What do you do with these?

[qltnbe]

I put a full bobbin next to these almost empty ones so that you could see just how low they are, but do you save yours or just throw them out.  I don't think most of them would even do a full row across a quilt.  

[Wyonut2run]

I use the almost empty ones for stitching the batting and top to the backing before quilting.

Diane

[Sue E.]

I use those almost empty ones when I am testing new designs, changing needles and checking my stitch quality, etc. The magnets can be returned to Fil-Tec.

[GMALKB]

Use them to sew bindings...........do test patterns.........testing tension...............

[ffq-lar]

You have enough thread on a lot of those to continue using them. I assume you're talking about stitching pantos--there's no harm if you run out of bobbin thread in the middle of a row. If you're more comfortable making sure you can stitch an entire row, save the partials for another use. I do lots of custom quilting so I can use my bobbins until empty---or almost.

 

I offer some of my skimpy ones to my customers to use for hand-stitching their binding. 

[qltnbe]

Yes, I have mostly been doing pantos at this point, but I have found that if I run out of bobbin, I tend to get some knotting up in the back of the quilt.  So, I try to avoid that.   Also, not to sound stupid or ignorant, but then what is the purpose of a bobbin reminder if it doesn't matter if you run out of bobbin thread?   Of course, I wouldn't want to run out of bobbin thread or break a thread on a T-shirt quilt since you don't want too many holes in the iron-on prints. Now...what's this about sending back the magnets to Fil-Tec.  I have been throwing them out!  I wish I had saved them now.  I am going to have to check into this.    

[LisaC]

Fil-Tec is no longer recycling the magnetic bobbin cores. I have a passle of them; thought I would let the grand kids invent something to do with them. All kids like magnets. I use all my end bobbins for practice pieces and hand stitching binding as well as stitching across the top after loading. Glide thread runs great in my DSM; I've never tried to use the bobbin for the top thread but as long as it can pull (and not feed off the top) I would think it would work fine. Be careful about some computer machines not liking magnets.

[delld]

I thought the cores could still be returned but there is no longer a rebate,

I just wrote them and asked. I will let you know what Filt-Tech/Glide says.

[Lynne in Iowa]

I don't use the magnetic ones, but I am fortunate that my bobbins also fit my DSM so I use them for piecing.  Sometimes there is a lot more there than you realize, others not so much,

[Cagey]

One of the ladies in my guild suggested when you are quilting on a charity quilt, that you simply use all the old half-filled bobbins you have to get rid of them.  She did suggest using colors that worked with the quilt back.  It looks to me that you could easily quilt a few blocks or even a small quilt with the amount of thread you have left on them.  Do this, you will probably have to change bobbin thread more than you usually would.

 

On my George when I run out of bobbin thread, I just load a new bobbin, bring the bobbin thread to the top, and then start quilting about 2 inches prior to where I ran out.  I take about 5 small stitches and them make sure to do my best to hit the old needle holes so both threads are securely held.  I then put a colored safety pin throughout the thread break area, so I can easily find the location to check the back/front for any lose threads or knots that need to be addressed later, with my un-quilting tool.  If you do not do something to mark the location, you will never find it once all the quilting is done.  Which in the big scheme of things is what you want.

 

Take care, and have a great day.

 

Cagey

[Busy Quilting]

I usually use them through to the end. If I do end up with small bits left over they make great applique thread and stitching EPP.