Bobbin organization

[Jo H.]

Hello all

I recently got a new Bernina machine. I only have six bobbins with it. For my old machine I had on the order of 30 or so bobbins and I kept them all loaded with different colours.

My question is this; is it normal to keep so many bobbins loaded or do most people keep a stash of 6.
If so, what do you do with the leftover thread when you finish a project or when you need a new colour on your bobbin so you have to empty one??

[Jo H.]

I have about 18 bobbins, which most are holding leftover thread. When I finish a project, I usually leave the leftover thread on the bobbin until I need an empty bobbin. I'll usually remove the thread from the bobbin with the least amount of thread on it OR the one with the thread color that I'd least likely use again. I like to use the leftover bobbin threads for mending and other hand sewing.

[Margo C.]

Good question, newquiltymom!

I have about 2 dozen bobbins for my working machine. I especially like to make scrap quilts, and when I'm piecing those with fabrics that can use either dark or light thread, I try to use up all of my partial bobbins so that I have lots of empty ones for when I get to the quilting and need several bobbins filled with a specific color.

I don't ever wind one color thread on top of another color. I think it can result in some tension issues, and I don't like running out of one color when I thought I had lots more on the bobbin!

[Margo C.]

I especially like to make scrap quilts, and when I'm piecing those with fabrics that can use either dark or light thread, I try to use up all of my partial bobbins so that I have lots of empty ones for when I get to the quilting and need several bobbins filled with a specific color.

What a great idea! I wonder why I never thought of that, because I love scrappy quilts too.

[Marion D.]

Newquiltymom:

Buy more bobbins...it is the only way to survive. Especially with teenagers in the house who think they have equal access to all my sewing stuff!!!! (without any organizational motivation)

by the way -- when will you change your name to quiltymom or oldquiltymom or experiencedquiltymom?

[Annis C.]

I don't ever wind one color thread on top of another color. I think it can result in some tension issues, and I don't like running out of one color when I thought I had lots more on the bobbin!

I quit winding one color thread on top of another many years ago when my sewing machine automatically picked up the other thread which I did not want in my project! I have lots of bobbins but it seems no matter how many I get they are all full. I usually unwind the one with the least thread or the color most likely not to be used when I'm needing an empty one.

[Annis C.]

Oh boy, it never occurred to me to wind another colour over the first but I can see that going oh so badly for so many reasons!!

Thanks for the advice. I do think I'm going to need more bobbins. I just HATE to waste thread, even if I will potentially never use it again. Though a scrappy quilt may work.

As for my screen name, I am currently both a new mom AND a new quilter so I expect to hold onto it for a while yet.
Some day when I consider my skills worthy of being called 'experienced' I may reconsider.
But knowing me, that day will never come.

Thanks again for all the help!!

[Annis C.]

You need more than 6 bobbins I kind of do like Margo. If sewing on multicolored fabric I use "leftover" bobbinthread, only rule is that it matches one of the colors in the fabric. I do not use the same color as topthread either.

[Annis C.]

Good question, newquiltymom!

I have about 2 dozen bobbins for my working machine. I especially like to make scrap quilts, and when I'm piecing those with fabrics that can use either dark or light thread, I try to use up all of my partial bobbins so that I have lots of empty ones for when I get to the quilting and need several bobbins filled with a specific color.

I don't ever wind one color thread on top of another color. I think it can result in some tension issues, and I don't like running out of one color when I thought I had lots more on the bobbin!

Ditto on both for me.

[Annis C.]

Another idea is to only use neutrals as your piecing thead color. If you only use black, white, tan and grey, then you don't need as many bobbins!

That said, I do like to have at least a dozen or two bobbins. I do like to wind about 6 with one color at the start of a piecing project, then I am not having to take the spool off the machine as often to wind more. I also do like to do decorative stitching sometimes, so I might use a non-neutral color for those projects. But mostly, those neutral thread colors will 'go' with most all your projects!

[Terry K.]

I'm becoming a thread snob!! I just bought another dozen bobbins because I want to do a thread painting project and I'm planning on using a variety of threads for that project that I wouldn't piece with so I plan to put those bobbins in a separate container. When I quilt, I'll fill about four bobbins because I don't want to stop and fill a bobbin when I run out. . .I want to keep quilting! As for piecing, I generally use neutral thread and wind four to eight bobbins at a time. Although, I do most of my piecing on a featherweight so I have about 18 bobbins for that machine. The reason I wind bobbins in multiples of four is that I change needles after four bobbins and after 12 bobbins, I give my machine a service. At times, I do end up with odds and ends of thread on bobbins. I'll use it for basting, hand work, or for another project. I rarely find that I have to pull thread off a bobbin. I had 18 bobbins before I bought an additional 12. Six bobbins just wouldn't be enough for me!!

[Catherine S.]

I agree with everyone else. You can never have too many bobbins!! If I do have to remove some thread I take what has the least, except for my four basic colors, white, black, beige and navy. I find I use those colors most often, when mending. I do other sewing besides the quilting, so I do have alot of colors. I have several of the plastic flexible bobbin savers. I use different bobbins in the Bernina and the old Singer so that helps keep them separate. I always try to have a couple of extra empty bobbins on hand too. When I use the same thread on top and bobbin in my longarm, I tuck the left over filled bobbins in the thread cone and tuck in a bit of scrap batting. If the batting is there, I know I have at least a partially filled bobbin in there. Hope this helps.

[Hannelore N.]

Pst..... whispering...... I must admit that I have over 60 bobbins for my main machine, 30 for another one, and 12 for my third machine.

[Margo C.]

Pst..... whispering...... I must admit that I have over 60 bobbins for my main machine, 30 for another one, and 12 for my third machine.

sshhhhhh....is there such a thing as bobbin envy?? :mrgreen:

[Hannelore N.]

Well, Margo, like you, I will only wind one colour/type thread on a bobbin. And I always have several projects on the go, so I'm changing threads quite a lot. I also don't have a cone stand, but I do have some cones of thread. So I just pop the thread from the cone on a bobbin and use a bobbin in the top as well. And now I better go and get my much needed beauty sleep. It's almost 1am here.