Unwinding bobbins
 

I just spent the better part of two hours taking the thread off of over 100 bobbins from the haul I made today on CraigsList. Most had more than one color thread. Some had three, four and up to six layers of different colored thread.

Yep, in the old days, we always wound color on top of color!! Don't know why because we certainly wouldn't remember what colors were wound!! I have my Mother's sewing desk to go thru and I know I'm going to find several bobbins like that! An exploration into color!!!

Congrats on your great find. Wish I could find some of the vintage class 15 bobbins.

Been there done that. LOL

My mother did it because she didn't have a nickle to buy another spool of thread. Some sewing didn't make any difference what color so she only put the color she needed to hem pa's pants at that time. Also when she could buy a new dress it was always too long. She would carefully remove the thread, rehem then save the rest in case she needed to make a repair.

I got some in my haul. How many do you think you need?

Our parents and grand parents were so frugal and creative with so little. Waste not want not. My mother still saves used aluminum foil. Of course I do to now that I know it will sharpen scissors and pinking shears.

My mom did the same thing:)

I still wind different colors onto my 301 bobbins. I only have 4 good ones so sometimes I have 2 - 3 colors on a bobbin. It is a wee bit crazy but have not found any good replacement bobbins although I know there are shops that sell them. However, I have been burned by buying bobbins from 2 reputable dealers and the darn bobbins don't work so am out teh $ spent on them and the shipping.

What I have are some possibly vintage bobbins with one side with 4 holes and one side with no holes that aren't class 66 or class 15 ones. Anybody want to take a guess??