I just opened a box, that had a SideWinder in it - It looks like it just fills up bobbins - or does it do something else.

Mind you that I have 2 older sewing machines - a Viking from the 70's and a Bernina from the 80's - Bobbins can be filled on my sewing machines

Is it something that is needed in a sewing room. Isn't just as easy to use you sewing machine to fill your bobbins - Does everyone have one of them?

No I don't have one and I have too wondered why you would spend $30 for one when your machine can wind them for you. Anxious to see what others have to say.

I have one and I like it. I don't have to stop and unthread my machine to fill a bobbin. I have a combination emb and sewing machine. While it is running I can fill bobbins. Personal preference.

I recieved one as a gift, I use it, I dislike unthreading to fill an empty bobbin.
Call me lazy.

I have to unwind the thread in order to do a bobbin so if I run out of bobbin thread, before the project is done, I can wind a bobbin without undoing everything.

sorry I hit go twice

I'm considering it, because its a pain in the butt to wind bobbins on my Juki when she is up on the frame, and I only have 4 bobbins for her. (I know, why don't I just buy more bobbins.)

Just faster and easier tan unthreading I also wind my bobbins while embroidery is running

Ditto plus mine winds to loose and can't get it adjusted on my machine if tight enough winds like a Tpee

I also use a sidewinder and although at first I thought it was a frivolous gadget it has proved to be a very good tool. You can wind multiple bobbins to keep moving on projects. If you do run out and need to wind a bobbin you do not need to take your machine thread apart to wind on machine.

I think if you give it a try you will like it.

Santa brought me one for Christmas because he was tired of listening to the whining noises my machine made when winding bobbins. I love it for all the other reasons mentioned also.

Personally I don't see a need for it. I have a separate bobbin winder motor on my machine.

Over 12 hours drive to the service center, so when my Brother decided it didn't want to wind bobbins any more I got a sidewinder. Used it for a few weeks and then forgot the Brother was being fussy and low and behold its winding away again! Go figure!

I have one and like it for the same reasons listed by others. It also winds bobbins tighter than the machine so there is more thread on the bobbin and it lasts longer. I also have a machine (with a separate bobbin motor) that gets really fussy about winding bobbins sometimes and this works when the machine is acting up.

I got mine on sale for about $15 when they first came out.

You can also occupy the kids by having them wind bobbins for you! lol

JuneC, the only two types of bobbins that the Sidewinder will not work on are Viking and Bernina. Thought you should know. :)

Older machines could wind bobboins without unthreading the machine, even wind while you were stitching. Newer machines have to be unthreaded to wind bobbins. The sidewinder is great for saving time. Have you seen the new ones, not $30, $100. Simplicity bought them and upgraded. Wish I could come up with an invention somebody would buy me out, then I could stitch all day instead of going to work!!!!

I'm puzzled about this. Unless you have an extral reel of thread in the same colour, wouldn't you have to unthread your sewing machine anyway to get the reel off to put on the sidewinder. Or am I missing the point completely.

I love mine because I don't have to unthread my machine to wind the bobbin. I have plenty of bobbins and wind ALL of them while I'm at it. I need to get one for my DM since her machine won't wind the bobbins anymore.

Hi JuneC and everyone,

I just recently bought one (SideWinder-small) at JoAnns, using a 50% off coupon. of course. The reason I bought one is that my good machine needs to go the hospital for repairs. Not having the funds for completing the repairs it has had to be put on hold for now.

I found a Singer machine very cheap at the thrift shop to get by in the interim. Unfortunately the bobbin winder on this machine is not working. Since I only have one bobbin for this temporary machine, I have to stop to reload when it comes empty. I had actually wound a few bobbins by hand before getting it, so getting it has made loading the bobbins a breeze.

Also, from what I've been reading it seems that the bobbin winding feature on some machine tends to need fixing quite often. With the use of the side winder, this feature of the machine will last longer before needing attention.

I also like that the side winder can be used by electrical outlet or by batteries. I would imagine that it might be nice to have a sew-ins and retreats.

Just wondering if anyone having the large spool winder can report about their use.

Have a Great Quilty Day!
Pam M

I dont know...I just had to buy one and I think ive used it once. Waste of money in my opinion.

I usually wind several bobbins at once when making a quilt so I don't have to stop to wind another bobbin. Gosh, the price of bobbins is so little, even I will pay for them. I tend to use the standard neutral colors when quilting so having a lot of bobbins is always nice. So, I keep a lot on hand ready to go.

I store my bobbins on those round ring style rubberish type bobbin holders. Easy to find and won't break if I drop them. Got the holders at Joann's with their coupons.

ali

Since I have a HQ I do have a bobbin winder for that. Don't use it for my sewing machines, though.

My midarm does not have an area to wind a bobbin. So I have a sidewinder to do those bobbins.

The pdf for the sidewinder says that it won't fit my Pfaff bobbins.

I don't unthread my machine to wind the bobbins, I only use neutral and I keep more than one spool of thread at a time.

Your kidding? Right?

Be nice, I'm having a bad week

My machine,i don't have to un thread anything.

Mea Culpa. The Bernina is okay. Here's the list (in the description section): http://www.fabric.com/sewing-machine...in-winder.aspx

I have 2 sidewinders, DH got me one especially for the Sapphire 850 but it still doesn't wind right and found out uneven tension could give me fits with FMQ. I usually wind 12 bobbins and for me that will do a KIng. Save the sidewinders for the Janome

I just bought one at Hancock's when I could use a 40% plus a 10% coupon. Haven't opened it yet. Clerk in Hancock's said she loved hers. There were 2 brands. I bought the original Sidewinder and now Simplicity has come out with one. Same price. She hadn't tried the Simplicity so I opted for the original. We'll see. I use all white bobbin thread in my embroidery machine and the thread winder on it doesn't wind tight or even. Also, the better wound your bobbin is the better the machine sews. :)

I guess you could say I have "simple" machines. It literally takes me about 15 seconds to thread my machines.

It doesn't fill the Pfaff 7570 bobbins full either. I just hold the button down until it is full :roll:

I also have an older Homesteader on a frame (Stretch, is the name of it....) and the bobbin winder on that thing is a pain in the ...... Again, the sidewinder doesn't fill the bobbin, but holding the button does a fair job so works for me for now....

the bobbin winder on my machine has quite working. I would love to have a sidewinder it takes 45 min to wind a bobbin by my hands.

Older machines can wind bobbins SLOOOOOw. Or the bobbin winder on a machine could be broken. Cheaper to buy a sidewinder than fix...

I recieved one from someone slashing their stash and I just used it last for the first time to fill my bobbins for my Singer....I would have to say I really like it! I would say using it would be less wear and tear on your machine, if you have to unthread your machine to to do your bobbins having this would be a plus too.

I have been thinking of getting one because I hate to take the thread out of my machine while using it just to wind another bobbin. I really don't want to spend the money for it. Maybe I should just wind two bobbins before I start sewing. I'll figure it out.

I have one and only used it a few times - but was given a Singer 401A and the wheel to wind the bobbins is rotted away so will need it to wind bobbins for that machine :thumbup:

I have a 1950s Singer and the bobbin winder on it doesn't work. I love my side winder. I have other machines that I could use but the side winder is small and convenient to keep on the shelf by my Singer. I fill 30 bobbins at a time and don't have to mess with stopping to fill bobbins in between. I hate running out of filled bobbins when in the middle of a project. The side winder is easy to pull forward and plug in. Then just fill bobbins. It takes just minutes to fill all of mine. It is alot faster and easier to thread than my other sewing machines. I wouldn't be without it even if my Singer was fixed. To fill bobbins on my Singer I have to disconnect the needle. The side winder is just quicker and easier all the way around.

i have a husqvarna (viking) and the sidewinder works just fine.

I love my sidewinder, i hate to stop and fill a bobbin on the machine. Its works fine on my bobbins.

Yes, you'd need an extra spool of thread. I usually keep several of the neutrals on hand. I don't have a sidewinder but my machine has a separate bobbin winder.