Are you looking to create new garments, home decorations or something else with a sewing machine? It is essential to learn how to make a bobbin on a sewing machine properly in order to enjoy successful sewing. Bobbin winding is a crucial step to analyse and understand before you start sewing with a sewing machine. A bobbin is the small spool that sits below the needle plate in a sewing machine. It holds thread and cooperates with the top thread spool in the process of making a stitch. After you have wound thread around the bobbin, it can be placed into the shuttle and the sewing process can begin.
To begin, make sure you’re using the appropriate thread for the fabric you’re using. Certain fabrics require special threads for them, like when working with vinyl, you’ll need a polyester thread. With metallic thread, you must use a cotton core. Always use the recommended thread for the fabric and the correct sized bobbin. When the thread is too light, the bobbin will be empty and too heavy means a scrunched up bobbin, which will jam the shuttle.
Load the bobbin onto your machine’s bobbin holder, which will vary depending on the machine model. Then thread the spool within the bobbin. Keep the thread taut, winding it under the roller tabs, as you would to thread the needle. Once it’s in place, you can use the needle threader, if your machine has one, or manually pull the thread through the bobbin winding tension disk. Keep the thread tight as you insert the bobbin into the shuttle, then it is ready to use.
Now you need to press the bobbin winder to set the spool spinning and start winding the thread onto the bobbin. The bobbin should start turning clockwise as the machine keeps winding thread onto the bobbin. Hold onto the loose end of the thread to even up the tension. To keep the bobbin pile even and make sure it doesn’t get tangled, you can gently press the brake while the thread winds onto the bobbin. Stay on the lookout until the bobbin is fully wound, then raise the presser foot and gently lift the sewing machine needle.
Once you finish winding, cut the thread close to the bobbin, remove it and your bobbin should be ready to use. If your bobbin is too full, you could have problems when sewing so switch it out for a new one. With practice and some time, you can become a bobbin-making expert.
Be Prepared
It is helpful to be prepared when winding the bobbin by having thread and bobbins on-hand before you get started. Check for any dents or anomalies in the bobbin because a bent bobbin can negatively affect the stitch. Experiment with a couple of different types of thread and bobbins until you find the right combination for your machine. That way, you can make sure that the spool and the bobbin are ready when you begin sewing.
Timing
It is important to learn the timing of when to stop winding the bobbin. Stop winding your bobbin when it is still slightly less full than you would like. You should leave about one third of the bobbin empty for the thread to be able to move freely. When you overfill it, the thread will become snagged and bunched up. If you do fill it too much, simply use a different bobbin.
Storage
Once you have successfully wound a bobbin, keep it in a box or container with other bobbins. Label the box to help you store and differentiate bobbins by fabric type. This will also make it easier to also store bobbins of similar colours together, as well as to keep some spares in the event of needing to switch out a bobbin.
Ease of Use
With a little bit of practice, winding a bobbin is easy and can become second-nature. Some machines can even wind the bobbin from the face of the machine and have an automatic tension control. Understanding how to wind a bobbin will make sewing projects much more enjoyable and successful. As your experience grows, so too does your understanding of the basics of using a sewing machine.
Practice Makes Perfect
As you practice winding bobbins, you’ll become more efficient and can make smaller and lighter bobbins that hold more thread. Also, learning the correct tension of the thread when winding a bobbin is essential. When the tension is too tight, it can be hard to pull the thread through the tension disk. If the tension is too loose, then there will be too much thread on the bobbin and the sewing machine won’t work properly.
Tension Dialling
Before winding the thread onto the bobbin, make sure that the tension dialling is done correctly. Use a dialling adjustment gauge to find your desired tension, depending on the fabric and thread you’re using. To find the correct tension, wind the bobbin and thread it onto the bobbin holder and with the needle down, bring the top thread through the slot. Helper tapes can attach to the back of the machine and be adjusted using the tension dial to find the most optimum setting for the tension.
Correct Settings
It is important to read the manufacturer’s your manual to have a better understanding of how your machine is adjusted for winding a bobbin. The settings will differ from machine to machine, so it is important to be familiar with how to change the settings on your particular machine. When you are finished winding a bobbin, you can rest assured knowing that you did it correctly with the proper settings.
Tips and Tricks
A helpful tip to remember is to use a mid-range thread size when winding bobbins. Using thread that’s too thin can lead to bobbin failure, which can damage the machine’s shuttle. If a bobbin fails, it could mean that the machine can’t sew and you will have to start the project all over again. Additionally, winding should be done with a tension that is neither too tight nor too loose to prevent jamming the shuttle.
