Have you ever continued sewing without bobbin thread... I mean... without realizing it ran out?

I was speeding right along, doing the strips for the scrappy fence, and getting pretty comfortable with the 1/4" seams.... when I noticed that... the top thread seemed to be coming loose from the fabric....

So stopped sewing, pulled out the strip and lo and behold, the bobbin was empty... ok... not so bad you say.. at least I noticed it...

Well, that was after sewing 4 sets of strips without a bobbin thread (8.5" strips... 4 of them... chain piecing, so not having to lift the presser foot, or cut threads... but you would think I would have noticed! LOL)

AND... why is it that the seams seem to be so much straighter when I run out of bobbin thread...

I like stopping to fill a bobbin, gives me a chance to stretch out my back... need a better chair.

Just thought I would share my... oh my gosh... moment

we need an alarm for when the bobbin is getting close to empty hehe

I do all the time and it drives me crazy. Just when I feel I am making progress the bobbin runs out!

we call that pre sewing in my house :lol: :lol:

Big smile. Yes, I am sure we have all done this. Maybe not quite so many strips (laughter), but definitely it has happened to all of us. Thanks for sharing a chuckle.

all the time! My machine beeps at everyother turn when I don't want it to..but not when the bobbin runs out..go figure!

I would have continued along unaware and happy as a lark, had I not noticed that the top thread looked loose heh

Glad to know I am not the only one that does it.

well, i haven't done multiple strips, but one strip i did that on was quite long :)

Happened to me again today as I was merrily piecing along :-(

I wish someone would invent a bell to ring when the bobbin gets a few feet from the end, Or a light to blink or anything to indicate low bobbin thread!

I'm right there with you! :thumbup:

My brother is electronic and notifies me when it is low

That is one thing I like about my machine it will not sew if the bobbin it low it also will not sew if the thread comes out of the needle.

Oh yes, have done it many times. I usually notice when the chain stitched pairs start falling off the edge of the sewing cabinet!

Mine has a warning sound - then won't work if I run out.

ah so some machines do warn that the thread is low in the bobbin. handy...

speaking of sewing... time to try to finish up the first pairings of these strips!

be back later

Ever notice you run out of bobbin thread with only a couple of inches left to sew? Makes me crazy.

Many of the newer (and some older) models have a low-bobbin light or beep. I do notice that when the bobbin thread runs out the machine makes a different sound. By the way, I have machines that flash or beep, but I still run out, because I am not going to waste the yard or so that is still on the bobbin. haha

I have done that several times, although never quite as far you have, but it's very aggravating. You are not alone.

There's your alarm or buzzer - when you get comfortable with the 1/4" seam and you're speeding right along!

Yep been there and done that ...

I like to preload a few bobbins that way I can just empty, drop in and zoom right along. Getting up often is never a problem with me.

My Vikings have a beep that tells me there is about 18" of bobbin thread left. Makes an expensive machine worthwhile. I usually fill several bobbins at once before I ever start sewing so I don't have to change my mindset, just pop in a new bobbin and away I go.

Both my Brother machines tell me when I am running out of bobbin thread.

That is the most annoying issue with my Bernina. All of my previous machines have had drop in bobbins and I could see how much bobbin thread was left. I am always "sewing air" now...

My Pfaff has a light that blinks when 3 ft are left...just enough to get to then of your seam and then reload...i usually have about 2--2 1/2 ft left, which i thread into a hand needle and hang on a magnet inside my sewing cupboard...ready to mend or finish something without having to look for needle or the right color thread... there are usually a half dozen pre-threaded needles ready to go... occasionally, i take them in and stick them on a magnet by the dryer.... handy there, too...

Yes, it has happened to me...many times...though I have gotten better at listening to my machine...as when it gets really low on bobbin thread there is a different sound...hard to describe...but sort of a metal echo. I only hear it if I am sewing without a radio on, or other noise going on around me. Otherwise, am glad when I notice it within a short time and don't sew whole borders on before noticing.

i have that same problem of not stopping when my machine beeps (really how much can that yard of thread cost) lol

Fortunately my machine beeps when it is nearly empty. Love that feature.

I have a Viking and it always beeps at least twice before it runs out but still I never make it to the end of what I'm sewing. I always try though.

My machine tells me when the bobbin is close to empty. I have to work at just running it out. So no, not on this machine. Other machines....yeeeeeees.

My wonderful Viking beep and stops when I run out of spool thread. Well, I can see that is running out. Tell me when the bobbin is running out.

I know this is a brand name, but when I first read it, I was thinking "how does her brother know when the bobbin is empty?"

Yep, had one of those "duh" moments. haha :lol:

BTDT - Been there, done that, - too! It makes me crazy when I finally notice!

My Pfaff beeps and stops sewing take your foot off the foot control and you can start again. A picture of an empty of a bobbin shows on the screen. You would think that would be enough but I still sew air from time to time. I got hearing aids helped hear beep but still do it.

:oops: More times than I care to admit. Most embarrassing was at the quilt retreat. I just hope no one noticed... :oops:

More times than I can count. I sew on vintage or basic mechanical machines, so there are no beeps, buzzes or clicks!!!! Just unsewn areas.

me too LOL took a couple secs till it dawned on me... brother brand hehe

I'm lucky that I can usually tell by the sound of my machine when it runs out -- and even luckier that I can just put in another bobbin, pull back on the top thread so it is taut, and go on sewing!
(I have a pair of Bernina 830's manufactured c. 1974).

All the time. However, I've started using some of the prefilled but refillable Janome bobbins and they really last a long time. Also, if you use Aurafil (sp?) thread the bobbins will last a lot longer.

More times that I am happy with. The last time I was sewing 2 1/2 x 21" strips. I must have "sewed at least 20 of them before noticing that I was out of bobbin thread!! I was so mad at myself!!!

they have, had it on my last machine, only problem there was still usable thread on the bobbin and it would not let you continue sewing until you changed bobbins.

I don't know which is worse, continuous sewing when the bobbin has run out or like me that things seem to be making a bit of progress so I keep stopping sure that something must be wrong or the bobbin out of thread when it isn't. lol...

I do it all the time, guess I'll never learn!