Originally Posted by
quiltedsunshine
If you want to use the needle threader, the needle needs to be in the correct position -- the position that is determined by the machine's needle-up setting. Turning the handwheel manually can also tangle the threads around the toggle switches (in the bobbin area).
Of course, if you're appliqueing and other location-specific sewing, yes, turn the handwheel toward you. Not back and forth.
Ah yes! I always use the needle up/down button before threading the machine, for the needle threader, and to pull up threads. Good to know about the bobbin thread, which makes sense because a length of it could be fairly loose in the hook area allowing it to catch if you moved the handwheel back and forth.