Little Genie Magic Bobbin Washers
 

I see these in Nancy's Notions catalog. Has anyone used these? Did they keep the "backlash and bird's nest" from happening on the underside of your project? Do they fit all machines? Do you think they are beneficial?
Thanks for your help!

I have them. They come in a pack with several "washers" but very little info. I was wondering if they sent you several in case you have several machines or if they "wear out." I am using one in my Babylock Quilter's Choice and the machine seems to moving better but I also recently changed to a higher quality thread. I don't know which is making my machine run better. They are relatively inexpensive...

Great question, I have wondered the same thing!

I tried them in my Viking Sapphire and didn't notice a difference. On this machine the bobbin has curved sides, not flat like most bobbins. Maybe it just didn't have enough contact to make a difference.

I use them in all my machines and love them! My stitches look much better, especially FMQ.

I use them. It prevents static in the metal bobbin case. One will last a very long time if you don't drop it and can't find it.

I tried them in my janome 6600 and noticed no difference.

Won't fit in my drop down bobbin but I should try it in the 15-91.

I don't think you are suppose to notice a difference. It's a precaution.

I have at least 15 machines and have never had the need for any product like that.. my machines and my stitching are great.

I'm with Candace on this. I've never had a bird's nest or eyelash so there's no need for one.

They are for fmqing and long arms.

I made my own out of silicone oven liner. I don't know if they help or not, but I haven't done much FMQ.

I have one in my Baby Lock Quilter's Dream and love it. Haven't had any "problems."
I started using my Singer for piecing recently and forgot to use the genie. I noticed nests on my sewing; using the same thread as in my Baby Lock!
They must be doing something!
I have read that they last for a LONG time. I'm still using my first one. Just don't lose it when you change bobbins! They are tricky to find on the floor.

I use to use them in my Viking Designer SE just when it was set up to embroider - really made a difference! Then I tried them for all sewing in both my machines and I do feel there is a definite difference in the stitch quality especially when FMQing. I believe the quilting diva Sharon Schamber also uses the Genies. These may be just a specialty type of washer that might can be had via a local plumbing store (I'd heard this on another group but have not checked it out).

My LQS let my "try these out" during a class and I did not notice any difference.

There are 2 sizes they should be marked for domestic sewing machines (I believe 6942A) and there is a size that says for Long Arm machines. You have to be careful about that as the ones marked for LA are only for the LAs that have the larger bobbin - LAs with the regular size bobbin use the ones for DSM

Forgot to mention, these are not necessary for regular (straight) sewing but are intended to decrease the backlash that you get when FMQ. I do find them helpful for this

I agree with Sunnye. They have helped me with my regular sewing and also with my quilting. Although I haven't gotten up the nerve to do FMQ, yet. That is on my to do list, when I don't have anyone else in the house to hear my comments to myself when I am not fast enough to keep up with the machine.

You need to remove the little spring thing in the metal bobbin casing for the genie to work. It comes our easy and goes back in easy.

I have used them in my Pfaff Creative 2.0. It seems to make the thread reel off more smoothly and it definitely has helped me with birds' nests. However, when I got my machine serviced a month ago, the person at the sewing machine store told me that it needed a timing adjustment. I haven't had a problem with birds' nests since, but I've only used Pfaff plastic bobbins since I got it back. But I'm holding on to those bobbin washers if the problem arises again.

I use them all the time and love them!

I use them in my longarm and LOVE them. Ive also trimmed them down to fit my domestic machine as well. Well worth using!

I had no idea what there were so I went to Nancy's notions to look at them. Now I know and I think I will buy some and try it out. Many of you here say it is great. I learn so much here (sigh)

I have asked and supposedly they will not work in a Bernina. I've been told not to even try it. Boo Hoo!

Never heard of em, will have to check em out!

I use them in my Pfaff, especially when doing a zig-zag stitch as my machine bobbin seems to slip at that time. They work well & my stitch improves when I use them.

I have them and they work pretty good. They come several in a pack so as soon as the "birdnest" starts up again, you need to change it. I've tricked it out by flipping it over and get a little more life out of it. they're inexpensive enough to give them a try and see if you like them.

I don't see a difference at all. I have a Brother with a top loading bobbin and still see plenty of movement in the bobbin because there is space above it with or without the washer.

I've used them on my Bernina and they helped. I have and old one - Bernina Record

I purchased them about a year ago and have not found that they help at all, my fmq machine has a drop in bobbin and was nat at all happy with the washer in place! I beleive if you are using the bobbin recommended for your your machine these are not necessary. (Just my two cents!)

These are great, I gave them to my quilting buddies and we all have different machines and it works for us all.

I use them in all my machines...and yes, they do help. First, in my sewing and embroidery machines, I still make sure I pull up the bobbin thread and, in my sewing machines, I hold them for the first couple of stitches. This is especially important in the older (Featherweights, and really early machines) sewing machines...you need to hold the thread to start. On my longarm I bring up the bobbin thread, take several very tiny stitches...and then start stitching. The bobbin washers are great for keeping static out of the bobbin area (they don't conduct static)..if you are starting/stopping a lot, either chain piecing or changinng direction...they work wonders.
I have both sizes (L for reg bobbins, M for longarm)..but to start...only the L size were available...they still worked in my longarms.
You get 8 or 10 in a pack..lol, I'm still using the one I put in my machines in 2006..lol...I used two of them to the shaft on my encoders for the longarm machine. There was a bit too much play and the encoder was not staying evenly on the pole of the frame...two bobbin washers were the perfect amount (no room for another washer) to fill the gap..and they don't hinder the movement of the encoder (they have to loosely rest on the pole) at all.
Also, I have sent them to others who were not able to get the tension just so on their machines...just enough to help avoid the occasional skipped stitch or pokie.

Funny, you should mention.... I use them, too. BUT, I just did a bobbin change and clean up the machine yesterday. Until I read this, I had not noticed that I don't have one in there. Great timing!

I tried them in my Janome 4800, which was very difficult to use for FMQ because it was near- impossible to get the tension right, and they definitely helped. I haven't used them so far since getting a 7700, because the tension has been fine.

I use one in my Elna 6003 and it definitely helps.

Leah Day has them on her website; you might check there for info

Who did you ask? I use them in my Bernina. The only machine I don't use them on is my Singer Quantum only because the plastic bobbins have a metal insert, the plastic takes the static away.

Interesting to read this. Hubby intended to just blow out my machine, then ended up taking off the belts to replace them. I didn't think they were worn much. He ended up going to the sewing maching store to buy new ones and the tech said the belts were like new .. long story short ... it is hard to set up timing on a sewing machine (he's an auto mechanic and didn't think it would be that hard, didn't think about marking it before he removed the belts) and we kept messing around with it. Timing is very, very touchy. A scant turn will change the whole process, and the needle thread won't pick up the bobbin thread right. The local sewing machine store charges $160.00 for servicing on my machine, so I'm happy he was able to do it. (I'm not going to pay that, since I bought the machine on ebay for $169.00. It does come with a one year warranty if I have it done.)

Around the umpteenth try, which involved taking the bobbin case out and rethreading the machine each time, I tried it without the Genie (made my own with silicone oven liner) and the timing worked. He made marks on the gears so he knows where to set it next time. After that, I was able to put the Genie back in and the machine worked great.

I do not get nests or snarls with the Genie in there.