A "no changing room" robe

I've spent all day turning some old towels into a roomy hooded robe to facilitate changing outdoors on the side of a cold exposed lake or tarn. 
Noticed the service date on the little used machine is 2001. I've had the machine since the 1980's. Mother brought up her more up to date sophisticated one when she visited last but I have no idea how to thread it. It looks too complicated for me.