Do any of you use the portable bobbin winders. :?:
From what I understand you either love it or you
hate it. Apparently it doesn't work with all machines.
Seems like they are kind of spendy also - esp if its
not going to be used. Thanks for any input....

mine is back in its box, gathering dust. i'm a "neyer".

Nay, first of all...I can't use for my Viking machine. And, you know, to begin with I thought "what a great idea". Then my practical side got to thinking...why not just wind two or three bobbins to begin with when I am starting my project (or even just when I sit down to sew)? It really is no advantage to have the extra bobbin winder...I still have to remove my fabric in order to remove my plate and insert my bobbin...so, just what is the advantage? Personally, I'd rather save my money and spend it on fabric or something else that I really do need!

I say nay. I read on this board how much some people like theirs. I bought one and used it a few times. It doesn't seem to wind evenly.
I now just fill several bobbins before starting a project.

I tried one out at the fabric store the other day and well I was less than impressed! maybe it was just because the one I seen had been played with A LOT but it just didn't seem to wind even or the way I like my bobbins to look!

Before I start any sewing project I just wind several bobbins and keep them in my bobbin thingy!!! For quilting I prewind a BUNCH!!!

Ney, I have a separate bobbin winder moter on my sewing machine and I just wind several bobbins before I start sewing. I like having lots of bobbins around and will wind a whole bunch with lt grey, white and ecru thread.

YEA! I have one and I love it. I bought extra bobbins for my machine and used the empty prescription bottles from my husband's pills. I mark the prescription bottle with white, grey, off white, empty. I fill the filled bobbins and put them in the marked bottle. Then when I use up a bobbin, I put it in the "empty" bottle and continue to do that until I am out of filled bobbins (of the color I am using). Then I just take some relaxing time, fill up all the bobbins and I am good to go for at least three quilts. No problem, no wasting time, refilling the bobbin, there is always one there for me!

I think the bobbin winder is the next best thing to the Calcu-Quilt. I love that thing too. Edie

I like the pill bottle idea - will just take some "relaxing" time and wind bobbins - so its a ney for me to :!:

I am a yea. I love mine and use it a lot. Works great for me.

I'm a great big YEAH!! I love mine. I have a 1950's Singer and my bobbin winder on my Singer quit working. It needs a part replaced and I haven't done it yet. I bought my little pink bobbin winder and it is so quick and easy to use. I don't have any problem with the bobbins winding right. I think when that happens maybe the thread wasn't threaded on it right. When I first got mine I didn't realize there were arrows to show where the thread should go.
I wouldn't be without mine! I thread 30 bobbins at a time and this side winder is so much faster than either of my two other backup machines and it is less trouble to get out and use than my backup machine.
I have a clear plastic container with a smaller clear container inside on one side of the bigger container. I put the filled bobbins in the bigger side and the empty ones in the smaller container. Then when I run out I just stop and fill the bobbins. Doesn't take much time to do!

Yeah here. It's the best safe tool for my grandaughter to use in the sewing room. It keeps her busy filling bobbins. She loves it. I buy the plastic bobbins by the sack full at the machine shop. I take them to guild to pass our for applique or hand sewing. I have a shoe box full of bobbins and of course I need more and will always need more until she decides to stop. :D

Great idea with the pill bottles! My bobbin holder has a junky top that doesn't really snap on so they spill. My mom takes tons of meds so I can fix myself up in no time. Thanks for the idea!

I never thought of that!! My grands would get a kick out of doing that. I will have to see if they like filling the bobbins. It would be something for them to do! Thanks for the idea!

Nay ... I don't care for the way it winds the thread. And I do thread it right. A dust collector for me.

The one I want to try is the new bias tape maker machine. It's kind of pricy when you add all the metal accessory tip sizes, but I think it would save the fingers and some time. I make bias all the time sewing and quilting projects.

I'm a yeah too! I use mine to fill bobbins for my embroidery machine, it fills tighter than a regular bobbin winder on a sewing machine. I get more embroidery time off of one bobbin. I was doing lace bookmarks and had to change the bobbin twice, but when wound on the Side Winder, I only needed one and had bobbin thread left over :!:

Thanks for posting - I saw one the other day and was tempted...but I am prone to buying gadgets and then having them collect dust (a habit I am desperately trying to break)....I think I may do without it.

Why is it that we are so much richer when we have more bobbins? I have about 12 and I thought I was doing good! A quilter determines her wealth by her bobbins and her stash. Oh, if the world were just like that, eh? I spent the afternoon yesterday out on the patio with 50-eleven boxes that I keep my stash in (only because I like to grab for a "shoe box" with a label on it that says "Red" or "Yellow", etc., and when I finished the last quilt I only used a fabric once and when I was done with it I shoved it in another box, so I wouldn't use it again, and I put all the fabric back in its designated box. No, I am not anal, I just am basically a messy-type person and if I keep one thing in this world in order, why not the stash! I have been known to bring out my ironing board (that is what I sew on), my little cutting table, my little table ironing board, iron and sewing machine outside on the patio and sew all afternoon, (until suppertime anyhow). Some of the neighbors come over to see what I am doing, sometimes I sit and visit. Sometimes, I have a glass of wine and totally relax. I am an avid listener to audio books and listen to them while I am sewing and I am in my own little world. Edie

I'm a ney. I wind 4or5 bobbins for my quilt befor I start sewing. On top of that I have a Viking.

I also have a Viking machine. And those are my thoughts on winding 2 or 3 bobbins at a time. Saving money so we can add to our stash is what it is all about. :D

Where did you find the emoticon that quilts. I just love it~ Thanks, Edie

I use mine all the time. Love it. I have 4 sewing machines and they all will take the bobbins that fit the bobbin winder. The only bobbin I know of that it doesn't work for is a Viking. The bobbins are to large.

I read this with interest as I have just purchased one (in a sale) got it for 16$. My oldest sewing machine gave up winding bobbins so this will work for me I hope.

Hope it will work for my Brother machine as well.

Elle

I just got one and so far I'm loving it. And used a 40% coupon from Joanns

I sure hope you like it. I saw it the first time when I was at a quilting demonstration at Hancock Fabrics in St. Paul. The instructor said that if you put the batteries in it, but plug it in there is more weight to the bobbin winder. I did that and it sure helps! I am getting ready to start a new quilt now and have to get my bobbins going. I have about 15 to fill.

I got my winder at JoAnn's for 40% off. That, along with the 40% off on the Calcu-Quilt is the probably the best money I have ever spent. It takes a while to learn the Calcu-Quilt, but it is really neat. Specially, if anyone is like I am and cannot figure out measuring on quilts. It literally does all the work for you. Try it out sometime at JoAnn's.

Happy Quilting! And, whatever you are, be a good one! Edie

Could you tell me where you found the little "elf" that is quilting? Thanks! Edie

I like mine too. Wind several bobbins and then not to worry about having to stop sewing to wind a bobbin on the machine.

I'm a yea! I have a viking and it works great. :)

NAY

I ended up throwing mine away. It never did work right. Waste of money.

mareliba

Hi, My daughter-in-law gave me a Side Winder for Christmas a couple of years ago. I have not used the bobbin winder on my sewing machine since.
It is so nice not having to unthread my machine to wind a bobbin and then put everything back together again. The only problem when you change color of threads to have two of the same color. It defeats your purpose of having a Side Winder if you have to take the spool off of you machine to wind the bobbin, IMHO

Henriellen

Just received my Side Winder in the post and its YEA from me.

Easy to work and it will help me a lot since my old machines bobbin winder no longer works and thats the one I take to my sewing classes.

Elle

I have a Brother machine and it works great with the bobbins wound on the Sidewinder. I love mine!

I love mine. It works for both my Singer and Brother machine. I can wind all my bobbins in the evening to get them ready for quilting the next day without having to take out my machine.

In talking to a couple of people who do sewing machine repairs they said the bobbin winders on your machines wear out very fast. In using the independent bobbin winders you save the wear and tear on your expensive machines. FYI. :D

That is what I figured too! Especially with my old one, which is a White and my husband bought it for me used for our first anniversary. We will be married 50 years June 2010. Not to be nosey, where in Iowa are you located? Yes, I guess I am nosey. We have relatives in the Amana Colonies. My husband and I were married at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. I love Iowa.

Have a good day! Edie

I have a Viking machine also and received the bobbin winder as a gift. It's a big nay for me also. I haven't tried to wind bobbins from my grandmas Singer in it yet.

i have to say i am a yeaaaa i love mine it is ran on battery or electric sometimes when watching tv in the living room i will sit and fill a lot of bobbins! i really think the idea of the pill bottles is great , going to try that one.
thats what i like about this forum so many shared ideas !!

I just had to have a side winder. I got one for christmas last year. I would much rather use the one on my machine. It is too much trouble to use this little thing. I have to make sure it is threaded corrected as you can not stop once started. I also have to hold it down since it is so light.
In my opinion it is not worth the money. One of those live and learn lessons.

I never made the plunge....for my thinking is to prewind bobbins, but, if you are using a matching color, etc to something....chances are you would have to undo the thread from the machine to wind with!:)Now, I know there are quilters that have drawers and drawers of endless threads to pick from, but, not me:)Espec in different off colors past the basic colors of black, white and off white:)Skeat

I love mine ! I have two. one for home and one when I travel.
I'm a two-fer girl. I usually have two of everything. 1 for home 1for the travel. I teach sewing and I dont like having the lingering thought of did I remember everything.
Thats my story !
T.Farmer
Central TX

I like that pill bottle idea, I think I'll use it. I love my PBW, I got a gift card for Joann's so that is how I got mine. My winder does wind evenly and I can use it for both the Pfaff and the Bernina, so that works out great. Mine is out of the box and in easy reach and I use it, that is what it's there for. So Yes.