Bobbin organization

[Hannelore N.]

You right about putting more than one color on a bobbin. It messes up the tension of the bobbin.
I have a jar of thread tails in my sewing room. If I have thread on a bobbin, and I am not going to use in again,I pull it off and place in the jar. I have made gifts with the thread tails. I just put in between layers of netting. Sew the two layers together with a meandering stitch, and create new fabric. You can cut it in strips or squares. It add to the class of the project.
Beth1

[Diane F.]

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??

Buy more bobbins! Perhaps your Bernina store will offer a discount for you. I can't imagine "making do" with six bobbins. I have more bobbins than I care to admit! I use my bobbins for handwork also; it uses up thread.

[Diane F.]

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?

Can you change your screen name on TQS? I wanted to a little way in cause mine is silly and I didn't realize it was going to be on display when I first signed up. I couldn't find a way to change it so I accepted that I was stuck with it. Wouldn't want to now as now one would recognize me.

[Nancy M.]

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!!

Terry, I love your method of keeping up with when you need to change needles and service your machine! I need something more structured than trying to remember the last time I changed needles, especially when using more than one machine. I will now be using the multiples of four also! Thanks for the tip! Nancy

[Nancy M.]

When I purchased my newest Artista Bernina machine, I asked about the type of bobbin required - of course, it couldn't be the same as the 440QE machine! The woman assured me that it came with 5 bobbins which was more than I would need. I looked at her in total disbelief! I probably had 80 or more bobbins on hand (though I didn't actually tell her the real number!). She told me that was ridiculous and that I was changing thread color much too often. I knew that it was a lost cause, so I just smiled. I make gifts for babies and toddlers - everybody doesn't want the same color item, so obviously lots of different thread colors are needed. My suggestion - don't worry about it, just keep buying them in packs of 25-30 online and enjoy your colorful "stash" of bobbins! Nama

[Nancy M.]

Definitely the more bobbins the better. I also fill at least six bobbins at a time when I am working on a project, which means sometimes I have six filled with white (I use a lot of white in my piecing) and six filled with a medium neutral. Then I need at least six more filled when I start to machine quilt a project.

One year I told Santa I wanted bobbins in my stocking, received a whole bunch from him and a bobbin ring full besides.

[Diane M.]

I am always buying bobbins. I keep my cotton, poly, embroidery thread separate. I even have bobbins just for my Razzle Dazzle thread. If someone is making a big city trip (2 hours away) I have them pick up a dozen. Also, the dog has chewed up at least 4 or 5.
Diane/Wyoming

[Pamela O.]

Well, I had to get up and go count my bobbins. I have at least 48 for my Viking.
I'm with Margo, I would never wind on top of thread. I either use up the bits or spool them off.

[Pamela O.]

When I purchased my newest Artista Bernina machine, I asked about the type of bobbin required - of course, it couldn't be the same as the 440QE machine! The woman assured me that it came with 5 bobbins which was more than I would need. I looked at her in total disbelief! I probably had 80 or more bobbins on hand (though I didn't actually tell her the real number!). She told me that was ridiculous and that I was changing thread color much too often. I knew that it was a lost cause, so I just smiled. I make gifts for babies and toddlers - everybody doesn't want the same color item, so obviously lots of different thread colors are needed. My suggestion - don't worry about it, just keep buying them in packs of 25-30 online and enjoy your colorful "stash" of bobbins! Nama

Well, it just so happens that my machine is the 440 QE.
Any chance you're looking to unload a few of your extra bobbins??

[Pamela O.]

Good Morning! Eventually, I was able to trade in about 50 of the QE bobbins for the ones that fit my current machine - of course, the new ones are nearly twice the cost of the older ones so it was nearly a 2 for 1 deal. The rest I'm keeping on hand because my plan is to buy another QE as soon as I manage to save enough money! I am so sorry that I used the QE as a trade in for my new machine. The new one is fine and does extraordinary embroidery work, but it's very difficult to do piecing on it. Actually, most of the sewing I do is for babies and toddlers so everything I work on involves little pieces. Even after I bought the single needle throat plate and the #37 foot, it's still far from ideal. So, moral of the story is - if you want more embroidery capabilities, don't trade in your QE to get it!! I'm sure Bernina wouldn't want to hear me say that, but it's the truth.
Oh, and I've been to several classes at the Bernina store near me. Everyone who has an 830 model has terrible problems with the threat nesting under the fabric when they're doing embroidery. In fact, I was told that Bernina is so aware of this issue that it's now providing a little hook tool to help pull the mess away from the machine. Wouldn't you think they'd do a recall and fix whatever is wrong?! Sometimes these things just leave me shaking my head - and I've been a Bernina user for almost 40 years!
By the way, I've had good luck buying bobbins on Ebay. Just be sure that you get the metal ones and that the business indicates in print that they are brand new - much less expensive that way. If you'd like, I can go through my bills and find the dealer I got them from - have ordered twice and been satisfied both times.
Nama

[Pamela O.]

I don't have a lot of bobbins. I have about 20 for the old Singer machines (my first 2 machines), same for my Bernina 440 and so far about 10 for my 830. I tend to piece my quilts with one shade of grey and for embroidery I tend to use some sort of neutral that is close in colour to the fabric, unless there is reason not to. I try to wind slightly more than enough thread for colours that are not used very much. that being said I have a quilt as you go project coming up and will be getting more bobbins because I know I'm going to be using matching top and bobbin thread.
When I want to use up bobbins I just stick'em on the spool pin and sew.

Sorry if I'm rambling, it's bedtime... :roll:

[Betty J.]

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:

You all are hilarious! Whoever heard of having enough bobbins...and don't you just HATE to throw all that wonderful thread away? I like the scrappy quilt idea, Margo. They are also good for practicing new quilting techniques and figuring out what stitch techniques to use for what.

[Betty J.]

I think 6 bobbins is a very conservative number!
I like to have bobbins filled with cotton thread, polyester thread and decorative embroidery threads.
I rubberband the bobbin to the spool of thread and it is all ready to use again when I need it again.
Matching thread color to the fabric is worth the effort unless you need a contrasting color.
If I can't find an empty bobbin, I'll unwind one with the least amount on it and put the thread into my recycle jar for various jobs like sewing buttons on or thread art projects.

[Betty J.]

I believe that 80% of the time the only thing that matters is light vs dark thread.
So when I'm machine piecing I'll use just about any bobbin with thread on it.
But don't tell anybody --- I have LOTS of bobbins for all my machines.
And lots of threads too!

[Betty J.]

Lucky for me all my machines use the same type bobbin :lol: I have about 30 right now, and have them wound in multiples of 3, for no particular reason other than, I wind the bobbins from the same spool that I am piecing with and want to make sure I can finish piecing my tops.