Bobbins and bits

I was just doing some sewing and went to change my empty bobbin and thought Id take a couple of pics and show you my system. My machine has the little drawer storage compartment on the throat, you can pull it off for doing circular things like pant legs etc. Anyway, here is what I do with my bobbins

I use a little bit of blue tack to hold the tail of the thread in place so it doesnt unravel



I then use the bit of blue tack holding the thread to stick the bobbin to the back of the drawer, easy to grab and refill, no rummaging for the bobbin. I also use a blob of blue tack to hold the other foot I use all the time in place, also I use blue tack to hold the empty applique glue stick tube in there. I use the empty glue tube to store all my broken or bent pins and needles, when full I just throw the whole lot out, gives the sharps a safe way to dispose of. I dont want to drop them in the trash bin and then get stabbed when hauling the bag out. I keep one of the empty glue tubes in my 'on the go' sewing kit too, they are so handy and you can fit lots of pins and needles in them before they are full.



I have been using this system for years, I find it works well and cuts down time and mess when sewing, I like that!!

PS On the clear plastic bobbins sometimes its hard to see the hole the thread slips into, I used a black sharpie and marked around the holes, much easier to see, thats what the black circles are on the bobbin

I am unfamiliar with the term, "blue tack".

I was told to thread the bobbins as you are obviously doing. Since I follow directions so well, I hold the thread end under my thumb against the side of the bobbin as I manually start the winding. I cut off anything that sticks out. I find this technique much less frustrating.

the piece sticking out, the tail, is the end you would thread through the machine and needle, not the starting bit. Blu tack, dont know what else you call it in the states, its the stuff kids hang posters on the wall with, its kind of like plasticine or putty, you warm it in your hands and stick little balls onto the back of your poster then stick to the wall. Its a resuable thing, maybe tac or something like that its named as

LOL..... knew right off what you were talking about Gimpy!  Not sure that's what its called over here though.  More like "sticky tack/glue"  perhaps?   Alicia would know with her being a teacher of sorts. 

I call it blu tack too! Blue was the color of the original product.

I have a pack here, called Handy Tac. Comes in yellow, white and blue. Lots of names for it I guess.

Great way to keep things from flopping around in that little case. I put a piece of stryfoam in the bottom of mine and lined up my feet, then pinned then in place with short pins. I just lift them off and then put them back. There is a label above them so I can read it easier and get what I want. The ones I use most sit in a tiny tray next to the machine. Mac built me an extended table so that little slide off box just sits on the shelf. It holds feet I don't use as mech.
I like the small case for used needles. I use an empty vitamin bottle. Need to keep a small one to put in hand sewing basket. Good idea on that. Might need to mark the holes on my bobbins too. They can be tricky to find.

I like to keep my stuff orderly too.

now thats a nice bobbin layout Memaw, Id like that but I only have a few bobbins LOL. Blu tack is what the company name is for the product, its a British product so readily available in Australia, invented back in 1970 so no matter what colour or brand, here, its all just referred to as "Blu-tack" When it was invented originally it was blue, hence the name, pretty unimaginative but its lasted all these years

At any given time I have about 50 wound bobbins, which seems to me to be about the minimum for my way of quilting, but that's just me. I have a bobbin case that DH's tools came in, but not everything fits in there.

I use those little hair bands to slip on my wound bobbins, then hang them on the pegboard. My pegs hold about ten bobbins. I go through three or four a day so they don't get a chance to gather dust.

Has anyone used those bobbin winders? I hate to wind bobbins but that machine costs about 5 yards of fabric, or $25 for the more sane among us. Would it be worthwhile to buy one?

I've never seen the Blu Tack but I'll be looking now. Sounds like it would come in handy.

I have one too and like it.

I have six of those boxes that Memaw has. One is all cream, the thread I use for piecing. I have multiples of all my other colors so I don't run out in the middle of a project. The foam helps keep the thread from unwinding. The box keeps them clean.

My bobbins are numbered and so are my spools, easy to match colors that way.

Red, I have the bobbin winder too. It is fast, it puts more thread on the spool than the machine so they last longer (IMHO) and it saves wear on your sewing machine. You can wind bobbins on the side and not have to stop whatever project you are working on. Quite convenient.

Wow, I own 5 bobbins, I guess I need more? I never bothered, last machine I had I bought a pack of 6 extras and they never worked in the machine, bounced around too much, maybe I should try again? I just keep 3 of them with a beige/bone colour thread, one with black and one for whatever Im working on.

I like the sound of your set up TxMary, cant say as I have ever seen a bobbin winder, will have to look them up

I also have a bobbin winder. Unfortunately it only ran about a year and now is a dust catcher. not sure of the brand and I am too lazy to go downstairs and check.

I have 3 working machines that take different bobbins. So there is a box for each machine's bobbins. I have one Old Girl that isn't working, not worth the work or $ to fix. So her bobbins are scattered. I run on to them from time to time.

I've got one too! I use it mainly for the quilting machine but have used it on sewing machine bobbins too. It's great!

What brand should I look for? Singer has one called a Sidewinder.

That is what I have!

I HAD a bobbin winder, when the machine's winder was not working well. My 3 current machines do not have that problem, so I gave it to a friend. I love the fact that my main machine has a thread cutter by its winder.

I think I wore my bobbin threader out...

If any one could wear one out, I am sure it would be you Gloria. Too much Golo juice.

I did like my Sidewinder, but I just don't have room for stuff I don't need.