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??