Thread: Bobbin Winders

Originally Posted by donnalynett

The SideWinder bobbin winder will not work if you have a Viking machine. I've been using my machines to wind bobbins for over 50 years and have several brands of machines and I've never had a problem.

I have 2 Vikings that I wind bobbins for. I bought the SideWinder Deluxe for $30 (regular price is $99), just because I read the same thing. I use it for my Viking 1+ which has a shaped bobbin. They have a special post for them. I tried it, it worked fine, but they also wind on the regular post. I have found that I use a thread stand (I use mostly cones) and wrap the thread twice around the upper arm to get a tight enough tension on the bobbin. I also have the tensioner on the bobbin winder tightened right down. I love mine. I screwed up the tension on my old Viking which I used to wind bobbins for my Bailey. It's fixed now, but I'm not going to do that again.

Originally Posted by Dollyo

I have 2 Vikings that I wind bobbins for. I bought the SideWinder Deluxe for $30 (regular price is $99), just because I read the same thing. I use it for my Viking 1+ which has a shaped bobbin. They have a special post for them. I tried it, it worked fine, but they also wind on the regular post. I have found that I use a thread stand (I use mostly cones) and wrap the thread twice around the upper arm to get a tight enough tension on the bobbin. I also have the tensioner on the bobbin winder tightened right down. I love mine. I screwed up the tension on my old Viking which I used to wind bobbins for my Bailey. It's fixed now, but I'm not going to do that again.

So, you wrap the thread around the arm on the cone holder before threading it thru the tension disc on your machine? I'm going to try that because I can't get a bobbin to wind correctly using thread from my cone stand which is a bummer.

Originally Posted by donnalynett

The SideWinder bobbin winder will not work if you have a Viking machine. I've been using my machines to wind bobbins for over 50 years and have several brands of machines and I've never had a problem.

I have a Viking machine, 10 years now, once in awhile (like when I didn't plan well for an embroidery) I pull out my "Side Winder" and use it to wind a bobbin or 2...I've never had a problem, so am just wondering why you believe it can not be used? I don't all the time most of the time I use the built in winder but on those occasions I've needed to it's been ok

My friend has a machine with a bobbin winder on her machine but she insists on using her battery operated one because she finds it difficult threading the machine because of poor eye sight. Another friend can't understand why she uses it when there is a good winder on her machine. I have one and would throw it through the nearest window if I ever used it again.reason it makes such a mess of the winding and takes so long..we all have our own reasons to use what we do.

the older sewing machines had the ability to disengage the needle head from the wheel, so when you wound the bobbin, you weren't 'sewing'. Some of the newer machines don't have this feature so you 'air sew' when you wind the bobbin. My mom got one of the newer machines and was used to the older version and was very concerned about running her machine excessively when winding a bobbin. Don't know if this is why your friend made the comment. Don't think it actually hurts the machine, although I did get a stand alone winder for my long arm because it was disconcerting!