Machine Quilting/PreWound Bobbins or Not
 

With all of you quilting, if you have a long arm are you using prewound bobbins or are you doing your own.
I have been told to do my own, i am new at this and would like some input as to how everyone feels about
Prewound/or not. In all my other machines I do use the prewound bobbins.

Thank you for your input
Jean

I don't have a 'long arm' but I do have a long arm frame which I use with my domestic size machine. Before I move my machine to the frame I wind 5 or 6 bobbins. Don't want to try prewound just in case them mess up my baby.

I have been advised not to use prewound bobbins in my LA. That can cause tension problems when using different threads in the needle and the bobbin. I have experienced this problem with my domestic machine and am not willing to test it in my LA.

I have a long arm and run a small business from my home doing mostly custom quilting (read - I use a lot of thread in my quilts! LOL)...and I do not use prewounds. If you HATE winding bobbins or you have some sort of issues winding them, they are great...but truly not necessary. They are a convenience...and for that you pay a little more more...but that's about all. You can use them if you want to, if they appeal to you, a lot of people love them! But truly, there is absolutely no difference between a prewound and winding yourself a batch of 60 wt. thread on your own bobbins (other than the disposable cardboard bobbin center).

Now, that being said...Magna Glide bobbins by Fil-Tec have a magnet center and are supposed to encourage good even tension as well as prevent backlash (used instead of a bobbin spring or bobbin washer)...I have never used them so I can't speak to their claims...but I use a lot of Glide thread and I do like it quite a bit...but I still wind my own bobbins because with a bobbin spring alone I don't have any tension or backlash issues. :)

**Edited to add** Well, there is ONE difference...if you don't have an industrial winder like one that comes with a long arm then you might find that there is more thread packed onto a prewound. But other than that...no difference. LOL :)

Drue what long arm do you use if you don't mind me asking? Most long arms these days will accept just about any thread...and I don't see how a prewound could harm it. Worst case scenario you have a thread jam. Long arms are industrial machines...other than creating a mess with lint I don't know how you could damage it simply by using different thread. It is pretty standard practice to use different threads - different fibers and weights both - in the top and bobbin together...in both a domestic machine and a long arm.

Not being confrontational by the way...just curious!! :) :)

i use my own bobbins and superior thread

I use both :)

I wind my own, have never used prewound.

I have an APQS LA and have used per wounds for over ten yrs....never had any tension problems from using them.....I highly recommend them.

I never use the prewound bobbins. I just wind my own, about 7 or 8 when FMQ and just rewind until I'm done. I don't have a long arm.