Method of pulling the free end of a needle thread from the top to the bottom side of a work piece and sewing machine for putting the method into practice

In a method of pulling the free end of a needle thread from the top to the bottom of at least one work piece upon a first stitch of a seam that is to be sewn, use is made of a sewing machine with at least one presser which can be placed on, and lifted off, the work piece. The needle thread is held tight while a needle-thread loop is extended by the tip of the hook so that the free end is pulled through the work piece. While the needle thread is held tight, the presser is at least partially relieved. The relief time increases as the thickness of the work piece grows.