Elna Contessa 400 Threading Diagram

Recently I was asked how to thread the Elna Contessa 400.  As I result I created some diagrams, which I thought might be of use to others so I will share them here.

Threading - overview

Close-up of needle threading

In the top threading images above, the red arrows point to the thread guides and the black line shows the approximate path of the thread.  Click on the images to see them and the instructions larger.

How to wind a bobbin

The path of the thread for bobbin winding is show in blue.  There was actually no bobbin winder on this machine when the image was taken, consequently the grey block that I added is where it should be.

The bobbin case of this machine threads as they do on most machines, hold the bobbin case in your left hand, with the open end facing to the right.  Hold the bobbin in your right hand with the end of the thread going away from you.  Put the bobbin in the bobbin case and pull the thread through the slot in the bobbin case and under the tension spring.  That's the bobbin case threaded.

As usual, if you have any questions, drop me a line and I will do my best to answer them!

Elna Contessa 400

One of my colleagues has an Elna Contessa 400.  Elna Contessa's are not exactly my favourite machines but that does have something to do with the fact that ours has a 'pot' metal part, which has disintegrated leaving the machine useless.  This one had a seized bobbin-winder and to be honest, I suspected the worst and thought it too, would disintegrate on me.  With plenty of oil and a lot of nail bitingly brutal force however, it freed up and is now working fine.  Originally my colleague wanted me to sell it and get her another but on my advice decided to keep the Elna when the bobbin-winder was freed.  From what I could see this machine had metal cams and gears and was in very good condition, although very dry.  I told her that she would not find a modern machine with either of those attributes.

In these pictures the bobbin winder is missing.  Where I work is very dark so when I photograph I have to use a flash, sadly white machines and flashes don't exactly work together!  I have included a picture of the stitch selector to give you an idea of the range of stitches.