O.K., I finally had a little time yesterday to play with my new toy. For the life of me, I can't figure out how to use the automatic needle threader. I became so frustrated, I ended up threading the needle by hand. I kept looking at the video, the illustrations, and still couldn't do it, unless by accident.

Also, I broke two needles doing SID at seam intersections. I ended up having to turn the speed to the lowest. That's a pain in the neck, since these intersections are 3-4" apart and quilt is about 50 x 50. Do any of you who have this machine have this problem.

Can you buy needles and bobbins at Wal*Mart, which is where I bought the machine, or do you have to go to a dealer?

Thanks, everyone.

I have a Brother XL2600 and have never been able to use the automatic needle threader either. Maybe it's a Brother issue.

I buy my bobbins from Walmart the ones from Brother . The needles I get from Joanns when they are 50% off

Don't know what needle threader you have- but with mine I couldn't figure it out and then one day the lightbulb went on and it has been smooth sailing since - BUT I have found that it doesn't work with all needles -

I upgraded my machine a few years ago from an older brother to a newer one. If you can tell me what size bobbins you use, you are welcome to the packages of unopened ones I have tucked away if they fit. I might even have some new packages of needles.


Just let me know..

I can't help you with your problem, but I don't even use my needle threader, by the time I pull the threader down and do the thread, I can already have it threaded by the old fashioned way. LOL

I also couldn't figure out the needle threader. You can buy the bobbins and needles anywhere - just check the bobbin size in the book.

I have the Brother SE-350. The pressure foot needs to be down when using the needle threader. The threader will hit the pressure foot if it is not down. My instruction booklet that came with the machine has picture of the bobbin that needs to be used in my machine. Please check the manual for yours. Let us know if you get the threader to work. Learning a new machine definitely has a learning curve.
Nancy
Quilter711

I do not have a Brother machine, but when I first got my Babylock could not figure out how to thread it either at first. It just took placing the thread behind a tiny little
"outcropping" piece just in front of the needle, before
looping it through the last area to the left where I cut the thread. Probably makes no sense, right, but it was just a
tiny thing I was missing & once I "got it" it was simple.
Good luck.

I had taken it back to the dealer 2x & they never bothered to show me EXACTLY how to do it, they would just auto-thread it to show me that it worked. LOL

Sharon, these are the needles that came with the machine, so I assume they should work. However, I only have one left now, so will have to get out to get some.

Thanks, Sharon. What brand are the needles?

Thanks. All I can tell you is they are clearer and higher than the older ones. Instructions say not to use the shorter ones, as they are made for the older machines.

I'm too stubborn to do that yet. I'm intent (right now) on not letting it get the best of me.

Nancy, I make sure the presser foot is down as soon as I put the thread through that little wire thing before you get to the needle threader. I'll be sure to let you know if I get it to work consistently. Thanks.

Marilyn, you talk like me. When I explain things, it's perfectly clear to me, and clear as mud to whom I'm explaining it to. Thanks. I'll let everyone know.

Maybe you need to use a bigger needle to get through the thicker seams. I like to use a size 90 for quilting :D:D:D

Also, on my machine (don't know if your's is the same) there is a little metal piece on the threader, that pokes through the eye of the needle. The thread has to go underneath that piece, and then lightly hold the thread around and behind the needle, not to the side of the needle :D

That sure sounds like mine. I can't see anything go through the needle. I see 4 little hooks like close together. I'll try holding the thread around to the back. Thanks.

I do not have problems with the needle threader but I have a Brother DE350.

matraina, try using your walking foot. It is a life saver for me.
The SQ9000 does not like to have the thread pulled out of the bobbin case. Example: lots of us sew to the end, lift the presser foot and pull the threads out to cut them. Doing this with the SQ9000 will almost always pull the bobbin thread out of the bobbin thread path. It will cause the top thread to break. It will tie the top thread and the bobbin thread in a knot and snap or bend the needle. Try using leaders and enders or keep sewing until the fabric is a couple inches away from the needle before you snip the threads.
I don't use my needle threader. The directions make no sense to me. There is nothing to punch the thread through the needle that I can see. I can thread by hand faster than I can fiddle with the threader.
There are lots and lots of post on the SQ9000 with tons of valuable information in them. When you get time you will enjoy reading them.
I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.
Merry Christmas.

Thank you very much; and Merry Christmas to you.