Elna bobbins have holes on the top, so wind the bobbin with the holes on the top too. The Lotus bobbin winder doesn't have a tension device, thread just goes through an eyelet. So, place your scissors curved handle on top of your thread spool as it unwinds the thread to ensure the thread then winds onto your bobbin evenly. Also watch the bobbin fill and give the thread a nudge with your finger tip to fill top and bottom as well as the middle part, you want it to wind evenly across the full width of the bobbin. When full, pop bobbin winder back to left, cut thread and pull off the bobbin.
Then place the bobbin into the bobbin holder with the holes on top, and pull the loose thread tail around anti clockwise into the tension device and gently "click" it into the tension spring with the tip of your finger while holding the bobbin still with your other index finger.
You will be able to tell if it is in tension if you then pull the thread and it doesn't come out of the tension spring. It should feel firm with resistance but still release thread to a gentle pull. 
Now thread the top down to the needle and holding the end of the needle thread, hand wind the fly wheel towards you to lower the needle and pull up the bobbin thread. Close the bobbin cover.
Always hold the two thread tails at the back of the sewing area as you start stitching a seam until you have stitched at least 4 or 5 stitches to avoid thread jams.
Lotus is a lovely vintage machine - there is a user group on Yahoo Elna heirlooms where you can find lots of info and pictures shared by members.
Now take thread across and through a hole on top of the bobbin and holding the tail, put your foot onto the foot control to get a couple of winds onto the bobbin to hold the thread. Now place your finger or the handle of a pair of scissors onto the top of the thread spool to apply tension so that the thread winds evenly and slowly wind the bobbin until about 3/4 full, making sure it winds evenly. Tension onto the spool is the key here, Lotus doesn't have a tension device to control the thread tension as it winds so you need to do this, critical to getting a good stitch out of these lovely machines.
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