I believe that feature is possible only with top-loading bobbins. There are pros and cons to top-loading versus front-loading bobbin mechanisms. Not sure that anyone has done a comparison of newer machines, but I know that when they first came out top-loading bobbins were said not to produce as nice and even a stitch as front-loaders. Having never had the option to wind bobbins through the needle, can't say this is a feature I would be looking for in a new machine. Having needle-down and the ability to change needle position with a tap of the foot (features on my vintage Bernina) are much more important to me.

Edit: I should add that my machine has two spools for thread. When I wind bobbins the needle doesn't move, so it's quite easy for me to wind a bobbin without unthreading the machine; it just requires using two spools of thread -- one for the needle thread and one for the bobbin thread.

My Baby Lock Espire/Symphony does this too but I prefer to wind from the bobbin. I keep a spool of thread on the back thread pin and wind as I need to.

Prism, the top-loading bobbin machines can do great stitches these days.

it never occurred to me.

i read a little while ago (maybe on leah day's blog?) that she uses bobbin changes as a chance to sweep out the lint from the dogs etc.

now i do that too and it;s amazing how much stuff can build up in there, especially if i am machine quilting with a flannel back!

aileen

Viking Interlude 445, love that feature.

my machine winds the bobbin on the top,so I take the thread and cut it from the needle if I'm going to use that spool. If using a different spool, I place the vertical holder on the machine, spool and then fill my bobbin. I think my old Singer used to wind the bobbin in place though.

I don't have this feature, but have a separate bobbin winding mechanism so can wind my bobbin without unthreading just put another spool on top and go as it is separate from the needle so can continue to sew. I like my bobbin winder

My Pfaff's will do this, but I still prefer to do it the old fashioned way and then I also do several bobbins at once. I tend to use 1 spool for the needle thread and 1 spool for the bobbins. Works for me.

I have several Berninas and always need to rewind. I just purchased a separate bobbin winder, verdict still out.

My very old pfaff and a new pfaff both do this. I was told by the dealer that it's not the best idea as it's supposedly harder on the machine?

I have never heard of this before!!

I have the 6600 like someone else just mentioned, so I can wind a bobbin separately from my sewing thread. I thought THAT was cool....It would be awesome if I could wind a bobbin from the needle too.

How does that even work? Do you have to manually wind some of the thread on to get it started?

I'm really curious about this now! I might have to go by the Viking dealer and ask for a demo. I can't imagine how this works. I love good engineering!