Does anyone know?
#31
I believe the bobbin thread uses more than the top thread. I am currently quilting a quilt and using a different color on the top thread than the bobbin. I started out with new spools of thread for both colors and an empty bobbin to fill. I have already used up a spool of thread that I am filling bobbins with and am still using the initial top thread spool and there's quite a bit left on it. Either I was shorted on the amount of thread on the bobbin spool or the bobbin uses more thread.
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Englewood, CO
Posts: 531
I believe the bobbin thread uses more than the top thread. I am currently quilting a quilt and using a different color on the top thread than the bobbin. I started out with new spools of thread for both colors and an empty bobbin to fill. I have already used up a spool of thread that I am filling bobbins with and am still using the initial top thread spool and there's quite a bit left on it. Either I was shorted on the amount of thread on the bobbin spool or the bobbin uses more thread.
This my experience. But, I would think it would be an outcome of how the tension was set. Tight top tension, more bobbin thread used. Looser top tension, more bobbin thread used. Ya?
#34
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
My new machine has a low thread indicator. When I had my old mechanical machine I did this once or twice and it seemed to work, but decided it was too much work and didn't continue. From some of the other posts, it sounds like your mileage (and tension) will vary, so experiment!
Last edited by PaperPrincess; 01-18-2014 at 05:22 AM.
#35
What a brilliant idea!! I'm one of those who gets lost in my thoughts and finds out that I've been sewing for "miles" without bobbin thread.
#36
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1,141
When my bobbin is low, it starts to hop in the bobbin case, and the stitches aren't as nice. Often, it's so bad that I end up changing it when there it still quite a bit of thread on it. As a result, I have a bunch of bobbins just under 1/4 filled.
#37
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,391
But the spool is thread is the one you need to watch. When that runs out, you have a tangled mess. Sometimes it takes minutes to get rid of that knot. I try to keep an eye on the spool when I know it is close to the end. If I can see the spool core through the thread, it's time to put on a new spool and wind this end of spool thread onto a bobbin. When bobbins run out, they just run out. I just deal with it.
#39
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,312
Mine does sound just a bit different. That being said sometimes when I am doing a lot of blocks , I can miss this very slight difference in sound.. and sew way to many that really aren't stitched at all. Frustrating when it happens, but I look at it as it could be worse... it could be having to un-sew all those seams.
#40
Mine has in light that comes one when the bobbin is low, but if it gets too "lint-y" underneath, it doesn't work. If the light doesn't come on, I can tell by a tiny difference in the sound of the machine. I don't know how to explain it really, but it just sounds a bit "off". If you have a lot of sewing and the bobbins hasn't been replaced in a while, check it, or just switch to a full bobbin so you don't have to worry about it.
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