A threader that doesn't like some threads!

Here's something odd that I have NEVER heard anyone mention here....I have a Singer Quantum 9960 Stylist. Biggest problem with this machine is the threading feature. You have to totally unwind the machine to wind a bobbin..which is so annoying! IF the thread breaks above the needle, you have to unthread the whole machine to get the end of the thread to re thread. But it has a little feature to thread the needle. A little thing that you pull down right next to the needle and it pokes through the eye of the needle and pulls the thread through. Best thing about this machine! Well...it works for awhile and then stops. The little thing doesn't poke through the eye. I sent it back to where I bought it, they just replaced the feature with no response as to why it happened. I am very careful to not bend it or anything like that.
Well, it happened again. I was so mad..right in the middle of a project and it stops working. I can thread it by eye sight, but it is hard. Well, I changed thread and used a different thread color. And the threader worked! I changed back to the color I had..and it didn't work!..well,, research showed... this little threader thing won't thread if used with Aruiful brand (probably spelled wrong! ) thread! I used COnnecting Threads cotton and Coats and Clark cottons...and the threader works fine. What is it about Aruiful that makes it not let the threader work? I can't figure that one out! Anyone had this kind of problem before?

Aren't those great threaders! Some days I can not get mine to work *sigh* so a tiny piece of white paper taped to my sewing bed I hold up behing the needle and ah hem, using my cheater glasses I can SEE the hole to thread it again. Why do those little gadgets get so picky?? Mine didn't have any lint I could see on it, did yours?

hmm You are on your second wonder how long they do last? Sandy Nevas has several great self threaders, and I believe there are self-threading sewing machine needles! You know how you run down the thread tension discs? These needles are threaded like that no aiming and poking away at some tiny hole we can't sEE hehehe

Good luck hope more folks come say do they use theirs? Do they like them? Do they have issues with certain threads or ???

oh 1 of mine is a Viking, the other a Pfaff? and yours is a Singer so it varies across wide spans of machines -- You think that threading "helper" is made by the same company for all these machines? Got my interest peeked!

thanks Debbie

I have the Singer Futura ce-350 with a threader that doesn't like Robison Anton. It will thread it sometimes but not always. Kind of irritating.

I have a babylock and my needle has to be in the top most position for it to work right - can't have hand turned the wheel even slightly. Since I have a needle up/down button, I have finally gotten into the habit of hitting that before I attempt to use the needle threader. It works for me, hope it helps! :)

Oh my goodness!!!! My Singer threader worked when I first got it. Once I started using Aurifil, it has never worked and I figured it was just out of alignment. This never occured to me, and since I never use any other thread for piecing, I would never know! I'm going to have to see if I have a random spool somewhere and check this in the morning, if I remember. I think it might be a long night trying to stay awake at work and I may forget by then!

Very interesting.....

My Janome has a needle threader.... It has never broken...in going in seven years.....and always works, if the needle is in the highest position. I use the up/down button to make sure that happens....

I've never noticed it being picky about the thread I use.mmd

It takes me longer to use the needle threader on my machine than to thread the machine the regular way. I consider it pretty useless.

Yup, threaders. Never noticed a problem with thread types. BUT I was truly amazed the last time I took my machine (Viking) to have routine maintenance done - the sales 'guy' was checking to see if there was anything he could do (other than dropping it from the top of the table . . . again) to give the technician a day of rest. He went to thread it and actually became kind of rude because I had a small needle in place and . . . get this "You need to have at least a size 16/100 or larger needle to use the threader." And I thought, "Okay, Dummy, and if the needle is that large I can see the hole and easily thread it the regular way. " Give me a break - if you are going to have a threader on the machine it better be able to thread at least a size 11/75 needle or it is NO GOOD and a waste of real estate, especially on an embroidery machine.

My Babylock threader does an okay job. I use robison anton embroidery thread. This is going to sound stupid, but it doesn't like certain colors. lol

Superior recommends top-stitch needles for all their thread. With the bigger eye in a top-stitch needle, do you think that would help?
I have a Bernina 440 and have no problem with mine.

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Originally Posted by ilive2craft2

I have a babylock and my needle has to be in the top most position for it to work right - can't have hand turned the wheel even slightly. Since I have a needle up/down button, I have finally gotten into the habit of hitting that before I attempt to use the needle threader. It works for me, hope it helps! :)

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Good advice. The automatic threader on my Janome 7700 refuses to work unless in the top most position, too. It took me taking it to the dealer and telling them the automatic threader didn't work to learn that important lesson.

My Janome threader "stopped working",, but it was after a sever "jam" of sorts... I sew all types of thick seams and broke a needle and then it just stopped.. so I gave in and took off all the "stuff" and it looked like under my bed with "bunnies"...LOL My quilter GF;s laughed and said..WTH!!! But I think it is out of alignment,, just stopped using it... it was fine for the first year, but like I said, i'm "run roughshod"... BUT,, now i'm gonna' check that whole "needle up" thing... my Brother has directions so difficult to read about the threader,, I just said,,, heck, I could have the whole project done, by the time the needle is threaded!!! B

Sandy, Maybe for MEN you have to have a size 16, but I have a new Viking and I was told you can use any size needle in it for the threader. My guess is that he can's see the needle to thread it! MEN!

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Originally Posted by Sandy Navas

Yup, threaders. Never noticed a problem with thread types. BUT I was truly amazed the last time I took my machine (Viking) to have routine maintenance done - the sales 'guy' was checking to see if there was anything he could do (other than dropping it from the top of the table . . . again) to give the technician a day of rest. He went to thread it and actually became kind of rude because I had a small needle in place and . . . get this "You need to have at least a size 16/100 or larger needle to use the threader." And I thought, "Okay, Dummy, and if the needle is that large I can see the hole and easily thread it the regular way. " Give me a break - if you are going to have a threader on the machine it better be able to thread at least a size 11/75 needle or it is NO GOOD and a waste of real estate, especially on an embroidery machine.

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Sandy I can't get past what you said "other then dropping it from the top of the table again"...did he drop your machine??? I probably would have come unglued on him. Rude is something I can't stand, but I can pretty well keep my lips closed...sometimes... but not being careful with your machine is another. We pay good money for these machines and when we take them in for cleaning or anything else the sales people should be courteous and careful. Just saying...Genny

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Originally Posted by ilive2craft2

I have a babylock and my needle has to be in the top most position for it to work right - can't have hand turned the wheel even slightly. Since I have a needle up/down button, I have finally gotten into the habit of hitting that before I attempt to use the needle threader. It works for me, hope it helps! :)

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Mine has to be up to and I too press the "needle up" button to make sure. The little pokey thing grabs the thread, but to the right of the needle and pulls it back..doesn't to into the eye. And I try to push the pokey thing over and it doesn't help

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Originally Posted by Sandy Navas

Yup, threaders. Never noticed a problem with thread types. BUT I was truly amazed the last time I took my machine (Viking) to have routine maintenance done - the sales 'guy' was checking to see if there was anything he could do (other than dropping it from the top of the table . . . again) to give the technician a day of rest. He went to thread it and actually became kind of rude because I had a small needle in place and . . . get this "You need to have at least a size 16/100 or larger needle to use the threader." And I thought, "Okay, Dummy, and if the needle is that large I can see the hole and easily thread it the regular way. " Give me a break - if you are going to have a threader on the machine it better be able to thread at least a size 11/75 needle or it is NO GOOD and a waste of real estate, especially on an embroidery machine.

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Wow... a 100? That is pretty big! Most commonly required are 70 or 80's. Wonder if he didn't know what he was doing and just told you that! I didn't think it was even useable to use a 100 in quilting cottons. If it is on the machine, it should be able to accomodate the most common needle sizes. I think he is pulling your leg...I mean thread!

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Originally Posted by IwantItgreen

Superior recommends top-stitch needles for all their thread. With the bigger eye in a top-stitch needle, do you think that would help?
I have a Bernina 440 and have no problem with mine.

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I had been buying the Schmitdts (mispelled I know) and I forget now the specific, but not the universal ones. When this happened I tried Singer brand ones thinking, maybe that's the case...stick with the same brand. But that didn't help either. I now buy Singer brand simply cause they are often cheaper than the Schmidtz. I asked the repair guy and he said, no that wouldn't matter anyway, it takes all brands.

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Originally Posted by GrammaBabs

My Janome threader "stopped working",, but it was after a sever "jam" of sorts... I sew all types of thick seams and broke a needle and then it just stopped.. so I gave in and took off all the "stuff" and it looked like under my bed with "bunnies"...LOL My quilter GF;s laughed and said..WTH!!! But I think it is out of alignment,, just stopped using it... it was fine for the first year, but like I said, i'm "run roughshod"... BUT,, now i'm gonna' check that whole "needle up" thing... my Brother has directions so difficult to read about the threader,, I just said,,, heck, I could have the whole project done, by the time the needle is threaded!!! B

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Yeah, I have had that feeling too! I even tried a hand needle threader...worked fine until the little thin wire thingy pulled out of the holder!

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Originally Posted by IBake

Sandy, Maybe for MEN you have to have a size 16, but I have a new Viking and I was told you can use any size needle in it for the threader. My guess is that he can's see the needle to thread it! MEN!

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I think so too IBlke! I think he just didnt' know the answer and didn't want to make himself look stupid or not a big "man" and just said that to her! THat is why they call needles "universal"...they all fit all machines. I was told by my Singer repair man that it doesn't matter. I told him about my problem and said I even bought Singer brand needles, and he the brand wouldn't matter. I use 100 for denim material...needed due to the weight of the denim...but a 100 for cotton? That'd make huge holes in the fabric!

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Originally Posted by Hulamoon

My Babylock threader does an okay job. I use robison anton embroidery thread. This is going to sound stupid, but it doesn't like certain colors. lol

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Not at all, I can believe that different colors take more dye to get them "true" so I would believe that some colors of the same thread may be a tiny hair larger!!

Thanks all never thought to hit the needle up and try it - I get flustered and use the white paper behind the needle most times it's faster to do that then fiddle with the theader

I have to also do the needle up/down before using the threader on my Janome. Never a problem and on my Singer, I just move the hand wheel to the most up position and it works each time. I love the needle threaders.
I have a spool of Aurifil thread which I didn't even realize I had in my thread case till 2 days ago while searching for some other threads. I should try it in both machines and see what happens. I believe it is 100% cotton.

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Originally Posted by Juliadlf

I have to also do the needle up/down before using the threader on my Janome. Never a problem and on my Singer, I just move the hand wheel to the most up position and it works each time. I love the needle threaders.
I have a spool of Aurifil thread which I didn't even realize I had in my thread case till 2 days ago while searching for some other threads. I should try it in both machines and see what happens. I believe it is 100% cotton.

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I tried some Joann's brand 100% polyester cone thread and the threader thingy pulled it through just fine. Today I have been using that and Connecting THreads 100% cotton and not a problem. Out of morbid curiosity I put that Aurfil in and sure enough...it didn't catch it! Weird. Wonder why?

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Originally Posted by coffeebreak

I tried some Joann's brand 100% polyester cone thread and the threader thingy pulled it through just fine. Today I have been using that and Connecting THreads 100% cotton and not a problem. Out of morbid curiosity I put that Aurfil in and sure enough...it didn't catch it! Weird. Wonder why?

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I tried the Aurifil this morning on both machines I have no problem threading with what they refer to as the Automatic needle threader (which is still manual in my way of thinking) the Aurifil on either of them. The label on the thread says Aurifil Mako'ne 50/2 100% cotton made in Italy. Also has GR 30, MT 1300 and the number 2600 and something that looks like 1Dl under the 2600. Not sure what all the numbers mean. I have a Janome 7700 and Singer CE-200 if that makes a difference.

I have a Singer Quantum. The auto threader will not work with any brand of needles but Singer. The brand or color of the thread doesn't seem to matter. I don't care for Singer needles so I rarely use the threader.

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Originally Posted by OnebyOne

I have a Singer Quantum. The auto threader will not work with any brand of needles but Singer. The brand or color of the thread doesn't seem to matter. I don't care for Singer needles so I rarely use the threader.

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I should have mentioned the brand needles in the machines too. I have Schmetz brand in both machines right now. Janome has a 80/12 and the Singer 75/11.