Thanks, redmadder. I thought so, too - so I tried it as you suggested, and unfortunately when I did not thread it through the tiny loop, the whole spring just flopped down and to the left and did not provide tension.
This threading seems really unusual -- and quite a pain! Has anyone seen threading such as this on other machines?
While on the topic of tension, I am also wondering whether the tension knob looks as though it is missing a cover screw, to sort of hold things in place a bit more firmly? I am wondering because when I simply turn the numbered knob, the whole tension assembly wants to turn. When I stabilize things with my fingers and then turn the numbered dial, then indeed only the numbered dial turns. Seems to me that I should be able to simply turn the dial itself and not have to stabilize other bits so as not to have them travel as well. Any ideas, anyone?
Thanks!