When sewing gathers or darts, you can draw up the lower thread by hand so that some thread will be left over.
Before you draw up the lower thread, put the bobbin back in.

1. Turn off the machine.
   
   

   

   
   
2. Raise the presser foot lever.
   
   

   

   
   

   (1) Presser foot lever

   
   
3. Remove the bobbin cover.
   
   

   

   
   

   (1) Bobbin cover

   
   
4. Reinstall the bobbin.
   
   

   

   
   
5. Pass the thread along the slit in the direction of the arrow, and leave it there without cutting it.
   
   

   

   
   
6. While lightly holding the end of the upper thread, slowly turn the handwheel toward you (counterclockwise) by hand to lower and then raise the needle.
   
   

   

   
   
7. Pull on the upper thread to draw up the lower thread.
   
   

   

   
   

   (1) Upper thread
   (2) Lower thread

   
   
8. Pull out about 10 cm (4 inches) of both threads and put them toward the back of the machine under the presser foot.
   
   

   

   
   

   (1) Upper thread
   (2) Lower thread

   
   
9. Replace the bobbin cover.
   
   

   

   
   

   (1) Groove
   (2) Projection