Uneven bobbin winding-bernina
 

This is what my bobbins look like most of the time...when my machine had her annual spa treatment, i was told the bobbin wound perfectly. The shop is an hour's drive and they aren't the nicest or most helpful people to begin with. Any ideas? The bobbin was wound in the correct direction-i just put thr bobbin back on the spindle for the picture...
Thank you!

I have a Bernina 1230.

I control the thread feed to the bobbin with my finger. The thread has a path of about 8 inches from its last guide to the bobbin; I put my finger either on top of the thread or underneath to direct it towards the top or bottom of the bobbin so there is a more even wind. If more thread is winding at the top end, I place my finger on top of the thread to encourage it to move down the bobbin.

Oh my, when I've had problems I noticed that I placed the thread spool incorrectly on my machine - didn't think it would make a difference but it really made a mess of things - however, I do not have a Bernina - just thought I would add my experience.

I agree, check your manual to make sure you have the thread going thru the correct path. I don't wind the bobbin at a fast speed. I have an older Bernina 1530. If I see a bobbin winding uneven, I use my finger to get it back on track.

Great video about thread delivery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnO5K6AA2sY

i have several brands of machine. my bobbins don't always wind well. so i use my finger to encourage the thread to wind evenly. i don't like winding bobbins, so i use prewounds most of the time. every now and again, though, i need a special color for the bobbin.

Personally speaking, I would make the trip back and tell them to fix it right, then I would see about finding another dealer, I mean you did PAY them to service it and since they obviously didn't work on the bobbin, they did to make good on their service. Also I would talk to Bernina HeadQuarter's and complain about this dealer. You certainly pay through the nose for a Bernina, along with the fact that you have to have Bernina bobbins, Bernina feet, etc., that you also pay through the nose for.

When I don't use prewounds I always wind bobbins using a thread stand. On all my machines the bobbins are filled evenly. I use a thread stand for all spools and cones of thread. Sometimes I use the Sidewinder and it does a better job then the bobbin winding in the picture you posted. I have a Bernina 1260 and it winds the bobbin evenly so the shop repair people are not doing their job. What is it with so many greedy non caring dealers anymore? The brand headquarters of the machines don't seem to care about the bad dealers, they never do anything about the complaints.

Just a tought... are you using the correct kind of bobbin?

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

Yea! Thanks for the hug!

Thanks. I've been a sewing machine mechanic for almost 5 years.

Check the bobbin to make sure it is not bent. I had one that wound a bit off, hardly noticeable, but when I went to sew with it - Oh, my! I finally took the bobbin out and held loosely at the center opening - between my thumbnail and my pointer finger nail and gently pulled the thread. It wobbled like a bent wheel on a bike. One of the bobbin tops was bent inward. I probably dropped it at one time and stepped on it.

I also use my finger to guide the thread onto the bobbin while it's winding, but more to get maximum thread on the bobbin than anything else. I've only had one wind badly like yours, and that machine needed servicing desperately.

Good luck and hope you solve this problem quickly and cheaply!

I have a Bernina 1630 and experience the same problem. I am another one who controls the thread feed to the bobbin with my finger. For me the big deal with the bobbin is how does it effect the stitches. If the stitches are good, I'll use my finger and not worry.

Dealers are another story. I tend to get cranky when a service provider of any type blows smoke at me. Pocoellie is right regarding what a sewing machine service provider should provide.

Thanks for the thread because I thought my machine was the only wonky bobbin winder. Guess I'll have to pay more attention.

Pat

Boy I learn something new every now and then.Annette thank..Love this QB!

My vintage Kenmore does that sometimes. I just guide it with my finger. I find that my bobbins wind better if I use the Sidewinder bobbin winder. For some reason they seem to wind smoother and a lot faster.

I had that problem too. I noticed my thread was rising off the spindle. I started putting a cap in the upright spool and now it winds evenly again.

Just use your finger. I don't think it's your machine, I've found that some spools of thread just don't wind well without a little help. Good luck

I have a Bernina 1230 and just bought a 750QE. I have NEVER had this happen to my bobbins. I would be taking a fabric run to the dealer (an hour is not that bad!) and having them check it out again (at their expense). Then I would let it slip in appropriate circles that their service is not the friendliest. OR, knowing me, I would drop hints like, "Oh I hope that your day gets better." OR "sounds like you are having a bad day or are you always grumpy?"
I refused to deal with the Bernina dealer in a nearby town (an hour away) until they finally got a new WONDERFUL dealer in the same town.

QUOTE=pocoellie;7059232]Personally speaking, I would make the trip back and tell them to fix it right, then I would see about finding another dealer, I mean you did PAY them to service it and since they obviously didn't work on the bobbin, they did to make good on their service. Also I would talk to Bernina HeadQuarter's and complain about this dealer. You certainly pay through the nose for a Bernina, along with the fact that you have to have Bernina bobbins, Bernina feet, etc., that you also pay through the nose for.[/QUOTE]

Sorry, I messed up this reply, but I do agree you shouldn't have to try to remedy the bobbin issue yourself. You just came back from having the machine serviced. Call Bernina Headquarters to find another store for service and to mention what your problem is with the bobbin. They should call where you had the machine serviced to ask what's going on and that might alert your dealer to get on the ball. However, try rethreading the bobbin making procedure...go over all the steps and you might find out why your bobbin is stacking instead of winding correctly. Good luck.

That sometimes happens to me, but not every time. I always watch my bobbin wind and if it is not going on evenly, then I guide it with my finger. I don't wind my bobbins going full speed either and that gives me time to intervene as needed.

My local Bernina dealer was not easy to deal with either. At a show, the area Manager was there and I talked to her about it. She was well aware of the problems with that dealer and said that they were working on it. It did get fixed eventually. Now the Bernina store is a nice place to shop.

I have both a Bernina 1230 and a Bernina 440 QE. I rarely have any issue with winding my bobbin like your picture. If I see it start being uneven, I do what a few others have suggested and use my finger to control. By the way I see you have an aurifil thread spool on your Bernina and I use that same thread frequently but have a spindle on the 440 QE that sets this type of spool upright and I also have a totally separate spindle that I use when winding bobbins from a large cone but using one of my Berninas to sew.

I agree with Pocoellie and would follow through with her suggestions. Bernina's are a great machine but pricey. Kelela

If mine gets uneven, I use my finger to help guide it. I have an older Bernina.

Personally I would go ahead and make the trip. take your own thread with you and show them what is happening. It could be they used a different thread. Don't leave the store until it is right. Oh and you might want to all ahead and make sure that the person doing repairs is available on that day. I have learned the hard way that before leaving the store after a spa treatment, I take my own thread and fabric and check my stitches and anything that was supposed to be fixed or that I had an issue with when I took it in.

I wasHaving the same problem on my singer. After I read about the faulty Bobbin I examined my own and discovered that there was a tiny flaw, a little piece of plastic sticking out on the right side. t was a manufacturing defect. I’m attaching a photo.
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