Pre-wound Bobbins- M class vs L class
 

I am looking for pre-wound bobbins for my Handi Quilter long arm. It uses a M size bobbin. Has any one used a L size in their machine? I know that there is less thread on the L but it comes in more colors that I would like to use.

No you cannot use a size L in a machine built for a size M bobbin. The size L is much too small.
Why not load your own bobbins with whatever color you want to use?

Peggi is right. The bobbins are not interchangeable.

I have a hard time getting the wound correctly. The thread wants to load in the bottom of the bobbin distribute up and down the bobbin until I use my finger to help it wind up and down. Also I can't get it would tight enough. Any suggestions on either/both of the issues.

Have you watched the HandiQuilter videos for using the bobbin winder? They are very informative, including how to make sure your unit it set up to wind evenly.

Have you used glide bobbins?

61 colors here size L and M

https://www.fil-tec.com/Magna-Glide-Delights-Quilting

Waited too long to be able to edit my post to add these links to HQ bobbin winder videos:

How to use Handi Quilter bobbin winder
How to setup, adjust and use the Handi Quilter Bobbinwinder

The M size bobbins for the Handi Quilter are large capacity and fit in the bobbin case that came with your machine. There are smaller size M and L bobbins for embroidery machines like Brother, Babylock etc. Those are smaller, they are the same size as the bobbins for a domestic sewing machine. Make sure you are purchasing the correct size for the Handi Quilter.

In my experience the glide pre-wound bobbins were the best and every color under the rainbow. Of course they cost a bit more but the quality is better. You know you are getting the right size for your machine. Never interchange one size for another.

Rainmaker, I have a Handi-quilter machine and have used the prewound L bobbins. When I first got my machine bought a box of bobbins from a shop and the lady said they would work for my machine, so I used them. Several boxes later I realized that they were L and that M is what I needed. So...I use filtec bobbins, both sizes (L for my smaller machines, M for LA) and order by the box. The centers are identical, if you save them and send back when you reorder, they give you credit for them. The only difference is the amount of thread wound on the bobbins. If still not sure, call Handi-Quilter to reconfirm. Just my opinion.Peace, Brenda

I was thinking the same as what QuiltNama says, they should work because the centers are the same. I have an HQ long arm.

BTW - if you are having trouble winding and are using an HQ winder, you might have to adjust the location of the tension. There is an adjustment that moves it left/right to get it centered correctly so the bobbin will wind evenly and not stack up one side or the other. I've got two of them and use one for winding class L and one for winding class M bobbins.

I have two spools of most of the thread I use on the LA, so keep one on the bobbin winder and wind one bobbin at a time as I'm working.

Ok I just called my longarm tech and he said technically you *could* use an L bobbin, but you'd most likely get backlash. He said the Singer 15 bobbins would definitely not work, and if the bobbin stuck out past the bobbin case, it wouldn't work.

The tech made the same suggestion I did - wind your own bobbins with the exact thread color you want. 😉