- Before you can sew with your Singer treadle sewing machine, you will need to thoroughly clean and oil the machine. Use a soft cloth with WD-40 or Liquid Wrench to clean the moving parts of the machine. You will also need a 3-in-1 machine oil. Once you have wiped down the inside and out of the machine, oil all moving parts with a drop of oil. Check the tension on the treadle sewing machine belt. It should be quite snug. If it is loose or damaged, you will need to replace or tighten it. Open the staple securing the belt and remove it. Thread a new belt through the pathways, mark the point it should be secured and cut the excess away. Pierce a hole in the belt with an awl and secure with the staple on the end of the belt. Use the same method to tighten the existing belt if it is in good repair.
- Place a spool of thread onto the thread pin on your treadle sewing machine. Place an empty bobbin onto the bobbin winder spool and secure into place as appropriate for your Singer treadle sewing machine. Loosen the inner wheel on the treadle sewing machine's handwheel. Treadle the machine to fill your bobbin. Once the bobbin is full, cut the thread and slide the bobbin into the bobbin case. Thread your treadle sewing machine, taking the thread through each of the guides on your Singer treadle machine. Once the needle is threaded, hold the thread toward you and turn the handwheel on the machine, bringing the needle down and back up. You should have a loop of protruding bobbin thread. Pull both threads toward the back of your Singer sewing machine.
- Learning to treadle your Singer sewing machine at an even speed can take practice; however, treadling is not difficult. Place your treadle sewing machine in a comfortable spot and choose a chair that is the appropriate height for your sewing machine cabinet. Place both feet on the treadle pedal, the right slightly in front of the left. Turn the handwheel to start the machine moving and treadle along with the machine's natural movement. Allow yourself some time to get used to the movement. Once you are experienced with your treadle sewing machine, you will find that you can sew quite quickly.
