Bobbin Genie

[Cheryl W.]

I have just watched SS Utube video on raw edge applique using freezer paper, very educational. BUT...... does anyone use a bobbin genie ?????? I've never heard of ones of these before :?

[Kathryn S.]

I have one that fits in my domestic sewing machine bobbin case. I don't quilt very fast so I don't see any difference. It is supposed to prevent backlash when changing directions quickly. Maybe someone else has more experience than I do with it. I haven't used one in my Handiquilter sweet 16.
Kathy

[Rita C.]

I have a top loading bobbin so I don't think it would work in that. I have watched a lot of Leah Day's FMQ tutorials and she thinks they are wonderful. I would love to try one sometime. Can't get them here.

[Kathryn S.]

Actually they would work in that too. I have Janome 6600 which has a top loading bobbin. I put the bobbin genie in the bobbin case and then put the bobbin in. My Janome doesn't like sewing toward 10:00 direction but the bobbin genie didn't help much!

Kathy

[Dawn S.]

I bought them and tried one, and really did not see any difference! I too, have a top loading bobbin in my Janome. It is a 9000. One day my machine actually ate the genie! Somehow it came up over the bobbin, got stitched a few times, and then the needle tried to pull it through the needle plate hole. :shock: (Not a single needle hole, but wide for embroider.) That kind of turned me against the genie!

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

[Rita C.]

Oh, bad genie :x I don't want that!

[Nancy R.]

I always have a genie in my machine and have never had a problem with it. It's in there for piecing and for quilting. I haven't had any backlash in a long time, but I can't say whether that's because of the genie or because of something else. I figured I'd use it because it's cheap, doesn't hurt anything (this is the first problem I've heard about, but that doesn't mean there aren't others) and several quilters who I respect swear by them. I don't know how good those reasons are, but they work for me.

Nancy

[Rita C.]

Nancy, you must have a good genie in your machine! :lol: Now that I know you can use them in a top-loading bobbin I will have to get one to try.

[Nancy R.]

They come in packs with something like 10 or 20, but are really cheap. I'm still using the first one I took out of the pack, but I often drop it on the floor when changing bobbins so I can see how they could get lost easily. But mine is a front-loading bobbin (a Bernina). I would imagine that with a top-loading bobbin you would just set it in there and leave it and it wouldn't fall out of the bobbin case since you don't have a bobbin case. :wink: But I suppose it could stick to the bobbin and fall out that way. Anyway, if you get them you will have enough to share with friends and to replace any that get lost!

Nancy

[Eileen K.]

I've used them for a few years in my longarm. I did have to remove the backlash spring but have had absolutely no problems with the Genies.

[Eileen K.]

They come in packs with something like 10 or 20, but are really cheap. I'm still using the first one I took out of the pack, but I often drop it on the floor when changing bobbins so I can see how they could get lost easily. But mine is a front-loading bobbin (a Bernina). I would imagine that with a top-loading bobbin you would just set it in there and leave it and it wouldn't fall out of the bobbin case since you don't have a bobbin case. :wink: But I suppose it could stick to the bobbin and fall out that way. Anyway, if you get them you will have enough to share with friends and to replace any that get lost!

Nancy

Don't know anything about the Genies, but with the top-loading bobbins, you do have a bobbin case, you just don't need to remove it to change the bobbin. It is worth-while removing the plate that holds it in and taking it out once in a while to clear out the lint etc that collects around it though.

[Kathryn S.]

Don't know anything about the Genies, but with the top-loading bobbins, you do have a bobbin case, you just don't need to remove it to change the bobbin. It is worth-while removing the plate that holds it in and taking it out once in a while to clear out the lint etc that collects around it though.

Oh yes! I clean mine out every couple of bobbins. It's awful how much lint there is in there. It's a miracle the machine still works.

Kathy

[Rita C.]

Yes I use pipe-cleaners to clean out all the lint and sometimes I am amazed at how much has accumulated.

[Kathryn S.]

Rita, that's a good idea. I just have a small artist's paintbrush. the pipe cleaner is more bendy. I wonder if there are any around the house?
Kathy

[Betty J.]

My old machine doesn't need it, a Bernina 1230 and sort of old and slow but still moving along kinda like me, and my new machine, a Bernina 830, doesn't fit it.