When FMQing I fill up all the empty bobbins I have. I don't wind any more until I empty the last one. FMQ uses alot more of thread than straight line stitching. When I piece I don't worry about running out. I notice it real quick. When FMQing I notice after an inch or two.

I do something similar or at least I fill two at a time. I love the bobbin winder on my Janome 6600, it has a separate motor to wind bobbins so you don't have to remove your sewing or the thread you are using to sew with, I fill one bobbin to replace the one I was sewing with and fill another to leave filled on the top of my machine for the next time I need a full one.

I have boxes that hold 25 bobbins and as all my machines are Janomes they will fit any of my machines. I have over 100 bobbins. I keep one box for bobbin thread for my machine embroidery, one box for my main piecing colour Gutermann 919. The others have a mixture which I try to keep with the spool from which it came. After reading Tartans tip about plastic tubing I thought of wrapping a paper around the bobbin first with the colour written on it then the tubing.

I, too, prewind white and black bobbins. Much easier and takes almost no time at all to do.

Re: mini scrunchies to secure the bobbins, the dollar stores sell bags of 100 for $1.00. These are either in the hair doo-dads section or in the baby section.

Anita

Okay, I am cheap! I found that if I cut a soda straw in about 3 inches, they fit perfectly in a regular spool of thread and then after I fill two or three bobbins with the thread I am using, I just stack them up on to of the spool of thread and when I finish a project, if there is any thread left on each, I stack the bobbin on the spool and then I am ready to start again when I need that particular color of thread. Keeps bobbin with it's matching thread color.

I have a Baby Lock that will wind one bobbin while you sew with another and that is a useful feature.

It saves me time when sewing to have the prewound bobbins that I have done, never tried the ones you can buy. I remember the lady that taught quilting, loving them and the guy who runs the quilt store saying they were no good, not sure why he felt that.

I have found that a light gray is the best for the bobbin. Beige is good but the the gray is better for me. I use Bottom Line and can hardly see the bobbin thread.

I found the little girl ponytail thingies at local dollar store.......cheaper than buying "bobbin wraps"......

I piece with either white or gray..........I don't quilt on DM so don't need colors...if I do sew anything of color I will fill or half fill a bobbin to match....then if any left will use that for piecing.......no one sees the color thread used in piecing except me as I am doing it.......for emb..I use prewound....

I buy the prewound without sides to piece so that all that is left is the little core which I throw away. I wouldn't have thought of getting the sideless ones that but someone gave me some to try and they worked as well as the regular bobbins with sides. I do use the neb bobbins for my embroidery machine and they have sides. I don't use nearly as many of those and so far have thrown away them away when empty.