Question for Shuttle Tatters about Bobbins

[carolivy]

Ok, here is another question from me for you Shuttle Tatters. This one is to the tatters who use shuttles that use Bobbins. Do you have to have a special bobbin or can you use the same bobbins that go in most Sewing Machines? The reason (well one of them anyways) I ask is that I'd like to try bobbin shuttles, but don't really want to have to purchase more bobbins as I have a TON of them for my sewing machine. :shock:

[AnneB]

I buy seperate bobbins for the shuttles as those for my sewing machine don't fit (actually I have not tested if they fit, but if I use them for tatting, I'll have none left when needed). The shuttles usually come with a bobbin so you can test if the others are the same. Once started using bobbins you can never have enough...

[carolivy]

I've seen some of the bobbins that come with some of the shuttles and the look like a very cheap black plastic. I like my clear plastic or metal bobbins and I have about 20 right now, but know where I can get more.

[RandaGray]

I wouldn't know about Aeros, but with the metal shuttles I've never seen a bobbin I'd think would fit. But you can get packs of 5 for around $4. The GR8 shuttle I had came with machine bobbins, so depending on what kind of sewing machine you had, you might be able to interchange those :)

[carolivy]

So the bobbin shuttle bobbins aren't interchangeable between shuttles even? Yeesh!

[Marty]

The black plastic Aero bobbins are pretty inexpensive. I think they are shorter than most sewing machine bobbins (well, shorter than my sewing machine bobbins, at least). They are interchangeable with my Pop-a-Bobbin shuttles, though.

[LindaJo]

I've seen some of the bobbins that come with some of the shuttles and the look like a very cheap black plastic. I like my clear plastic or metal bobbins and I have about 20 right now, but know where I can get more.

Carolivy - what brand shuttle are you using and where do you get clear plastic or metal bobbins for it? I'm using Aero shuttles and they have the black bobbin. I bought ten more bobbins... but don't want to pay the shipping for just shuttle bobbins. I don't need any more thread right now... just went to a new store here today and bought some threads.

[gahorsley]

ask Mercy... I gaver her several bobbins Saturday that are sewing machine bobbins and I think they will fit some of her shuttles. Her husband made me one and it uses my Singer plastic bobbin. she's rthe resident expert for me!

[MercyPres]

Thank you GeorgeAnn. I have the pop-a-bobbin, aero and GR8. GR8 uses the green bobbin (don't know what kind sewing machine but has some teeth inside that won't fit on my side winder) it will however also use Singer bobbins, but not Brother as the Brother bobbins are taller. The aero and pop-a-bobbin use the same bobbins, thank goodness. Now to have hubby make me a shuttle for all those Brother bobbins I have (he got two packages of the wrong kind last time he went to store and doesn't want to take them back) :biggrin:

[carolivy]

Carolivy - what brand shuttle are you using and where do you get clear plastic or metal bobbins for it? I'm using Aero shuttles and they have the black bobbin. I bought ten more bobbins... but don't want to pay the shipping for just shuttle bobbins. I don't need any more thread right now... just went to a new store here today and bought some threads.

No, these are the sewing machine bobbins I already have that I like and I was hoping that I would be able to use them in bobbin shuttles without having to buy more (cheap looking) bobbins. Sorry for any confusion. Right now, I only have the 2 Clover Shuttles. I will be going to Oneonta NY on Saturday for a week and will be on the lookout during our shopping trips for shuttles of all makes...and vintages...lol

[MercyPres]

Carol the boye will not use any of the sewing machine bobbins I have. I have quite a collection of sewing machine bobbins as my hubby and I used to go to estate sales and would buy boxes of miscellaneous sewing stuff.

[carolivy]

Sigh...I just may have to really work on my brother who loves to work with wood and see what he can come up with for me. :wink:

[Susan B T]

The metal machine bobbins will not fit plastic shuttles. Some plastic ones will fit some shuttles. The bobbins that come with the shuttle have tiny groves that act a breaks so the thread will not just unwind. Sewing machine ones are all smooth.

I do not know about the ones that come with metal bobbins.

[Silverheron]

You can purchase extra bobbins as said before for the Aero Shuttles and you can also purchase extra bobbins for the Boye shuttles. The main problem with trying to make your sewing machine bobbins fit is that for the shuttle that uses a bobbin you want the bobbin to stay in place until you move it. (This is what I do not like about the Aero shuttles since they started making them in Mexico) If your bobbin fits sloppy it defeats all of the advantages of using it. I really like the Boye shuttle because you can put the bobbin on the end to wind it which is much faster than a clover style shuttle and you can switch colors in a moment if you want to.

[RandaGray]

If I remember right, the gr8 I had came with green plastic bobbins that had the Husqvarna logo on them. Sticks out because it was funny to me that the same people that make chainsaws, lawnmowers, etc., also made something like a sewing machine :) I don't know how available those are. I'm with Silverheron; I'm a boye fan - as most of you are probably tired of hearing by now lol

[JaneReese]

Oh, I love my Husquarna sewing machine and its green bobbins! The bobbins are a little pricey, though. I believe I've seen similar green bobbins at Hancock Fabrics at a better price, but I've not used them in my machine.

I am still loving my Aero. I do have a Boye, but it tends to soil my thread when the thread jumps off the bobbin.

[stashtamer]

The search will begin in earnest. Somewhere in my tatting belongings there is a GR8 shuttle. Somewhere. Just like somewhere in my quilting belongings is a Roxannes silver quilting thimble. I will find these things, sooner than in 5yrs, but probably not in the next week.

[RandaGray]

JaneReese, mine used to do that too, if I loaded my bobbin too full, which meant if I loaded it full enough lol But I started washing both the shuttle & bobbins with Dawn dish soap every once in a while it fixed the problem :) I usually scrub them with Dawn & a toothbrush at the end of a project, or if I notice any black marks on the bobbin when I start to reload it

[tatknot]

My metal shuttles can be flattened or widened to fit whatever bobbins I wish to use. It is one of those metal ones with the flat hook on the end. I used to grab whatever bobbins I had on hand in them. (Except my Aero bobbins!)

I would be concerned that using a hard plastic bobbin or a metal bobbin would cause unnatural wear in my Aero shuttles. While I've added several replacement bobbins to my collection for convenience, I have never had to retire one. My tatting activity is very sporadic, but some of my bobbins are probably 10 to 15 years old. Those little black plastic bobbins are pretty durable.