I use plastic bobbins, I put the thread up through a hole on the top of the bobbin and hold that. push the bobbin onto the spinner and spin it a few times while holding the thread end. just enough for the thread to wind on the bobbin a couple of times and lock in the thread so I can then cut off the piece coming out that hole on the top. Then I finish filling the bobbin fully.

I think the thread is supposed to break off when you get to a certain point.

Frugal, please tell us what model Singer you are using. There are a few models that wind the bobbin "in place" which means the bobbin stays inside the machine under the needle. Is that the type you have? If not, you shouldn't be going through the tension disks to wind the bobbin.

Please help us so we can help you.

Tate

oh, my Singer had metal bobbins that wound in place.

Frugalsewer - I'm wondering if you are trying to fill the bobbin with thread after feeding the thread through your machine and the needle. Don't do this. Check out this photo- if it posts- [ my reel of thread is behind the machine] I often hold the thread with my fingers for tension, not sure which tension you're talking about. Where did you buy your machine. Do they not give you a couple of free lessons? I think that's lousy service . Ok, posting photos won't work, not sure if it's QB or this new windows 7. I can attach to emails etc just not here. Can anyone assist? please pm me Good luck Fs

I don't have a Singer, but I don't see much point in those fiddly holes either. I hold the end of the thread against the inner wall of my bobbins, then make several manual wraps before I put the whole thing on the winder. Works for me.

If your bobbins don't wind well, either get it adjusted or buy a Sidewinder.

I have a Singer 301 that I use. I'm pretty new too, but decent at using google to search for my answers. I found a PDF manual online for MY machine. Hopefully it helps you out, at least a little bit, on what your problem is. If this PDF doesn't load to the correct page, it's 12/13 in the manual, but 15(ish) according to the PDF.

Hope this helps (lots of pictures in the manual): http://static.onecreativeblog.com/fi...301-manual.pdf

I have a BabyLock Quilters Choice, have had it for over seven years. I have learnt so much about it and how to use it and continue surprisingly to do so. The bobbin winding was a problem for me too, I could not get it. And when I did get the bobbin wound it was just a little loose. All I do know is wind the thread a few times around the bobbin, put it in the winder, cut the tail and pop it in place. Something I have learnt which is major is to have a tight bobbin, to get this, I hold the thread between two fingers in the area that comes off the spool of thread and let it wind. Naturally it stops when it is full. A very tight bobbin, do not have trouble with sewing, whereas before I did this, there was always some issue. The dealer where I bought this machine showed me this little tip and it works like a charm. I have to look but I think there is a little hole where I could put the thread through, but I ignore it and just wrap, also if I feel there is going to be a problem I start winding for a split second and cut the tail end. It really is a learning experience with any machine.

If you are still having problems, buy prewound bobbins until you can find someone that can show you hands on. I started buying Sew Fine and Masterpiece prewound bobbins from Superior Threads or Fil Tec prewound bobbins and rarely wind my own bobbins. I take the paper off the sides or at least one side.

Bobbin Winding tips from a repairman
 

When winding the bobbin with new thread, just let the bobbin turn about 5 times and stop and snip off the thread that comes out of the top hole; then continue winding it. I wind it at a medium speed.

Also, don't fill your bobbin out to the edge of the bobbin. Stop when your thread is more than 1/8th of an inch from the edge of the bobbin.

Hope this helps,
Annette in Fl.