Originally Posted by feline fanatic

When threading the machine I always have my pressure foot up for the exact reason Ghost Rider explained. However, when threading my needle I have done it with pressure foot down but only dropping the pressure foot after I have taken enough slack in my thread that I may need. I never pull my thread through the machine when the tension disks are engaged (ie when pressure foot is down). I always raise it before pulling any thread. So much so that it is engrained habit now.