How to Fill a Bobbin on a Bernina Activa 145 Sewing Machine

Bobbins need to be filled with thread from your main spool.

A sewing machine creates stitches by linking a lower thread---the bobbin thread---with an upper thread. Because of this, the bobbin thread is as integral to the stitching process as the upper thread, and the proper filling of a bobbin one of the first steps in the sewing process. Most if not all sewing machines come equipped to enable you to fill bobbins at the proper tension for your particular machine.

Things You'll Need

• Thread
• Empty bobbin

Instructions

1. Turn on the power switch of your Bernina Activa 145 sewing machine. Place an empty bobbin on the spindle of the bobbin winder (on top of your machine toward the right end) and press down gently until you feel the bobbin seat into place.

2. Pull thread from spool mounted on either the horizontal or vertical spool pin, through the rear thread guide on the back top edge toward the left end of your machine. Use an upward motion to secure it.

3. Pull the thread toward you and wrap around the pre-tension stud (on top of your machine directly in front of the rear thread guide). Wrap in the direction of the arrows printed next to it (clockwise).

4. Pull the thread to your right and wrap it around the empty bobbin several times in the direction of the arrow printed beside the bobbin winder spindle (again, clockwise). Press the on/off switch toward the bobbin to engage the bobbin-filling mechanism (which also disengages the needle, causing it to remain stationary as long as the bobbin is filling).

5. Press on the foot control to engage the motor. The bobbin will automatically begin to fill. Continue until the switch disengages automatically and the motor stops.

6. Remove the filled bobbin from the spindle. Cut the thread by pulling it against the cutter blade on the back edge of the on/off switch.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the vertical spool holder for spools that have a top and bottom rim and unwind in a circular manner. Select the horizontal spool holder for spools that are rimless and unwind from the end.

• Watch that your thread does not slip out of the pre-tension stud as this will cause your bobbin to fill too loosely, predisposing it to tangle in the bobbin case.

References

• Bernina: Sewing Machine Manual
• Material Mama: How a Bobbin Works

Resources

• Simple Sewing Projects: Threading Your Machine, Filling the Bobbin