Thank you for all of your thoughts....I have triple checked the manual, and the thread is following the correct pathway. I am using Bernina bobbins...and, actually, Tartan, the horizontal thread in the pic is the machine thread-there is a separate vertical spindle that the bobbin thread spool sits on....maybe that's the issue. I will see if I can wind a bobbin from the horizontal spool....I use aurifil 50wt, and occasionally, a bobbin will wind all neat and pretty....no rhyme nor reason!

The bobbin in the picture isn't a Bernina bobbin -- it has 10 holes. It's a cheap Singer bobbin. A Bernina bobbin has 7 holes, and a tighter center shaft hole. See the little hole in the top of the machine? If you turn the screw a little one direction or the other, it will adjust the even-ness of the bobbin winding. Start with a good Bernina bobbin before you start adjusting the adjustment screw.

Annette-really??? This bobbin came with my machine when I purchased it new from the dealer!!! Yikes! Now I have to go count holes in my bobbins!!!

Yes, indeed!

Annette-you are a genius!!! I just went through my bobbin box, and there are 2 with 10 holes....the rest have 7 holes! I tend to just rewind the bobbin when it runs out, so I use the same bobbin unless I change colors. I wound my thread on a 7-hole bobbin, and it perfect! ;)
Consider yourself hugged!

All I can say is, WOW! This is the bestest problem-solving site ever. :D

So, the mystery is, "Where did those 2 alien bobbins come from?" Spooky!

I showed the picture to my son half an hour ago , ( Bernina Tech of 25 years ) ...he just took a glance and ...Said wrong bobbin not a Bernina , he also said wrong bobbin an mess with your stitch . Cathy

WOW Annette, I'm really impressed by your skill. That's amazing.

I have only Berninas and always use my finger to assist the thread onto the bobbin as it winds. I don't even think about it any more; it really is no big deal.

Jan in VA