One time I was chain piecing and was so excited to be nearly done with a huge pile of squares until I noticed over half weren't sewed. I have no indication of when the bobbin runs out and my hearing can't allow me to notice slight sounds.

This is a neat thread about thread. My old Singer had a metal plate that I had to slide out to see the bobbin. My Brother has a plastic one, and I just have to lift the fabric slightly to check. Still, I sometimes run out. Isn't it irritating though, to look and realize that what you thought was done, is not?

I can usually tell by a change in sound when the bobbin is running out on the longarm, and on the Bernina I can tell after it's out if I'm listening and paying attention. But all too often I'm not paying attention, so I sew a mile before realizing. It's particularly irritating when the fabric has been pinned "just so" and the pins removed after the stitching without thread.

Been there all too many times. I usually notice when turning a corner-the top thread just lays there. Actually, my machine changes sound, but, I don't always notice. However, just like Murphy's law, it never happens in an easy spot-always when precision pinning was.

Ugh.....not to complain, but this is a major irritation for me. I need to do a better job of checking my bobbin....and each time I run out I swear I will. But then I get "into it" and ...well....forget. Too much fun sewing to stop and check something like that.
But....oh do I feel your pain!

Usually I can tell the difference in the sound of the machine when it runs out but not always.I have probably went a foot or so. I would love a indicator on my machine telling when the bobbin is low. Great feature!

I used to zip along and do my best ever sewing with no bobbin thread. At least I never had to rip those seams out! Now, I recognize the sound difference from bobbin threaded to bobbin no longer threaded, so catch it fairly quickly.

Happened to me today while doing some straight line quilting with 12 wt thread.. I went more than 2 feet before I realized my bobbin had run out. Starting back up mid-line was not an option since there would be no easy way to disguise my stop and new start with such a thick thread. Fortunately, it was easy to pick out the stitching all the way to the beginning so I could start that line over....:rolleyes:

Rob

One of my machines has the bobbin low light feature. I rarely notice it when it comes on, just another light on the machine with all the rest that are lit up. The top thread I notice because it will loop.

It's like discovering you missed the turn when your mind comes out of the chain piecing "haze" to realize you should have "turned right" back at that gas station 8 miles back! I do it all too often. I'm a big block piecer and longarmers everywhere are my best friends! Let's don't think about how this must feel to my wonderful longarmers. I am into "production" for my charity quilts so not getting the seam together at the first shot can really interfere. I have looked up (awakened!) to discover a couple of dozen big blocks not joined or more.

Still I smile, drop back and punt (as my football player husband called it), replace the bobbin, and reestablish my process. BECAUSE it beats the heck out of ripping out even one seam! I hugely dislike unsewing.