In this video I’ll show you how to thread the White Super Lock Model 534S Serger in this serger threading guide. This model is nearly identical to the White Super Lock Model 534 serger (note the S in the model name). I’ll show the difference in threading between the two machines. I’ll show how to thread the lower looper, how to thread the upper looper, and how to thread the serger needles. I’ll share my serger threading tips and tricks to make threading the lower looper easier.

I hope this guide has helped you not dread threading your serger. When I moved last year, I had to make the tough decision to downsize many machines in my collection. I had multiple sergers, so I made the decision to sell this one and keep my Singer 5-thread serger. This serger was tough and easy to use, so it was a hard decision. I hope I don’t regret this choice! So FYI, unfortunately, I won’t be making any follow up videos with this machine.

Serger Threading Guide Video Transcription

I strongly recommend you watch my video demonstration as it’s hard to explain without showing you, but I’ve included a transcription here with some of the talking points from the video in case you want to follow along in text format.

Before we begin, let’s open the machine using the lever on the front of the machine.  You’ll see that there is a diagram right inside the machine that you can follow.

Place a cone of thread on each thread holder and lead each thread up to the corresponding thread guide. Lead the thread through the guides from back to front.  Leave some thread dangling from each.

• Thread #1  is the Left Needle Thread and is controlled by the Green Top Left Tension Dial 
• Thread #2 is the Right Needle Thread and is controlled by theYellow Top Right Dial
• Thread #3 is the Upper Looper Thread and is controlled by Blue Bottom Left Dial:
• Thread #4 is the Lower Looper Thread and is controlled by the Purple Bottom Right Dial

There is a certain threading order you need to follow:

• FIRST – Thread #4, LOWER LOOPER
• SECOND – Thread #3, UPPER LOOPER
• NEXT – the needle threads, Thread #1 and Thread #2.

Let’s get the machine into the proper position for threading.  Turn the handwheel towards you until the needle bar is in the highest position. 

Make sure you only turn the handwheel towards you to avoid problems.  Of all four threads, the lower looper, the first thread, is the hardest, so once you’ve completed this step, know that the hardest part is behind you.  You’ve got this!

LOWER LOOPER THREADING

For the lower looper, we’ll be following the PURPLE TRIANGLE icons on the machine.

• Bring the thread from the fourth thread guide down behind this metal guide
• Bring the thread through the right hand side of the tension disc.
• Bring the thread through the next three thread guides (reference the video).
• This next part is the trickiest.  There is another guide inside the machine. Look carefully for the purple triangle icon. It can be difficult to thread this loop since it’s hard to see, so what I like to do is just take my thread and pass it through to my hand on the other side without feeding it through the loop.  Then hold the thread taut so it’s easier to clip the thread into the thread guide, kind of like flossing a tooth.
• You may have to turn the handwheel towards you a little bit to see the lower looper.  
• If you have the Super Lock 534, in the manual, it shows that there should be a hole to thread through in the looper. If you have the Super Lock 534S, like me, you’ll have this hook:

•   So if you have the hole like in the 534, you will want to carefully thread it through, but for 544S like me, I just make sure that I hook on the edge of the metal from the back to the front.  You’ll see there is a channel on this piece, so with tweezers from the right side, lead the thread through the channel guide and thread the looper from front to back. Leave a dangling tail and lead the thread toward the back of the machine.

You survived the lower looper.  Let’s continue on the next thread!

UPPER LOOPER THREADING

For the upper looper, we’ll be following the BLUE CIRCLE  icons on the machine.

• Bring the thread from the third thread guide down behind this metal guide
• Bring the thread through the right hand side of the tension disc.
• Bring the thread through the next thread guides, here, here, and here.  2 of the guides will share the same path as the lower looper thread, but you’ll detour to the top guide.
• Thread the upper looper from front to back, and leave a tail of thread leading toward the back of the machine.

The loopers are now done, so let’s thread the needles next.

LEFT NEEDLE THREAD

For the left needle, we’ll be following the GREEN SQUARE icons on the machine.

• Bring the thread from the first thread guide down behind this metal guide
• Bring the thread through the right hand side of the tension disc, then through the next metal guide.
• Bring the thread around the post, then down through the next two guides near the needle.
• Lastly, thread the needle from front to back.  

RIGHT NEEDLE THREAD

For the right needle, we’ll be following the YELLOW DIAMOND icons on the machine.

• Bring the thread from the first thread guide down behind this metal guide
• Bring the thread through the right hand side of the tension disc, then down at an angle through the lower thread guide.
• Be sure not to pull the spring up on the tension spring because this is functionality for the three-thread serging.
• Bring the thread around the post, then down through the next two guides near the needle
• Lastly, thread the needle from front to back. 

TESTING THE MACHINE

Close up the machine.  

First test by giving the machine a few turns towards you.  If it appears to be making successful serged loops of thread, go ahead and get a scrap piece of fabric material to test and use your foot pedal to start serging. 

If there is an issue, check all your thread paths.  Keep in mind that if you rethread out of order you can have issues, so it may be best to start over to rule that out.

It may be hard to follow along with this text, so if you’re having difficulty threading this machine by reading the video transcription of the serger threading guide, I highly recommend you watch my video carefully. Happy serging!