Bobbins -
#1
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
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Bobbins -
Another trivial question -
I just used up small amounts of thread from about six bobbins this morning. (it was so freeing to realize that the color of thread I used for piecing really doesn't matter all that much.)
I've seen some "old-timer" bobbins that had maybe 10 or more very short lengths of thread wound on one bobbin - (At one time, thread was very "dear" - and people saved almost every inch of it.)
Do you have lots of bobbins so that you almost always have an empty bobbin when you want/need to wind a bobbin?
Or do you have only a few - and what do you do if you have no empty bobbins and need to wind a different color on one?
I just used up small amounts of thread from about six bobbins this morning. (it was so freeing to realize that the color of thread I used for piecing really doesn't matter all that much.)
I've seen some "old-timer" bobbins that had maybe 10 or more very short lengths of thread wound on one bobbin - (At one time, thread was very "dear" - and people saved almost every inch of it.)
Do you have lots of bobbins so that you almost always have an empty bobbin when you want/need to wind a bobbin?
Or do you have only a few - and what do you do if you have no empty bobbins and need to wind a different color on one?
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,518
I have tons of bobbins. Especially for my Bernina so I rarely have to unwind thread from a spool in order to rewind it. I've started using my mom's old "spindles" as she called them to stack my empty bobbins on. I've also been known to use a bobbin in the top of my machine when making muslins or other sewing where thread color doesn't matter just to get the thread used up off of the bobbins.
#4
I don't have many bobbins for my Bernina, maybe 12? I keep 6 aside for the project I'm working on and when those 6 are empty, I oil and clean the machine. The other 5 have red, navy, black, green and brown on them. I will use the thread on those too if I can, I don't want old thread on my bobbins.
#6
I, too, am doing 'colorful' piecing these days. Lots of thread dregs on lots of bobbins here. And, No, it isn't so old it breaks, I purchased the good stuff way back then then (70's till now) and still do. My bobbin stash looks like a rainbow. My piecing has another scrappy element these days. One thing I never do is wind over thread already wound.
#8
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.
Posts: 16,105
I'm using the lower content bobbins for piecing, especially for crazy piecing and hexies and very random scraps. If the bobbin gives me any trouble I pitch it after looking for burrs and any small spots of rust that might be on som older bobbins.
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,789
I do the same, never seems to hurt anything. If I need to, I will use a bobbin in place of the spool to free up a bobbin but I try to keep a few empty ones around.
#10
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: East Oklahoma - pining for Massachusetts
Posts: 10,477
I have started using just any color for the bobbin. I bought a bunch of Connecting Threads thinking that I would use them for applique. I did not know. So now, I use them for the bobbins but saving a bit for hand sewing the bindings.
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