Would someone please explain to me the purpose of the side winder bobbin winder? Don't you still have to take the spool of thread off the machine and then rethread it once the bobbin is wound? I can wind a bobbin on my machine without unthreading and rethreading by simply holding an extra spool loosely in my hand. I don't understand. Please help. Maybe it really is something I "need".

I have several spools of neutral thread and one stays with the sidewinder. I love being able to wind 2-3 or more bobbins at a time and then just drop a new one in when its empty. Got mine because my old machine's bobbin winder broke and now I would not be without it!

I will use it to wind several bobbins before I start sewing a project. Also,I have more than one spool of thread, so rather than remove the thread from the machine, I use a different spool of thread on the bobbin winder. :)

I have also used it to transfer thread between different sized bobbins for different machines.

I like mine and I use it, but I lived without it for years and I could again.

That is exactly why I bought mine. Now that the winder is fixed on the machine, I still wind while I am watching TV. Money well spent to my satisfaction...

If you only have the one spool of thread then the sidewinder probably won't be a convenience for you. I have tins full of wound bobbins, thanks to my DGD who loved to wind bobbins for me using the Sidewinder. Everytime we went to Walmart she bought several package of the metal bobbins to fill. I use them for hand sewing, applique, and give them to guild members who use those bobbins. It was worth every penny to me to have her in my sewing room helping up a storm. :-D

Same here, never thought I'd "need" one but my daughter had to have one and now so do I.

I have one that works really well for my Bernina and Singer bobbins, but it doesn't work with my Viking bobbins. You'll want to check to see if it'll work with the bobbins for your machine before buying. They are nice when they work.

I have one can use it with regular spools but, not with the taller ones and it really doesn't fill up the Juki bobbins, they hold more thread than the 3 machines I don't use.

I use my side winder for my bobbins that I use for my Tin Lizzie.

It's priced really low on Joann Fabric's Cyber Monday tomorrow. Won't work with my Bernina Bobbins. :(