper eyes threaded. This is where the special serger threader and the tweezers come in handy.

6. Pull the looper threads to the left and under the presser foot. Then thread the needles. You may have one or two needles, depending on the type of serger you have. Pull these threads under the pressure foot with the looper threads.

7. Lower the presser foot, hold the threads with your left hand and gently pull as you lightly tap the serger power pedal. If your serger is threaded properly, you'll have a nice chain coming out from the back of the presser foot.

Tips & Warnings

• Tweezers and a serger needle threader are helpful when you're threading your serger. The tweezers usually come with the serger, and the special needle threader is available at your sewing supply store.
• A looper brings the thread close enough so the needle can catch it and incorporate it into the stitching. The loopers must be threaded in the proper sequence to function properly.
• Avoid injury by turning the power supply to your serger off while threading.
• The most common problem serger repair specialists say they encounter is improper threading of the machine. There usually isn't anything wrong with the serger. It's important to thread your machine according to the manufacturer's instructions.