I own a 4 thread Singer probably about 25 years old. I like it mostly for sewing knit fabrics. I also sew dresses for young girls for a charity and I use it to finish the seams nicely. Mine does not thread itself so I tie the new thread onto the old thread and pull it through by hand so as not to have to thread the loopers again. It can be a real pain. Another tip. If you have to thread it completely, start at the bottom and go up. This puts the loopers in position to work without tieing each other up.