I've never gotten the hang of the one on my Viking Platinum either. Everything seems to function correctly but I find it's far easier to just use a standard needle threader. Takes me much less time.

I uses it ALL the time. My machine is a Brother QC 1000. Love it

I love mine and use it all the time, but sometimes I have to try a couple of times by pushing it together a little harder. :lol:

HAVE NO problem with mine, make sure your thread is in the little area and don't snap it that fast. - J

I was told by a lady that really knows about sewing machines that it doesn't take much to get the threader off. I try to use mine too but it won't work. IT was suggested to get another threader..they aren't suppose to cost much and have it put on. That might fix both our problems??? Just a thought

I found I have to use the needle up button before the threader works on my Brother. It puts the needle in the correct position. That's something the instructions didn't tell me.

I use mine all the time. I have discovered on my Janome, however, that the take-up lever needs to be at the correct position. Anytime my threader won't thread, I move the take-up lever slightly higher and that works.

My threader was great ... then my kid (about 3 at the time) grabbed it and it got bent. 5 years later, I got it replaced. My #2 kid (almost 2) grabbed it and I think it is bent again. I need to find some tiny pliers and try to save it :-(

can't live without it...Tough on my older machines to have to thread by hand...

I have a Janome and once I figured out how ... it's great. You just need someone to show you the little trick or releasing the thread, catching the loop and pulling it through.

I use both Pfaff and Bernina needle threaders. Needle in right position and pushing down on needle threader to be sure it's in position works for me.

Don't use mine.....easier to thread it the old fashioned way.

I have a Viking Diamond and love the threader. However, the very fine wire that hooks the thread can become bent or break if you try to push it against the needle instead of thru the needle eye. I have had mine threee years and I broke the wire a couple of weeks ago and have to replace that part. I do not want to be without the threader. I love it.

My Pfaffs works great.I haven't threaded a needle in forever!

Use mine constantly........sometimes that thin metal wire gets bent a bit and it will not catch and thread....you might consider taking the machine in and having that looked at....I would be lost without this feature.........

They are good to have, but mine cannot thread needles with tiny eyes, which is what I use most of the time. I was strongly encouraged to use it when I do machine embroidery, which seems like a good idea, as there are a lot of thread changes. However, my needle threader likes to shred the rayon thread, so I thread by hand and will continue to do so as long as I can see well close-up. If ever I cannot see well enough to do it, I will quit buying needles with small eyes in them and use the needle threader.

ALL THE TIME - at first I didn't get the hang of it and did it the old fashioned way, but I figured I paid so much for the machine, it's going to work!!! Practice was all I needed, hop it will work for you too. :)

I use mine all the time and have never had a problem with it not threading the needle.

I would suspect the threader is out of alignment. I've done that to all of mine and consequently, I thread by hand, as well.
I just takes one time of hitting the foot with the needle --like when I try to zig-zag with my single stitch foot.

I can almost never get mine to work. After reading all of this, I'm going to try again. Maybe my needle is not all the way up. I'll read the directions again. With my eyes, it would be wonderful to be able to use the needle threader. Thanks for the suggestions!

I have some visually problems and absolutely love having this feature. And now, would not want to be without it.

ditto to the suggestions!!

Another hint that hasn't been mentioned ...... be sure your needle is in the "home" position, meaning the position it is at when you turn the machine on. That's where the threader is set to line up ... just as it needs the needle in the up position.

Many of us move the needle for various reasons ... and no, the threader will not work when the needle is not in it's auto-position.

Once you figure it out, you too will be in love with this feature!

Sheck the size of your needle. Mine wouldnt work for me until I read the instructions that said donly works with needles 80 and lager. No problems since. Imagine that!

Hi from Kimarene from Paradise, California. I'm a new quilter and have been lurking every day to read the quilting board digest, which I really enjoy.

I wanted to respond to your question, because I, too, had much difficulty learning to use the needle threader on my Janome 1860 machine. My problem was that I was holding the tail of the thread too tightly and the thread would break and not go through the needle eye. Once this was pointed out to me, I loosened my grip on the thread and voila! thread through needle!

One thing I have noticed is that not all needles work with this feature. I don't know exactly why. In these cases, I just thread by hand (which is getting harder to do every year!).

I have the same problem!

I use mine ALL the time. I have a Bernina 153 and 440. I'm not sure I could actually thread the needle myself now.

I use my all the time, could not thread the needle without it!

i use mine all the time - i won't even buy a machine if it doesn't have one.

i have many vintage singers and i don't use them for this reason.

I have a Designer 2 and it isn't easy for me either. But my new Janome 6500 is a dream! Guess they are not the same on all brands.

I use mine all the time. Have to be sure the needle is in the highest position.

Always.

It works with most cotton threads but won't work with specialty threads!! It is great when it does work!!!! :lol: :thumbup: :lol:

If at all possible take it back soon as you just paid for the check up. My threader (Berninia) slipped down several times and would not work at all. My fingers could not get in the right place or push enough to put it back up and the service person was able to fix that.

Always. The small hook can get bent. Check to make sure it's straight. Also check to make sure the threader and eye of the needle line up. A little turn of the hand wheel can help with that.

Haven't mastered the threader on my Brother PQ 1500s yet and am so disappointed it isn't easier to use yet .... but I'm stubborn and will continue to keep trying.

I loved mine when it worked, but now something is wrong. I figure when I have to take it in to be fixed, they can fix that too. Guess I need to have DH look at it, he fixes everything else that goes wrong on it. Some of the newer machines are fantastic at threading, mine is ho-hum.

Which specialty threads do you have problems with? I use it with bottom line, rayon threads, water soluble threads, just about everything I sew with. I think I did have trouble with a really stiff nylon monofilament (I don't use that anymore) but mine worked with a better quality rayon monofilament. Mine is a Bernina 440QE.

Maybe it was the heavier/coarser threads? ..... the hook may be a little small for grabbing a "fat" thread? Or perhaps it wasn't the thread, but the other issues mentioned above?

I don't know about other brands, but the "trick" on the Bernina 440 is to tap the foot pedal with your heel. That forces the needle into the perfect position for threading. There's also a button you can push, but the heel tap works better for me.

I actually used my auto-threader all the time----until it broke. I'm going to ask how much to fix it when I take my machine in for a cleaning. However, with the crazy way some things are priced (a cleaning, almost $100.00 :-( ) I expect that I will have to decide fixing the threader is too costly to fix. We will see.

I have the automatic threader on mhy Juki and have never been able to make it work. I bought a Brother SE400 and the threader worked the first time I tried. Amazing! I can't be without it now.