Sidewinder - "Yay" or "Nay"
 

I have Joann's gift card burning a hole in my wallet...is the Sidewinder worth it or is it a piece of crap?

I hated mine but I gave it to my sister who loves it.

I have one and used it very few times. If I'm in the middle of a project it is easier and quicker to just wind the bobbin on the machine.

love love love mine I sit and wind bobbins while I'm watching the tube.

I dont use it. My machine does a better job.

I hated mine and gave it away

here is a thread that happened earlier: http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t208096.html it also gets into pre-wound bobbins. if you decide to go for it, don't forget the coupon!

I use mine all the time. But, I have a hand crank machine. So it is much easier, and faster, for me to wind bobbins on the Side Winder. I usually wind 15 at time.

If you have a little helper in your sewing room with you, the Sidewinder is great. I smile every time I see it in my sewing room. My granddaughter loved to use it to wind bobbins for me. I know I kept Walmart out of packages of bobbins. Having the bobbins of every color are sure handy for hand stitching. DH opened the case and but a heavyweight inside so it doesn't move or tilt when in use. I put a straw over the spindle and it kept the spool from flying off. I think the newer ones are made better now.

nay, i would spend it on something else.

I love mine. I have about 20 bobbins that I will wind at the same time, keep them in a little tin and when they need refilled it only takes about 15 minutes, then I'm ready to continue sewing and have plenty of bobbins ready to go.

here are some other threads that discuss the sidewinder and other alternatives
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...r-t131547.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...r-t189832.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...r-t189832.html

Although it seems to be cheaply made, mine gets used a lot because a couple of my vintage machines are bobbin-winder-challenged.

Depends on which machine I'm using and what I'm doing. The Pfaff 2140/2170 doesn't have the best bobbin winder so I'll use the Sidewinder. The 2144/2170 is a bit better at winding. However, If I have the upright spool accessory on, I'll use the Sidewinder rather than wind through the foot. Using a twin needle will also make me use the Sidewinder.

I never use mine.

Use mine all the time and love it.

I get better results from many sewing machine.

Use mine and love it!

What kind of machine do you have? I understand that the green bobbins for the Viking will not wind on it. I have a Janome and a Singer 15-91 and works great for those bobbins. Not sure about the Viking - haven't tried it for mine since I was told not to. I just wind it on the machine.

I also have a couple vintage machines that are bobbin winder challenged! LoL

I find the Side Winder easier to use than fooling with my Pfaff or Brother machine's bobbin threading paths. I wind 4 or 5 at a time without having to unthread the machine.

I use it when sewing with my Featherweight as it is easier to use the side winder than the bobbin winder on it. Mine ws a gift, but I wouldn't buy one. I'd but rotary cutter blades of sewing machine needles instead :)

Tried one, gave it away.

I used it for a while, but wasn't really happy with it. I can now wind bobbins on my machine without unthreading, so I just do it that way. Honestly, I think this is one of those gadgets that isn't really worth the expense.

I am not sure if you are talking about the little one but I got one and hated it and returned after couple of uses but I know people who swear by it

Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is one of the few gadgets I have that I really use a lot! LOL My machines don't always fill the bobbins with the same tension. My sidewinder always does. I like it so well, if it fell apart today I'd get a new one tomorow coupon or not! LOL

I got the small (30.00) one and I love it.

I have a viking and it doesn't work with my bobbins for some reason. :( , I also have an old kenmore that is a backup machine.I use it for that one . So Nay I would buy something else.

I have one and love it. The first one that I had put more thread on the bobbin than the one I have now. But I like it so that I do not have to stop and wind bobbins in the middle of a project.

I use mine all the time!

I love mine. I have had it for a long time. I think it was one of the first ones. I can't see the top of my machine where the bobbin winder is so it really works for me. Bellaboo, I was surprised with your comment, I have always thought it was too light and wished they would have put a weight inside. Great minds think alike. lol
Sue

i like it although it wont wind larger bobbins like the Bernina 830, but for regular bobbins its fine. It allows one to wind off the machine, thus freeing up your machine to sew.

I have the Simplicity side winder and I love it.
Mary in TX

I like mine very much.

I love mine. Have had it for about three years. I bought an ample supply of bobbins, run them all up on the Sidewinder, take a piece of blue painter's tape and tape down the end of the thread, put them in a large prescription bottle and I always have a extra bobbin. When I run down to one bobbin left, I make some relaxing time and bobbin up a bunch of bobbins (always keep a few empty ones for other colors of thread, which I don't do unless I need the thread). I use natural colored thread for most of my sewing. I would buy another one if this one broke down. I saw it demonstrated, oh, golly, it had to have been five years ago, when my Mom and I went to a class at Hancock's. She recommended that you put batteries in, but plug the Sidewinder in. The batteries give the machine some weight so it doesn't bounce about. I'd get it -- in a heartbeat! Have fun. Edie

I have one and it didn't seem to wind the thread tight enough or it was uneven. I kept getting the bobbin threads tangled while sewing. I've used pre-wound bobbins, but they are rather pricey. I prefer to just wind several bobbins before I start sewing. I would pass on it.

I bought the Deluxe Sidewinder during Black Friday sales for $39.99. I have a Viking 1+ and those bobbins won't wind on the cheaper one. I think that I broke my old Viking 5230 by winding bobbins for my Bailey (it doesn't wind bobbins that well), so I bought the Sidewinder. I use cones on a thread stand and found that it didn't wind them tight enough even w/the tension disks tightened right down. I now wrap the thread around the hook on the thread stand and get nice tight bobbins. I like mine and would buy it again.

I tried one that a fellow quilter gave me because she didn't like it, I didn't like it either.

[QUOTE=I wind 4 or 5 at a time without having to unthread the machine.[/QUOTE]

Exactly why i bought mine as soon as it came on the market. I even paid full price ...it was an impulse buy, I saw it at a quilt shop and ad to buy it and I have never regretted the purchase. I have janomes.

Maybe you should ask yourself "why" you are asking if you should buy one. And, yes, your satisfaction with the purchase may depend on what sewing machine bobbins you will be winding.

Sandy