yngldy

I saw a hint somewhere to use the hole reinforcement circles in the school supply section on bobbins to keep track of type of thread. If you write small enough you could put machine info on there also.

bearisgray

I wish that something was stamped or printed on the bobbins - so in case they get mixed up - one has a clue as to what the "model" of the bobbin is.

Some of my machines seem to work equally well with a plastic or a metal bobbin.

AliKat

Like misspriss I like to color code the bobbins themselves, but do sometimes forget. I also use those silicon ring type bobbin holders and they are marked for thread & machine. Emb is embroidery and then an abbreviation of the DSM for regular thread. Oops, and another for aurifil thread.

Aurora

I use small rectangular plastic containers to keep my individual bobbins in. Each container has a label on it identifying which machine the bobbins are used for. My metal bobbins are for my vintage machines -- Singers and New Home; the plastic ones are for my new machine -- Janome.

Rennie

You know, this is one of the great reasons for being on this board - the help given here in response to a question is THE BEST. Thank you, Bearisgray. I am sure many of us have this problem and you have given us invaluable information (the link) to help us figure it out.

rj.neihart

You know...I've been asking this question for some time...because I keep purchasing machines from auctions...then some are only good for parts. I have a collection of "parts". So...what I've learned to do, without any book to tell me and it's too confusing to look at the bobbin picture when researching the machine online....my heart uses a bobbin in any machine, if it works GREAT..if not, it goes into a box of "please find a new home" for box....problem solved!

rjwilder

I buy the bobbin boxes at JoAnn's and try to keep them organized. Somehow I still have a few rouge bobbins, I recently found some metal ones with holes and I think they belong to an old Kenmore my mom had years ago. I think I'll start making them with a sharpie.

AZ Jane

Moving forward, you can bet I will be marking all new bobbins LOL!! What a mess!

ManiacQuilter2

My bobbins say Bernina on the inside. They are metal with etched diamonds inside.

Bubbie

AZ Jane, open your machine and look at the bobbin that's in it now. Then put all the same bobbins in something (I use round candy cans for mine). Then I take painters tape and I list the machine these bobbins will fit in and if the bobbin is metal, plastic and how many holes are in it. I've done the for each of my machines (I have 6), because I had problems too. Then when I'm working with a machine, I pull said can to keep close as I work for changing colors etc...
That's what works for me