I avoid this problem by buying two spools of thread in the same color, one for my machine and one for my sidewinder.

I have an old Pfaff and didn't have to rethread to wind a bobbin. However, the bobbin winder part quit working recently and I bought a sidewinder rather than have to do without my machine for weeks for the repair. I really like the sidewinder, I can wind many bobbins very fast. My bobbins don't really fit WELL on the thing, I have to force them on there pretty hard. Getting them off is harder. I figure eventually it will wear in. Or I will break the thing, one or the other.

Hi,

I have a Sidewinder, but don't use it much as my bobbins wind fuller on my machine.
Also one of my machines has a separate winding deal so I can actually wind a bobbin while I continue sewing or embroidering....unless I need the color I am sewing with, that is! LOL

Bev

I had a repair man tell me that these were the way to go. He said that a $30 machine made to wind bobbins was cheaper than having to repair a bobbin winder on the newer machines. He said it was like a vcr, that is the first part to go :wink:

I love the Side Winder that I bought when it first came out. I take it with me to class and it gets used and used by everyone at class or group. My bobbin winder on my machine quit working so I took it in to have it fixed ...almost $100 later I had a new bobbin winder that filled 7 bobbins then never worked again! For me, the Side Winder was a lifesaver and I will never be without one.

If your machine is a Viking or Pfaff you need the PINK Sidewinder. It works on those bobbins, if you turn the bobbin upside-down.

I used to have another machine sitting next to me to wind bobbins while I was sewing on another...silly huh? Then I discovered prewound bobbins. WOW, 144 of them at a time. Awesome! Be sure to select the correct one that fits your machine. Be aware that there are 2 sizes.
My Janome states that it is almost out of bobbin thread when I use a prewound but after checking you can see that it is not.
Ladies and gentlemen it is worth the money!

I bought one of the white sidewinders. I knew my Viking (Quilt Designer - green ones) bobbins wouldn't work on it but I have 3 other machines that I can use it for. I didn't realize the pink one would do Viking bobbins until reading this. I won't buy another one tho. I just buy 2 spools of thread and wind a bunch of bobbins before I start a project so I don't have to stop and rewind. Machine is easy to thread but I get frustrated having to stop when I'm on a roll during a project.

I love my Sidewinder, of course it's partly because it allows me to use my Grandmother's 1963 Singer to do my piecing! The bobbin winder on that machine no longer works and parts are not available to fix it. Wish it had an adapter for those large spools of machine quilting thread, though!

I have a designer I and a sidewinder bobbin winder and I got it to work but had to really force my bobbin on it. First ones I wound on it I wound backwards. It is easier to just use the machine.