7 Comments
Nov 12, 2023Liked by Cale Schoenberg

Thanks, very helpful. I'm also happy to see your final comment about multiple threads on the same bobbin. As a vintage machine aficionado I see this all the time. (I believe 9 is the most colors of thread I've seen on one bobbin.) And I think I used to do it myself long ago. I did it when I only needed a small amount wound on the bobbin, which is silly because it will automatically be poorly wound as a result of going over other thread, not a solid metal surface. But many people did it so as not to waste thread. My question about that is, how often did they ever use those underneath colors? Probably never.

I do enjoy the details you provide and the 'why'. Thanks.

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Nov 12, 2023Liked by Cale Schoenberg

Thanks for the helpful information. I have been sewing for over 60 years and never understood why I sometimes get sloppy bobbins. You are extremely helpful. You are more helpful than my Home Economics teacher back in the 60s.

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Nov 12, 2023Liked by Cale Schoenberg

Thankyou for the detailed explanation of how to wind bobbins properly. Loved learning the new flossing technique. I will always use it now to insure my bobbins wind correctly. As usual your lessons are detailed and always helpful. Thank you for all the knowledge you share with your customers.

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Nov 12, 2023Liked by Cale Schoenberg

Hey Cale. Great article, as always. Could you do one on how to properly get the thread started on the bobbin itself? Some bobbins have a little hole to poke the thread through, others do not. I have the type with the hole, and after the first few rounds, I cut it off flush with the top of the bobbin, but I always end up with a little “tail” that whips around while the first layer is winding. I assume it gets buried in subsequent layers, but sometimes when I’m sewing and get towards the end of the bobbin, that little tail gets snarled up with the bobbin and ends up causing a problem. Is there a procedure to avoid that? Thanks!

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I have the same question!

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Cale, I have a 30 year old Viking. I don’t have a tensioner like that. I usually thread it the way it’s supposed to be but especially at the start I let the thread go through my finger and thumb to keep enough tension on it so it doesn’t end up loose. I don’t love winding bobbins and I wonder if there’s a better way in this machine. I’ll see if I can post a picture.

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Great article, Cale! You explain why proper tension matters when winding a bobbin, using a simple analogy. Your step-by-step guide, with helpful visuals are really well done! I hope you don't mind, but I got inspired and shared a few of my tips for industrial lockstitch machines: https://open.substack.com/pub/ffcmoodboard/p/bobbin-winding-tips?r=2wwd27&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

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