Some are just not worth the energy.

The bobbin winder costs about $35 - you can get a small Brother at WalMart for about $80. For my money I bought the Brother. I have a no-frills machine to take the guild/classes, etc., and I have a bobbin winder. Works for me.

I tried the side winder, but the info with it says it is "not for all machines". I wondered. None of my bobbins would turn on the spindle. It would if I wanted to wind the thread backwards for my machine. I took it back.

I bought the Side Winder and quickly determined it was a big waste of money for me. I used it less than 2 dozen times. Instead, I buy 2 spools of the same thread, and when my bobbin needs refilling, I simply hold the other spool of thread in my hand while the bobbin winds, letting the thread run between my fingers. Works like a charm for me. You have to get used to how tightly to hold the spool so that it will wind by have enough tension to keep the thread on the bobbin tight.

I have the Side Winder also, and I love it. I keep the little diagram showing the arrows taped in the lid so I won't lose it....

I have a Side Winder and love it. No problems at all. Saves wear on my machine.

I'm wondering what the heck the problem is with those of us who couldn't get it to work right for us.

I wish the Sidewinder had an adaptor so the bobbins for my Singer Athena 2000, circa 1975, would fit on it. Their bobbins have a smaller center hole. Very disappointed to discover it only accommodates the larger center hole bobbins. Does a nice job on them, though.

I love mine also

Bev: When I go to work tomorrow (at JoAnn's) I'll look at the Side Winders to see if there is anything special needed to make them work. I've had mine a couple of years and they may be a little different now.

My bobbin winder will work for the New Home, but it really messes up and doesn't fit the bobbins for the Brother or the Pfaff. What machine bobbin are you trying to use?

I received a sidewinder as a gift and LOVE it! works perfect every time. I generally wind up to 10 bobbins at a time so I don't have to stop once I get going!

My DH got me a sidewinder for
Christmas. I just started using
it and love it. No problems. The
arrows are printed right on mine.
Hugs, Sharon

i have had my sidewinder for years and it is really great winds 3 different kinds of bobbins for my 3 different machines and all weights of threads, would never want to be without it. you are using it on a even surface, right?

My sidewinder (I've had it for about 3 years) used to wind really awful too...so I have a cone holder & that's what I use to put my spool or cone of thread on, set it where the actual thread on there should go, put a thread cap on top of the thread, do not engage the automatic winder till I wind a little first just with the button, then cut excess thread, make sure the bobbin is seated well, & then engage the automatic winder to finish winding. I get nice even bobbin winding. I don't use my machines to wind thread anymore, I love this so much. (Except my Viking Designer 1--the winder doesn't work for those bobbins)

It could be....I have had mine for seveal years and use it several times a week. I've never had a problem with mine.

I love my sidewinder. There's a tension gauge on mine that had to adjust. Once I got the hang of it, it became one of my most valuable toils.

i bought mine at jo anns a couple years ago and love it , never had a problem with it either

I LOVED the bobbin winder on my Bernina 1130 but the machine just died. Wish I still had the bobbin winder on it as the one on my Pfaff 2170 is terrible. I have a sidewinder which is better, but not much, than the Pfaff. The older machines seem to do a better job (imho) than the newer ones at winding the bobbins. I let the bobbin start winding (on both the Pfaff and the sidewinder) then begin to put a bit of tension on by hand as I guide the thread more evenly onto the bobbin.

I love my Sidewinder. The only times I have had any trouble were when I forgot to engage the stop arm. I have also found it works better if the thread unwinds from the back of the spool and not from the front.

I just got a sidewinder and I found that if I turn my bobbin up-side down to wind it , it works perfect in my machine. I use large cones of thread and so I have a special spindle that my husband made me so I thread the thread thru the machine and have my sidewinder sitting next to the machine and wind it like that. I also have a heavy duty winder I got for my quilting machine that works great. I had to pay $70.00 for it but it is reall fast and good. I have a viking, so that is the maachine that I have to turn the bobbin upside down to wind.

Turn your bobbin up side down and it will wind the right way.

I had a sidewinder and returned it, tried another one, the blue one (I can't remember the name) still a mess, and hard to use. You can turn the knob the thread winds around to tighten the tension, that helps.

I figured out how to get the bobbin winder on my Janome working right, by increasing the tension (winding the thread around the knob differently to increase the tension, then holding tightly to the thread until it is well started, then snipping the thread.)

Ditto! Ditto! Ditto! to everything Munchkinmama wrote. I have a Sidewinder and LOVE it. I've had it for about 2 years and I always fill a dozen bobbins at a time so I'm always ready. I also take it to all the classes and quilt meetings and whoever wants to fill bobbins does. It's a great invention. I'm just sorry some of you have had so much trouble with it.

I have a sidewinder and use it all the time, I hold the thread till it starts winding and I have a thin piece of rubber underneath it to keep it from tipping over

The Sidewinder also stays more stable if you put batteries in it whether ypu use them or not.

Do the ones of you that like the Sidewinder have the deluxe $100 model or the little one?

Good question!!

8-)

Mine is the first one that came out, the $35 one. I've had it for over 2 years.

Tension is too tight on mine. Is there a way to loosen it??

I have the little one.

I think you can adjust the screw on top

Yes, the button you wind the thread around can be turned to loosen or tighten the tension.

Can't live without mine- for my Singer 329K

I only use mine with my FW but I really love it. I just followed the directions that came with it.

Have the BEST size L/M bobbin winder ever - K-Kraft . See website at www.fancyquilt.com

I have a Simplicity SideWinder. Love it! Works perfectly. Have wound over 50 bobbins with it.

Make sure you are going the right way with the thread; follow the arrows. Sometimes I have to put my finger on the spool of thread to gently hold it down while winding but it does a great job.

I love my side winder!

i love my sidewinder. i found you just have to wind it around the thread holder twice/sorry don't know what is called but it is the part the thread goes around before heading back to the bobbin .i get more thread on the bobbin using that instead of the machine