Yes, if you pull it back towards the spool you pull all the fuzz and lint into your machine and if you pull it out thru the needle you are pulling the lint and fuzz out of your machine so to speak. I learned this when I bought my Janome Embroidery machine. The owner of the store where I purchased it was a wonderful help with ideas and hints etc. I am sorry he is retired now as he and his wife were great to talk with and give you advice etc. You could stop in and visit and talk with them and not buy a thing if you could control yourself like that, and they never made you feel badly if you didn't buy anything. They were GREAT!!!!! Thanks Brenda and Russ if you by chance would ever see this message.