Winding a Bobbin ~ A Photo Tutorial

A sewing machine has two threads that intertwine to make a stitch.  The bobbin is the small spool that holds the bottom thread of your sewing machine.

There is no such thing as a universal bobbin.  Although some are interchangeable, each make of machine has a slightly different design and a slightly different way of threading.  Hopefully you still have your manual handy as that will describe the threading process in detail but hopefully this post covers the major points.

I have a Bernina 1008 (and love it! It’s my solid work horse) so that’s what I’ve photographed here.  Hopefully your machine will have similar.

Step 1:  I You’ll need to disengage your needle as you don’t want it flying up and down into your machine during this step.  I have to hold the outer balance wheel as I turn the inner wheel towards me.  Some disengage automatically as you flick across the bobbin for filling.  Others you pull the balance wheel out.  If you’re at all in doubt, check your manual or just remove your needle.

Step 2: Place your thread on the spool pin so that it turns anti-clockwise.

I wind the thread clockwise around the tensioning button on my Bernina 1008

My back up Singer sewing machine is anti-clockwise

Step 3: You may need to go through your first thread guide first (I don’t) but  pull the thread through the tensioning ‘belly button’ on the top of our machine.  Most machines have a little diagram or arrows to help you work out which direction you need to go.

Step 4:  Place an empty bobbin on the bobbin winder and pull enough thread over to push the end through the small hole in the side.

Pull up a 10cm tail.

Step 5: Engage the bobbin winder by either pushing the winder shank towards the right (as I do here) or pushing a small lever across toward the bobbin winder.  Hold onto the tail as you press down onto your foot pedal to begin winding thread onto the bobbin.  Once there is 20 or so rounds of thread on the bobbin, you can cut off the tail.

Step 6: Press your foot pedal down until the bobbin is full – It should move the thread up and down to create an even amount around the bobbin.  When full, it will either flick back to its original position or just stop winding.

Tip:  Fill several bobbins if you plan on doing a lot of sewing with that thread colour.  This will save you un-threading and re-threading your machine each time you need to fill the bobbin.

Step 7: Cut the thread and remove the filled bobbin from the bobbin winder.

Step 8: Replace your bobbin winder back to it’s original position and re-engage your needle.

Next Step is to thread the full bobbin into your machine.  Click here to find out how…