another sewing machine malfunction (pic)

[bri276]

Okay, I'm sure this is my fault as I haven't sewn since last winter, which was my first time. I don't know where my manual is!

the bottom thread is fine, but I had to redo the top thread. the spool is in it's place, and then the thread goes through several loops which I remembered and then down through the needle. But when I press the pedal nothing happens with the needle, it's not moving up and down to sew. However there is a metal piece on the top right that spins and the thread isn't through that, and when I tried threading it, it just spun the thread all around it. It's supposed to be in that somehow, isn't it? I notice it says "bobbin winding" on top of that piece and then "sewing" below it.

what am I messing up? tia

eta: this picture that I found online shows the thing on the top right that's spinning

http://www.instructables.com/id/E4NQ3B99X3EP286MZW/

[comamma]

Can you slide the metal thingy the other way? I think it is the bobbin winder.

[KariM]

What the PP wrote - slide the bobbin winder back in place for sewing.

Also, some machines have you unscrew the hand wheel a bit for bobbin winding. If your hand wheel is unscrewed sometimes the machine won't sew properly either.

[bri276]

thank you so much, that's exactly what it was! duh!!! of course now, I've taken the stupid bobbin out and now DH is trying to get it back in. so I created a worse problem