Recently the somewhat crotchety man who cleans and adjusts my sewing machines gave me a big frown and said, "You're not even using the correct bobbin size." (Bobbin size?) I always thought as long as the bobbin is round and has a hole in the middle and doesn't spit itself out of the machine it was okay to use it.

What kinds of problems can be experienced if you're using the wrong size? And how do you know what size your machine uses? (My manuel doesn't tell me.)

Yes size does matter. You should google your machine and see what comes up. It can really make a difference with sewing and quilting mine will throw a fit if it is not fitting correctly.

Not all bobbins fit in all machines.

If your manual doesn't tell you look up your machine on the web and see what it says, or let us know here, I'm sure someone can tell you.

It could make a difference in how your tension gets adjusted and how your machine operates overall.

I'm with you though and would think that if it fits.... it should work.

What machine do you have?

Use only the bobbins made specifically for your machine or it will mess up the tension and all sorts of other things. Janome bobbins for Janome machines, singer bobbins for singer machines and the list goes on.

There are as many sizes of bobbin as there are machine (or so it seems at times). Pfaffs are different than Berninas and Singer, and Janome. Some are metal some are plastic, some even screw apart!

Yes, google your machine or get on a site that sells bobbins and type in your machine and the correct one should come up.

Wrong size/style will mess with your tension, stitches and can at times break needles and throw your timing off......

Does dress size matter?? I sure wouldn't want to wear the incorrect size of shoes. My machines don't want a wrong size bobbin in them either!

Bottom line......Size really does matter.

You will break needles. Wrong size bobbin can really mess up your work. Some machines don't even want pre-wound bobbins without a special seat.

Yes it does matter alot.

Everyone of my machines use a different bobbin. Makes things challenging but not paying attention makes a huge mess!

Always check manual for correct bobbin size. My singer takes a singer 15J not a 15. Size 15 is slightly smaller and will jump around in the bobbin holder. If do not have manual check on line or call local distributor or even here on the board.

Wow! I better pay attention - I didn't know I could be using the wrong bobbins in my machine. I bought a new machine and am using the same bobbins...the machines are singer and brother...I better go check it out before I ruin me new one. Thanks for this info.

You'll be able to tell the difference immediately when you get the correct size bobbin. I can get the cardboard sided pre-wounds to fit in all 4 of my machines but I have to tear the outside facing paper off for 3 of them. My machines won't even wind each other's bobbins. The spindle is a different size.

sometimes the bobbins look like they are right, but just a hair off can really change the machine proformance.

I think the crochety man should have told you what you need. Anyway, my machines won't work at all with the wrong bobbin. What machine do you have?

So true, so true, the correct bobbin is essential. Again yesterday, one of the guild members was having tension problems, wrong bobbin. Just because they all look almost the same they aren't, use what is recommened for your machine and you and your machine will be much happier.

Agree wholeheartedly! I have had experience with using the wrong bobbin and it can ruin your day!

Many machines although having different names actually use some same machine parts manufactured by the one company, this means you can use same bobbins in some cases, however I recommed always checking which bobbin is right for your particular machine first. Over the years I have owned a Singer, Liberty, Jamome, and two different Brother machines, they all used the same needles and also the Universal needles. It seems like there are no rules but there are in fact. You may not do much damage to your bobbins but you may do permanant damage to the inside of your bobbin case, if metal on metal is spinning around in there at a 100 miles an hour, if it is too tight for instance, you will wear something out pretty fast! One gets used to the way your machine sounds and sews, changing to the correct needle, often you can hear the difference! I write this for anyone new to sewing and machines etc as any info on machine maintainance is good info IMHO.

Gal

I put a colored mark on the correct bobbin size for each machine so I can get the correct bobbin in the machine. As usual each machine takes different bobbin and it it is hard to tell difference.

I have marked mine also, Hot Pink nail polish on the Brother and Blue on the Viking. And I can tell the difference in the vintage ones just by looking.

Thanks so much for all the information -- and for replying so FAST. Actually, people have been giving me lots of old bobbins which don't fit in their machines anymore. And all the while I thought I was really lucky. I have two machines -- a Baby Lock Model BL 1556 and a Husqvarna Emerald 118. I will start googling today and know I will hit paydirt at Joanne's where I bought my Husqvarna.

YES size does matter. One of my biggest pet peeves is that the manual that comes with machines don't tell you which one to use. I have scoured my manuals and the only info is a part number, thier part number. Why can't they just say class 15, L or N. Yesterday for the first time I saw a sewing machine box that specifies class 15. I'm going to email the company and thank them. Being consumer friendly should always be encouraged.

Yes. In my Singer, if the bobbin is a few millimeters off of what it is supposed to be, I get terrible birds nests when I attempt to sew.

One of my Bernina bobbins is an eyelash width off what it should be and I had to put that one aside as it was one broken thread after another if I tried to use that one.

Machines can be very sensitive to the wrong size parts.

Cheers, K

Why didn't the repair guy tell which ones ARE correct?!

The wrong size bobbin might get stuck in the bobbin case and cause all kinds of expensive problems.

Hello,
I'm new to the quilting board. Recently the bobbin thread winder on my Singer 1425N quit working, I suspect because the part is plastic. I have been unable to find a sewing machine repairman locally, but when I saw a portable, vintage Majestic sewing machine at a local second hand shop for $15.00, I immediately bought it. It is extremely heavy, due to the all metal parts I believe. Anyway, it had just two bobbins, but I would like to purchase more bobbins. These have no indication of size on them. [ATTACH=CONFIG]384592[/ATTACH]Photo included here. Can anyone tell me how I can be certain which bobbin to buy?

Not only does size matter, so does material! Don't use metal bobbins in a machine that is designed to use Plastic bobbins! Found that out the hard way, my "new" Kenmore (Janome style) machine will "take" the metal Singer bobbins I've owned forever, but it just doesn't quite feed right! Lot's of jams and snarls! (machine and human!) So I only use those old "mini-spools" for the top thread, if I need that specific color. I'm fairly safe, those bobbins haven't seen the daylight for years! and it's only for very small projects!

When I purchased a Husqavarna-Viking Sapphire 835, I purchased a "bag" of 20 bobbins, and am now looking to purchase more. It's so handy to do large projects with a set of "pre-filled" bobbins! But no way would the Kenmore plastic or Singer metal bobbins EVER get near the HV!

NEVER feel silly asking any questions, we have all had them and this Quilting Board is the BEST place I've found to post and get helpful answers!

I didn't used to think it mattered but when I got my new Pfaff embroidery machine I found out. She only uses one especially for her. Now I think maybe some of the problems I have had over the past years are due to the wrong bobbin.

I have made a mess using the wrong bobbins ..Ugg!!!!

I've never had a bit of trouble using plastic or metal bobbins in any of my machines. The new Bernina uses both without complaining. I have a Necchi Lydia 3 that also uses plastic bobins, but the bobbins are not as thick as the others. I can use the thinner bobbins in other machines, but can't use the thick bobbins in the machine that wants thin ones.

KSKATE, you need to measure that bobbin and get the exact, repeat , exact measurement for the heighth and width and note the number of holes. Probably the diameter of the holes also. Then you can start looking on the internet on sites that sell antique bobbins and you can compare oranges to oranges in looking f or a match.

If your machine was made in Japan (most likely it was) it will take a class 15 bobbin. That looks like what you have there so you are good to go.

If my machines have been running fine on either metal or plastic bobbins, right size of course, for years, is there something I should be aware of that I am not?

Yes it does matter. You don't have a brother machine otherwise you would have been terrible trouble recently. A brother only works with the correct bobbin.

The way it was explained to me is, if the case the bobbin goes in is metal, then use a metal bobbin. If it is a drop in bobbin and the area it drops in is plastic, then use a plastic bobbin. Like to like.

I agree! My singer takes a 15J bonnin. the bobbin size 15 fits almost but has a little wiggle room so my stitches are not always good!!!!

Yah..I thought my new Janome would be able to use the bobbins from my old Kenmore (since it was made by Janome anyway) but...NOPE! I have 2 Brother machines that can share bobbins but my Janome will not sew right with either the Kenmore or Brother bobbins even though they look pretty much identical to me. It sounds funny and breaks thread. The Kenmore, oddly enough, seems to do fine with just about any bobbin I put in there except the curvy Singer bobbins - I wonder if it's because it's a front-loader instead of a drop-in like my other machines; or if it's just that it's kind of old and wonky in general so I can't tell the difference, LOL. I seem to have lost the manual for that one so I'm not sure what it SHOULD be using. But, it's my backup to my backup so I'm in no rush or worry to figure it out.

Yes, it is very important that the bobbin is correct. I have an older Bernette and the bobbins look just like my old Singer bobbins, but they won't work in the Bernette. I had a terrible time sewing and finally took it in and found out that I had to buy Bernina bobbins. I always make sure I have the correct bobbin for the sewing machine, I don't like seeing all those loops in the bobbin thread or having threads break over and over. Easier to get the correct bobbins first.

I was surprised that several of my sewing machine manuals do not list the bobbin size at all. In fact only my old Singer manuals do.

I know!! It seems like such a basic, BASIC piece of information. I've gone through and handwritten the proper bobbin sizes into my manuals so I won't have to hunt through the internet again next time I need more.