First, I place the spool of thread on its place on top of the machine on the spool pin, which allows it to spin freely. Second, I put the bobbin on the bobbin winder, and then pinch one end of the thread and run the machine for a bit to wrap the thread around the bobbin, then placing the bobbin in the cover and slipping the thread through. Next, I thread the string from the spool under/around the take-up lever and through the thread guides and around the tension control and then through the needle. I run the machine again for the bottom thread (from the bobbin) to be “caught” by the needle and therefore be joined with the top thread from the spool.