When I first got my Viking Topaz 20.. I had major issues with tight bobbin winding and it was making my sewing horrible, and embroidery. Now what I do is wrap it twice around the little tension disk on the top...never had an issue again. I had even mentioned this at my LQS (where I also purchased my machine), during a talk about self learning things.. they know I am all self taught. I happen to tell them I figured out why my embroidery was horrible looking (bobbin thread showing up on the front) because my bobbins were not tight. That's how I got it to work. Then I remembered my grandma making comment about this... so my LQS tried it...and she said she liked how tight it worked also. She thanked me for the tip.