Anyone have success using bobbin washers with plastic drop in bobbins?
 

I have been reading a lot about Little Genie Bobbin Washers and want to try them out to see if the improve the look of the back of my quilting. I'm using two machines for quilting for the most part, a Simplicity Quilter's Classic and a Brother SQ9050 - both with plastic drop in bobbins. Does anyone have experience using the washers in machines with these type of bobbins? I have read information on some sites and from some catalogs saying that they do, but I'd love to hear from someone who's actually tried.

Thanks! :)

I have used them with my dinky mechanical Brother with a drop in bobbin, and plastic bobbins. Truthfully, I can't tell a difference. The machine has a nice stitch without them even with FMQ.

Thank you for your reply! I have a Brother also and agree it does stitch nice, though I do get some nasty stuff happening on the back when Free Motioniong. I'm hoping this might help....

Anyone else try them?

I have a Brother also but it does not like the bobbin washers. Thought they'd help with FMQ - what a mess! And the straight stitch got messed up as well.

The owner of my LQS says NOT to use them, at least on the newer machines (mine is 5or 6 years old; it counts). She says the bobbin spins so fast anyway, that when you stop sewing the washers let the bobbin keep spinning. I had an awful mess in my machine and my stitches were messing up, especially decorative stitches. Now it's fine since I stopped using them.

They did not work for me in my Bernina.

They did work for me in my Janome 6600.

They work great in my vintage machine when I was learning free motion! This days I don't need them, but yes I do like them! I will always keep some available if need them! They do have help with bird nesting or back lashing!

I was told by babylock not to use them

For those of you told NOT to use them, did they tell you why?

Thank you for all of your input!

Nobody told me not to use them, but I tried it with my Baby Lock. It stitched fine without but I thought I'd try just to check it out since I'd read a lot of places that it helps with FMQ. It didn't seem to make a difference so I just took it out.

Hi, I have been using the bobbin washers for some time now and absolutely LOVE them. Whether sewing reenactment costumes, upholstry, or quilting I wouldn't be without them. I have one in each of my machines and just ordered spares because I panicked when I couldn't find my box of them yesterday! Quilting is a breeze with these. I couldn't recommend them any more highly. Get them, you'll never regret it.

I didn't see an improvement with my Elna and I have since read they are more helpful with metal than plastic bobbins. Maybe it's metal on metal friction it helps with.

I use them in my Juki and in my Pfaff. BIG difference, especially in my Juki, which has been a pain in the neck since I bought it. After I put the washer in, it was the first time in a long time that I didn't feel like throwing the machine out the window!

They are meant to eliminate back lashing......some machines at high speed will do that......if your machine works well without them or you can resolve the back problems by adjusting tension there is no need to use. Also, some bobbin threads which are thinner will backlash more frequently. jMHO

I just had the same problem in my Elna, gave them away