Has anyone used one of those bobbin winders found at WalMart? I am wondering...what you think of them, are they worth the money?

My bobbin does not hold a lot of thread, I wind up two or three, but does not last very long and I hate to unthread the machine to rewind a bobbin. Hugs, Dee

If you are talking about the Sidewinder, I don't have an opinion. However, I would like to tell you about the bobbin winder I purchased several years ago from my dealer. I think it was intended for long arms, but it has a vertical feed rather than horizontal like our sewing machines and the Sidewinder does. This allows better and tighter feed onto the bobbin. I like it so much I bought three more and gave them as Christmas presents to some quilting friends. They absolutely love them. However, one friend has bought a Viking Diamond and the winder does not work with those bobbins.

Another option is to consider purchasing some prewound bobbins, I use NEB, which are would more densely. I think I paid around $40 for a gross of bobbins.

(The dealer I use is Ken's Sewing in Muscle Shoals, AL. www.kenssewingcenter.com)

Hi Dee,

What is the name of the bobbin winder? If it is called SideWinder by WM Wrights. (www.wrights.com) you can purchase at JoAnns or Hancocks with a discount coupon and save.

I love mine. I'm using a much older backup machine (bought at Goodwill) will I save up to have my electronic machine repaired. The bobbin winder does not work on this Singer backup machine.

My little SideWinder runs on batteries and also electric. I'm planning using it even when I'm back to using my better machine.

If you have the very large cone of thread then you will need to get the larger SideWinder. Use a discount coupon if at all possible.

Pam M

I purchased a sidewinder from Walmart and it didnt wind bobbins tight at all(it was very weak in power too)...I took it back and now use an old machine to wind my bobbins...saved that money for fabrics...lol

The Sidewinder has a tension adjustment for tight or loose bobbin winds. You turn the round knob. It's in the instructions. My DGD used mine to fill a shoebox full of bobbins. She had a great time helping me in my sewing room. I took bobbins to guild for many months of all colors for handsewing/applique/bindings. I think I bought every package of bobbins Walmart had during the summer of "let me help you". Worth every penny!

Ken's is where I buy my prewounds from and I love them! They are would so good and tight.

As to the Sidewinder, I just bought one and it's going back to Hancock's! I tried winding a bobbin with my Brother bobbin thread and I never did get it to wind !! Either the bobbin or the spool would just fly off!!

It's a great idea but needs more work on the design IMO.

Thanks to all for the info....don't know what I am going to do...maybe just go buy more bobbins and spend some time rewinding those...thanks again...this is the best group ever...I so appreciate y'all. Hugs, Dee

I've heard too many negative reviews of the Sidewinder.

I'm surprised, Maia, a lot of us love them! Got one because machine winder died and for under $30.00 it is a real asset! Thought it wouldn't work with my new Pfaff Expressions bobbins but if I wind them with the bobbin upside down, it works very well. New "advanced" models are about $100, but the basic cheap model does a very good job for me - I wind 6-8 at a time, too.

I have read the feedbacks, but just have to say that I love mine. I even use it to wind bobbins for my LAQ at times. It works great. I just put a plastic straw on the spindle where I put the spool of thread. It works great for me. So sorry others did have such a bad experience. The straw deal really helped me. Have a great friend who always knows the shortcuts.