Jcbdsew

With all of you quilting, if you have a long arm are you using prewound bobbins or are you doing your own.
I have been told to do my own, i am new at this and would like some input as to how everyone feels about
Prewound/or not. In all my other machines I do use the prewound bobbins.

Thank you for your input
Jean

alleyoop1

I don't have a 'long arm' but I do have a long arm frame which I use with my domestic size machine. Before I move my machine to the frame I wind 5 or 6 bobbins. Don't want to try prewound just in case them mess up my baby.

Drue

I have been advised not to use prewound bobbins in my LA. That can cause tension problems when using different threads in the needle and the bobbin. I have experienced this problem with my domestic machine and am not willing to test it in my LA.

pumpkinpatchquilter

I have a long arm and run a small business from my home doing mostly custom quilting (read - I use a lot of thread in my quilts! LOL)...and I do not use prewounds. If you HATE winding bobbins or you have some sort of issues winding them, they are great...but truly not necessary. They are a convenience...and for that you pay a little more more...but that's about all. You can use them if you want to, if they appeal to you, a lot of people love them! But truly, there is absolutely no difference between a prewound and winding yourself a batch of 60 wt. thread on your own bobbins (other than the disposable cardboard bobbin center).

Now, that being said...Magna Glide bobbins by Fil-Tec have a magnet center and are supposed to encourage good even tension as well as prevent backlash (used instead of a bobbin spring or bobbin washer)...I have never used them so I can't speak to their claims...but I use a lot of Glide thread and I do like it quite a bit...but I still wind my own bobbins because with a bobbin spring alone I don't have any tension or backlash issues.

**Edited to add** Well, there is ONE difference...if you don't have an industrial winder like one that comes with a long arm then you might find that there is more thread packed onto a prewound. But other than that...no difference. LOL

pumpkinpatchquilter

Drue what long arm do you use if you don't mind me asking? Most long arms these days will accept just about any thread...and I don't see how a prewound could harm it. Worst case scenario you have a thread jam. Long arms are industrial machines...other than creating a mess with lint I don't know how you could damage it simply by using different thread. It is pretty standard practice to use different threads - different fibers and weights both - in the top and bobbin together...in both a domestic machine and a long arm.

Not being confrontational by the way...just curious!!

Joset

i use my own bobbins and superior thread

suebee

I use both

mighty

I wind my own, have never used prewound.

Geri B

I have an APQS LA and have used per wounds for over ten yrs....never had any tension problems from using them.....I highly recommend them.

Jingle

I never use the prewound bobbins. I just wind my own, about 7 or 8 when FMQ and just rewind until I'm done. I don't have a long arm.