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Complete newbie bobbin question


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Hi Everyone,

I haven't posted in months, but have read here and there. I bought a new-to-me Millennium with the Bliss system back in August and am just now getting time to do some serious work with it. I have a question on pre-wound bobbins. I have Bottom Line prewound bobbins and am wondering if I'm supposed to take the cardboard off of them before putting them in the bobbin case? I got a Towa guage this weekend and it seems to be "jerky" and the tension bounces more with the cardboards on than off. I have some minor intermittent tension issues and am wondering if this is the cause? Oy, I have soooo much to learn! Thanks so much, Melissa

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Just my experience, but make sure the bobbin is in the case so when you pull the thread the bobbin spins clockwise. I leave the cardboard on the side against the case and take off the outside cardboard. I've run them with both sides on and both removed. If you aren't getting a smooth pull through the Towa gauge, clean the case especially under the finger. And when the bobbin is in the case it should sit at rest just a bit above the edge. If it's too low or too high, pry out or pry in the fingers of the backlash spring at the back of the bobbin case.

A jerky pull through the bobbin case can be helped with a bit of Sewer's Aid on the bobbin thread. Good luck--this will become second-nature to you after a while! :)

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What you learn, when you read the postings. I only got the prefilled bobbins last year and have only run them just like they were a regular bobbin, what is the benefits of removing the sides or not removing the sides? More research is needed for me>>> LOL Thanks for the info Marion in BC

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  • 4 weeks later...

Sometimes the cardboard pre-wounds can be a tad overwound or the cardboard might not be perfectly flat. In that case I'll take off the cardboard. I suppose I could do that always but it would be one more step so I normally don't do it unless something is wacky. I've even had them where they are too fat to fit in the bobbin and I have to pull off a few yards so I can get them in the bobbin!

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In my experience, the cardboard sides definitely affect the tension. When I have switched from pre-wound to wound on my bobbin winder that came with my Millie, I always have to tighten the tension, and vice versa. I read the (I think Linda's) suggestion in another thread to remove the outside cardboard and that really helps. I don't have the Towa yet but know I need it!

I am excited for you, Melissa, to finally get some time with your Millie! I have had mine for 4+years and due to full time work elsewhere i have not spent as much time as i have wanted with her... but I am finally becoming more confident. I have rediscovered this forum and it is a great resource for information and inspiration!

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In my experience, the cardboard sides definitely affect the tension. When I have switched from pre-wound to wound on my bobbin winder that came with my Millie, I always have to tighten the tension, and vice versa. I read the (I think Linda's) suggestion in another thread to remove the outside cardboard and that really helps. I don't have the Towa yet but know I need it!

I am excited for you, Melissa, to finally get some time with your Millie! I have had mine for 4+years and due to full time work elsewhere i have not spent as much time as i have wanted with her... but I am finally becoming more confident. I have rediscovered this forum and it is a great resource for information and inspiration!

Cathy, yes, I can't spend as much time as I would like with my Millie either due to full time work. Sigh, work takes away from all the fun. But I suppose that it does feed my fabric and thread habit! LOL. I just got the Towa guage and that's how I really knew that the bobbin was 'sticky' with the cardboards. I am loving this machine and can't wait for vacation in 10 days when I can spend some serious time quilting. ahhh 10 more days..... not that I'm counting. :D

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Sometimes I find with the Bottom Line pre-wounds, that they will get caught up in the bobbin mechanism because they are either too full, or the thread is wound off-kilter just the first few feet. If a new bobbin gives me trouble, I take it out and pull off a few feet, cut it off and try again.

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