Table of Contents
Watch the video: “How to Thread a Singer Touch & Sew 640 Sewing Machine” by (channel not specified)
Effortless, reliable threading is the first win with any vintage machine. If you own a Singer Touch & Sew Golden Model 640, the path from spool to needle has a few must-not-skip checkpoints—especially the tension discs and take-up lever. Follow the exact sequence shown in the reference video to get smooth stitches right away.
What you’ll learn
- How to stage your spool and presser foot so the tension discs open properly
- The exact guides and circular posts your thread must pass through
- How to seat the thread between the silver tension discs (not just around the frame)
- How to engage the check spring and thread the take-up lever at its highest point
- The correct needle orientation and front-to-back threading for this model
Getting Started: Spool and Presser Foot Setup
Place your spool on the machine’s spool holder and cap it so the reel doesn’t wiggle as you thread. A secure spool keeps your feed steady from the first guide to the needle.
Placing Your Thread Spool Correctly With the machine at rest, pop your cotton reel on the spool holder, then add the spool cap to keep the reel stable. This prevents the reel from bouncing free during threading or sewing.
Pro tip
- A quick fingertip spin test tells you if the spool is freely turning while staying put under the cap.
The Importance of the Presser Foot Position Before you approach the tension discs, lift the presser foot. On this Singer, raising the presser foot releases the discs so the thread can seat between them. If the foot is down, the discs clamp shut and the thread won’t settle correctly—leading to poor tension and messy stitches.
Watch out
- Threading with the foot down is a guaranteed tension headache.
Navigating the Initial Thread Guides
First Plastic Guide After the spool, feed your thread through the first plastic stand/guide on top of the machine. This starts the path and stabilizes the angle toward the next guides. The thread should pass smoothly without catching.
Quick check
- Tug the thread lightly; it should glide without snapping or slipping out.
Routing Around Circular Guides Guide the thread around the small circular guide with the visible groove. Seat the thread in that groove; you should see it nestled, not riding the outside edge. Then bring the thread down and around the next circular guide as you head toward the tension assembly.
From there, keep the path controlled around the second circular guide; the goal is a smooth descent with no snagging. If the thread pops free of the path, re-route it so it’s captured by that second guide.
Watch out
- If the thread sits outside the groove on the first circular guide, you’ll chase inconsistent tension later. Re-seat now for a better result. magnetic embroidery hoops
Mastering the Tension Discs and Check Spring
Understanding Tension Discs Before touching the discs, confirm again: presser foot up. Pass the thread through the small bracket above the discs—this positions the thread perfectly for the tension stack.
Now, feed the thread into the tension discs themselves. You’re aiming between the two inner silver discs—ignore the outer frame. The thread should wrap in a clockwise route down and around, then up the other side.
To be crystal clear about location, identify the two silver discs in the center of the tension assembly; that’s where the thread must sit. If it runs merely around the outside, you won’t get regulated tension.
Finally, verify the clockwise path: down into the discs, around, then up the opposite side. A gentle tug with the presser foot still up should show controlled movement—friction, not binding.
Quick check
- Lower the presser foot momentarily, then pull. You should feel the discs firmly grip. Lift the foot again and the tension should release.
Engaging the Check Spring After the discs, guide the thread around the check-spring hook. It helps to nudge the spring open, loop the thread, and let the spring return to hold it. Then bring the thread back up through the top bracket you used earlier. This stabilizes thread delivery between stitches.
Watch out
- Skipping the check spring can cause slack between stitches and occasional skipped formations.
Threading the Take-Up Lever
Locating and Preparing the Take-Up Lever Before threading the lever, set it to its highest position using the balance wheel. On Singer machines, turn the balance wheel toward you to raise the lever to the very top of its slot. If your lever sits halfway down, threading becomes fiddly and inconsistent.
Note
- The video specifies that Singer balance wheels turn toward you. Other brands may differ, so check your manual if you use something else. embroidery machine for beginners
Correctly Passing Thread Through the Lever With the lever fully raised, pass the thread through the opening in the take-up lever. Some machines have a slot you can hook into, but either way, you’re aiming for a clean pass so the lever can pull thread consistently during stitch formation.
Quick check
- Tug gently: the thread should rise and fall with the lever when you turn the balance wheel.
Final Guides to the Needle
Thread Path Before the Needle Bar Continue down to the next guide just below the take-up lever. This keeps the thread path straight as it travels toward the needle area. Slip the thread into that small metal guide.
Next, slot the thread into the guide at the base of the needle bar, just above the needle eye. Holding the thread in both hands makes it easier to seat it securely.
Needle Clamp Guide There’s a final guide on top of the needle clamp. Pop the thread through it to control the short run into the needle eye. This last guide minimizes flicking and unthreading as you begin to sew.
Pro tip
- If you find the thread regularly jumping free near the needle, re-check these last two guides; they steady the delivery.
Threading the Needle: Front to Back
Needle Orientation This Singer threads from front to back. Install the needle with the flat side facing the back of the machine. That orientation aligns the scarf and aids correct stitch formation.
The Final Step to Sewing Thread the needle from the front, straight through to the back. Give yourself a tail of several inches so the first stitches don’t pull the thread back out. You’re now fully threaded and ready for test stitching.
Watch out
- If you’re fighting frequent unthreading at startup, increase the tail length and hold both thread tails as you take the first few stitches. magnetic hoop
Quick checks before you sew
- Presser foot: up while threading, down to sew. If you can freely pull the thread with the foot down, it’s probably not between the silver discs—re-seat it.
- Take-up lever: at the top when you thread it; the lever should rise/fall smoothly when you turn the balance wheel toward you.
- Guides: confirm the thread is in the groove of the first circular guide, through both lower guides, and the clamp guide.
- Needle: flat side to the back; thread from front to back.
From the comments
- A viewer with a similar model said the tutorial finally made tension discs “click.” The key is threading between the two inner silver discs, not around the frame.
- Another user on a different Singer said the video clarified which discs to use—matching exactly what you see here.
- One commenter noted there are fantastic non-Singer vintage machines as well; the creator agreed and mentioned several brands worth exploring.
Troubleshooting and notes from real users
Symptom: The machine runs on a few stitches after you stop
- What users observed: A Singer 640 owner reported the machine continued sewing briefly after releasing the pedal.
- What the creator said: An extra stitch or two is normal on the 640 as it finds the needle-up position. If it keeps going longer, the foot pedal may need replacement. The creator linked a short video about this point.
- What to try: Observe how many stitches occur after you stop. If it’s just one or two, that behavior is expected for this model. If it’s more, consider servicing or replacing the pedal.
Symptom: Loose or inconsistent tension after threading
- Likely cause: Thread is not actually between the inner silver discs—often the presser foot was down during threading.
- Fix: Lift the presser foot, pull the thread free, and reseat it between the two discs in a clockwise path. Confirm by lowering the presser foot and feeling the increase in resistance.
Symptom: Skipped stitches or snagging near the needle
- Likely cause: The check spring was skipped or one of the last guides (needle bar or clamp) was missed.
- Fix: Re-thread the check spring, then confirm both lower guides are engaged before re-threading the needle front to back.
Symptom: Thread pops out of the needle when you start sewing
- Likely cause: A very short tail or missed final guide.
- Fix: Pull a longer tail and thread the clamp guide on top of the needle clamp.
Pro tip
- Keep a small mirror handy to visually confirm the thread is truly nestled between the silver discs—it’s an easy confidence check.
Watch out
- Balance wheel direction matters: on Singer machines like the 640, turn it toward you. If you’re using another brand, consult its manual for direction.
A note for embroidery-curious sewists You might be landing here while researching vintage machines for general sewing, but thinking about embroidery down the road. While this tutorial focuses strictly on upper-threading the Singer 640, many readers also ask about accessories and frames used with dedicated embroidery models. If that’s you, consider learning resources that cover hooping systems and fabric control for machine embroidery as a separate skill set. embroidery hoops uk
Helpful crossover ideas (no changes to your Singer 640 required)
- Practice consistent thread tension and fabric handling now; those habits transfer nicely when you later explore stabilizers and hooping systems.
- Keep notes on thread behavior through guides and tension—it’s a foundation for troubleshooting more complex embroidery thread paths. magnetic embroidery frames
Buying and setup considerations (if you’re expanding your toolkit later)
- If you ever look for a second, embroidery-capable machine, test the balance wheel feel and threading visibility before purchase—those basics matter across brands and eras. used embroidery machine for sale
- Hooping tools can reduce fabric distortion in embroidery workflows; learn technique first, then consider add-ons thoughtfully. hoop master
FAQ
Why must the presser foot be up while threading? Raising the presser foot opens the tension discs so the thread can seat properly between them. If the foot is down, the discs clamp, the thread rides the outside, and you’ll see poor stitch quality.
Which way should the balance wheel turn on this Singer? Toward you. That’s how you raise the take-up lever to its highest point for easy threading. Other brands may differ; check their manuals.
How should I orient and thread the needle? For this Singer model, insert the needle with the flat side facing the back. Thread from front to back.
What if I can’t see the exact path in the tension area? Look for the two silver discs inside the assembly and feed the thread between them in a clockwise path. Use a small flashlight or mirror if needed.
Is this tutorial the same as embroidery setup? No. This guide covers the upper-threading for straight sewing on a Singer 640. Embroidery machines and their hooping systems are a separate topic. magnetic hoops for embroidery machines