86 in a direction transverse u2014 preferably normal u2014 to the direction of travel of the upper thread 24 the lower thread 50 can be fed in any convenient method but is preferably fed in a similar manner to that which is well known in the prior art and best exemplified by u s pat no 4 920 904 to frye which is incorporated by reference herein the blade 92 in its up position as shown temporarily blocks the lower thread 50 from advancing toward the loop 26 as shown in fig5 the loop spreader 84 advances toward the needle 20 to its fully advanced position so that the finger 88 enters the loop 26 the blade 92 remains in its up position and the loop spreader 84 begins to move sideways as shown by arrow 84 b as shown in fig6 the loop spreader 84 sweeps sideways to its fully open position away from the needle 20 in order to further enlarge the loop 26 simultaneously the blade 92 drops away from the conduit 86 as shown by arrow 92 a to permit the lower thread 50 to feed forward through the enlarged loop 26 and stop against the loop spreader 84 accordingly a portion of the lower thread 50 is fed through the loop 26 as shown in fig7 the.