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How Does A Sewing Machine Bobbin Work? – Find Out Here!

Have you ever wondered how a sewing machine bobbin works? If you are a sewer, you probably have. If you have a sewing machine, you know that the bobbin is a necessary part of the sewing process.

Without it, your sewing machine will not work. In its simplest form, the bobbin is a little thing of thread with a weight on it.

As you sew, the bobbin winds the thread onto it and the weight makes it spin.

The sewing machine use the bobbin to create the main thread that helps to create the stitches that you see when you are sewing.

To make the bobbin work, you need to place it onto the bobbin pin inside the bobbin case. 

The sewing machine bobbin is a device used in sewing machines that supports the thread for the needle to weave as it spins.

The bobbin is made of a thin, spool-shaped plastic or metal disk, with holes in the sides. The bobbin is placed in the bobbin case, a small container that fits into the bottom of a sewing machine. 

Bobbin and shuttle mechanism

The bobbin and shuttle mechanism is the part of a hand-sewing machine that carries the thread from the spool or bobbin to the point where the sewing actually occurs, and it is also referred to as the shank, arm, or feed.

The bobbin and shuttle mechanism is a critical element in any machine, especially older manual machines that do not use a belt to move the fabric through the machine.

Bobbin and shuttle mechanism has a huge role in the sewing industry.

Its function is to regulate the tension of the sewing thread and to feed it through the machine in a sequence that is controlled by the sewing machine operator.

The bobbin and shuttle mechanism are located in the bottom part of the sewing machine. It consists of the bobbin case, hook, bobbin, and shuttle.

Bobbin is the small cylinder that holds the weft thread and the shuttle is a smallholder for the bobbin. Bobbin and shuttle mechanism are important mechanism that the sewing machine requires for the purpose of producing the stitches.

Bobbins are a vital part of the sewing machine and other sewing devices. Though the bobbin is a simple component it can be the cause of many problems.

The bobbin can cause many issues. Since the bobbin and shuttle mechanisms are parts of a sewing machine it is important to understand how they work.

The sewing machine bobbin is a spindle or cylinder that holds the lower thread which is wound upon it. It is covered with a bobbin lace, bobbin net, or bobbin case to keep the thread from becoming entangled.

Types of Sewing Machine Bobbin

A bobbin is also the unit in a mechanical machine that carries the lower thread when making a stitch. A sewing machine with a top-loading bobbin is the most common type.

Many people confuse a bobbin with a spool of thread because the terms are often used interchangeably.

However, a spool is nothing more than a spindle to hold the thread, and it is placed on the table of a sewing machine, while the bobbin is placed inside the machine, underneath the needle. 

There are three main types of sewing machine bobbin: metal, plastic, and bicompatible.

  • Metal sewing machine bobbins are the standard since other bobbins are not as durable.
  • Plastic bobbins are not as common because they break easily and machine owners are afraid that it will not do the job.
  • Bicompatible bobbins are preset to work for the most common brands of sewing machines.

Metal Bobbin

A bobbin is a spool or cylinder of thread or yarn, used in hand sewing to guide the primary thread. Most sewing machines use metal bobbins because they are easy to load, and are more durable than plastic ones.

Plastic Bobbin

The most common type of bobbin is made of plastic, and can be found in any sewing supply store or online.

Many sewists have a love-hate relationship with the plastic bobbin. It is the one component that will inevitably cause the most problems, and yet, it is one of the most important parts of your sewing machine.

Take it for granted and you’ll get frustrated more than you should be when you lose a bobbin, or it gets stuck and you can’t get it out of the machine.

Properly care for it, and the plastic bobbin will last you for many years and hundreds of hours of sewing.

The plastic bobbin was introduced in the 1950s as a solution to the problem of metal bobbins jamming.

Bi-Compatible Bobbin

When you’re sewing you need to use bobbins to keep your sewing threads from becoming tangled.

These days most sewists use plastic bobbins and wind their threads around them before attaching the bobbins to a sewing machine.

It’s possible to wind your threads around wooden bobbins, but these will tend to split over time as you apply tension to the thread when using the sewing machine.

If you’re after a more environmentally friendly option, try bi-compatible bobbins.

These are made from wood, but they’re hollowed out, so you can wind your threads around them, which also keeps them from tangling.

You MUST use the bobbins that are made for your machine

The bobbin is one of the most important accessories in your sewing machine. The machine’s needle is used to create the stitching on your fabric.

The bobbin holds the thread which forms the stitches. If you use the wrong bobbin the stitching on your fabric will be very poor and your project will not turn out as you expected.  

So, you must use the bobbin that is made for your machine. It is very easy to use the bobbin that is made for your machine.

You can purchase bobbins from the local department store or a specialty sewing machine store. The bobbins are inexpensive. Your machine recommends a certain size and type of bobbin for your machine. 

Whilst it is true that bobbins made for your specific machine will fit more securely, it is not a requirement that you use them.

In fact, many machines come with a standard size that can be used with most, or all, of the bobbins you’ll find in a store.

If you have a bobbin that fits, there is no reason to spend more money on something that will do the same job.

In Conclusion

A sewing machine bobbin is an important part of a sewing machine that stores the thread to be used by the sewing machine. The bobbin can be wound with nylon thread, polyester thread, or cotton thread. The type of thread used depends on the project.

Bobbins come in various sizes to fit various machines. Most sewing machines use a type of bobbin that has a built-in spring, which is easily replaced and can be purchased at most fabric stores.

Kirsten Carter

Kirsten Carter

Kirsten Carter is a freelance content writer who specialises in writing about travel, technology and health. When she's not traveling between her home of Tanzania and England, she writes for her blog Rightminded Travelling and features on a variety of different travel and technology sites.View Author posts

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