<b/r>

Types of Pre-Wound Machine Embroidery Bobbins

Machine Embroidery Prewound Bobbins and Bobbin Cones

In machine embroidery, the bobbin plays a crucial role in the operation and efficiency of the embroidery machine. It supplies the bottom thread and, when tensioned correctly, holds the upper thread in place to create the final design. Choosing the right type of bobbin can impact both the performance of your machine and the quality of your finished product. This summary will examine various types of pre-wound machine embroidery bobbins, including paper-sided, plastic-sided, magnetic, and sideless options, outlining their advantages and disadvantages.

Types of Bobbin Thread

For pre-wound bobbins and bobbin cones used for embroidery, the thread itself is usually polyester, chosen for its strength and durability. Polyester bobbin thread comes in two varieties: filament and spun.

Continuous Filament Polyester Thread

Made from long, uninterrupted strands of polyester fiber
Little to no lint build up in metal bobbin cases
Most often offered as pre-wound bobbins
Smooth shiny thread finish
The preferred option for commercial embroiderers

Spun Polyester Thread

Made from short lengths of polyester fibers spun together
Increased lint build up requires more frequent cleaning
Offered as both pre-wound bobbins and bobbin thread cones
Fluffy matte thread finish
Less expensive type of bobbins preferred by crafters

Sizes of Pre-Wound Bobbin

Style L

The most commonly used size in commercial machines.
Approximately the same diameter as a nickel
5/16” tall

Style M

Commercial machine bobbin, but less common
Larger than style L, approximately the same diameter as a quarter
Sometimes referred to as a “jumbo” bobbin

Style A

Used in home machines
Is the same diameter as a nickel like the L style, but taller, 7/16”
Also referred to as a Class 15

Colors of Pre-Wound Bobbin

White

Most commonly used color by commercial embroiderers and is sufficient for the majority of embroidery projects. Other than being more cost effective due to mass production, the reverse side of embroidery is rarely seen.

Black

Used less often and only when embroidering on dark fabrics with dark threads and particularly for when the reverse side of embroidery is seen, such as with towels, linens and jackets. Some embroiderers will offer this as an option for a more clean and finished appearance for presentation to the customer and end user.

Colors

Colored pre-wound bobbins are not as widely offered, but are available in limited solid colors
Generally marketed to home embroiderers and crafters.
Thinner top thread like Polyester 60 weight machine embroidery thread can be used to wind your own on either metal or clear plastic empty bobbin cores.

Types of Pre-Wound Machine Embroidery Bobbins

PAPER SIDED PRE-WOUND MACHINE EMBROIDERY BOBBINS

Paper Sided Pre-wound Bobbins are a practical choice for machine embroidery, offering convenience and consistent performance. The cardboard sides of the bobbin helps keep the thread neatly wound and prevents unraveling, reducing the risk of tangling and fraying. The most popular kind of pre-wound bobbin for smooth, uninterrupted stitching and efficiency; they are a valuable option for both commercial and high-volume embroidery applications.

Material

Sturdy but lightweight cardboard paper sides

Colors

White and Black

Benefits

Convenience: Ready-to-use with consistent thread tension.
Paper sides keep thread neatly wound, reducing tangling and fraying.
Quick and efficient bobbin changes ensures uninterrupted and smooth stitching.

Drawbacks

Disposal: Paper sides and cores need to be removed and disposed of, which can be less environmentally friendly.

Paper-sided prewound bobbins are widely recognized as the most commonly used type in the commercial machine embroidery industry. Their design offers significant advantages, including enhanced convenience and consistency. The paper-sided construction ensures that the thread remains neatly wound, minimizing the risk of tangling and fraying. This feature contributes to uninterrupted and smooth stitching, resulting in uniform and professional-quality results with each use.

PLASTIC-SIDED PREWOUND MACHINE EMBROIDERY BOBBINS

Plastic sided pre-wound bobbins are a popular choice in machine embroidery with reliable performance. The plastic sides make it easy to see how much bobbin thread is left on the bobbin. They are resistant to oil absorption and warping and swelling due to humidity, making them ideal for use in moist climates. Although they tend to be slightly more expensive than paper-sided bobbins and involve considerations for plastic disposal, their practical benefits make them a valuable option for embroiderers small and large.
Material

Clear plastic sides

Colors

White and Black

Benefits

Ready-to-use with consistent thread tension, saving time and effort.
Plastic sides won’t warp or swell out of shape in humid conditions or when exposed to oil
Transparent plastic sides allow the embroiderer to monitor bobbin thread levels
Provides reliable and uninterrupted stitching quality.

Drawbacks

Cost: Generally more expensive compared to paper-sided bobbins.
Plastic components require appropriate disposal and can be less environmentally friendly.

Prewound plastic-sided bobbins are esteemed in the machine embroidery industry for their efficiency and high performance. The plastic side aids in monitoring bobbin thread amounts. Despite their higher cost and environmental considerations, these bobbins offer significant advantages in convenience and consistency, making them an excellent choice for commercial and high-volume embroidery needs.

MAGNETIC CORE SIDELESS PRE-WOUND MACHINE EMBROIDERY BOBBINS

Sideless magnetic core pre-wound bobbins represent a sophisticated choice for machine embroidery, blending innovative design with exceptional performance. The magnetic core design is attractive to the inside of the metal bobbin case, which prevents over-spin of the bobbin when it gets lighter, resulting in consistent thread tension throughout the life of the bobbin. Consistent tension ensures smooth and reliable stitching. The sideless nature of the bobbin means the thread is coated with a lightweight sizing to secure the thread to the magnetic core. While they are more expensive and may require removal of any anti-backlash springs in the bobbin case, their advanced features make them ideal for high-volume and precision embroidery tasks.

Material

Durable magnetic core

Colors

White and black

Benefits

Ready-to-use and pre-wound, providing consistent thread tension and reducing the need for manual winding.
Consistent Tension: Magnetic core maintains stable thread tension throughout the entire use of the bobbin, ensuring smooth and reliable stitching.
Maintenance: Reduced lint build-up leads to lower machine cleaning requirements and less downtime.

Drawbacks

Generally costs more than standard bobbins due to the advanced design
May require removal of any anti-backlash spring present in the bobbin case

Sideless magnetic core prewound bobbins are esteemed in the machine embroidery industry for their advanced features and reliable performance. The sideless and magnetic core design ensures optimal thread management and consistent tension throughout the life of the bobbin. Despite their higher cost and potential compatibility concerns, these bobbins provide significant advantages in convenience, maintenance, and stitching quality, making them a valuable option for both high-volume and precision embroidery applications.

SIDELESS PRE-WOUND MACHINE EMBROIDERY BOBBIN

Sideless prewound bobbins are another option for machine embroidery. Because they are sideless, these bobbins are secured to the core with a light binder. This sideless design also allows for greater visibility of the remaining thread allowing the embroiderer to see at a glance how much bobbin thread is still available. They are a solid choice for both commercial and high-precision embroidery applications.

Material:

Plastic core with light binder to hold the thread securely

Colors:

White

Benefits:

Pre-wound and ready-to-use, providing consistent thread tension and reducing manual winding time.
Sideless design allows for better visibility and thread management.
Typically the least expensive type of pre-wound bobbin

Drawbacks:

Not all embroidery machines “like” or work well with sideless bobbins. Sampling these bobbins in your machine for compatibility is suggested.
The binder used to secure the wind may produce more build up in the metal bobbin case and rotary hook area, so more frequent cleaning may be necessary.
If you have metal bobbin cases with an anti-backlash spring, you must remove the spring as it will put undue stress on the sides of the bobbin thread.
Sideless prewound bobbins offer enhanced convenience and performance. The sideless design allows you to see at a glance how much thread is remaining, however, because of the additional binder, to secure the thread to the core, you may find with some brands that you’ll need to clean your metal bobbin case and rotary hook area a bit more often.

MAGNETIC-SIDED/PAPER-SIDED PRE-WOUND MACHINE EMBROIDERY BOBBINS

Magnetic-sided/paper-sided prewound bobbins are another magnetic option for machine embroidery, incorporating both a magnetic side and a paper side, each providing unique benefits. The magnetic side loads toward the inside of the bobbin case and prevents over-spinning of the bobbin, ensuring consistent thread tension throughout its use, which translates to smooth and reliable stitching. The paper side helps keep the thread neatly wound and prevents unwinding without the need for any extra binder. These bobbins tend to be slightly more expensive than paper-sided bobbins, but they offer the advantages of both paper-sided and magnetics.

Material:

Magnetic side combined with a paper side

Colors:

White

Benefits:

Magnetic side maintains stable thread tension throughout the entire life of the bobbin, ensuring smooth and reliable stitching.
Thread Management: Paper side helps keep the thread securely wound, minimizing tangling and fraying without the use of binder..

Drawbacks:

Slightly more expensive than standard paper-sided bobbins due to the combination of advanced features.
If using metal bobbin cases that feature an anti-backlash spring, it is necessary to remove the spring when using magnetic bobbins.

Magnetic-sided/paper-sided prewound bobbins are highly regarded in the machine embroidery industry for their advanced design and performance benefits. The combination of a magnetic side and a paper side provides superior thread management and consistency, ensuring smooth and high-quality stitching. Despite their higher cost and the need to address compatibility issues, these bobbins offer significant advantages in terms of convenience, maintenance, and stitching reliability, making them a valuable choice for both high-volume and precision embroidery applications.

Bobbin Cones

Types of Bobbin Cones

Spun Polyester
Spun Lyocell

SPUN POLYESTER
Spun Polyester Bobbin Thread on a Cone

Spun polyester bobbin thread on a cone is a versatile and cost-effective option for machine embroidery. This thread type is often favored by embroiderers who prefer to wind their own bobbins onto empty metal or plastic bobbin cores. Spun polyester offers a softer and fluffier texture compared to continuous filament polyester, providing a matte finish that can be desirable for certain embroidery applications. While spun polyester is generally less expensive than continuous filament thread, it does tend to produce slightly more lint, which can lead to increased cleaning of the embroidery machine. Despite this, spun polyester thread remains an affordable and practical choice for those seeking a balance between cost and performance.

Material:

Spun polyester thread available on a cone.

Benefits:

Generally less expensive than continuous filament polyester threads.
Provides a softer, fluffier texture with a matte finish, suitable for various embroidery styles.
Can be easily wound onto metal or plastic bobbin cores, allowing for flexible use with different machines.

Drawbacks:

Spun polyester tends to produce more lint, requiring more frequent cleaning of the embroidery machine.
Requires the additional step of manually winding the thread from the cone onto the bobbin core, which can be time-consuming.

Spun polyester bobbin thread on a cone is a practical and economical choice for machine embroidery, offering a softer texture and matte finish. While it is less expensive and versatile compared to continuous filament threads, it does require manual winding onto bobbin cores and can produce more lint, necessitating more frequent machine cleaning. Despite these considerations, spun polyester remains a popular option for embroiderers looking for a cost-effective solution and reliable performance.

Spun Lyocell Bobbin Thread on a Cone

Spun Lyocell bobbin thread on a cone is an eco-friendly and versatile option for machine embroidery. Lyocell is a sustainable fiber made from wood pulp through a closed-loop process that minimizes environmental impact. This thread is often wound from a cone onto empty metal or plastic bobbin cores by embroiderers. Spun Lyocell offers a soft, smooth texture with a natural sheen, providing a refined matte finish for embroidery projects. Although spun Lyocell is generally more costly than traditional spun polyester, its environmental benefits and luxurious feel can make it a desirable choice. It does, however, produce some lint, which may require more frequent machine cleaning.

Material:

Spun Lyocell thread available on a cone.

Benefits:

Made from sustainably-sourced wood pulp using a closed-loop process, making it a more environmentally responsible choice.
Provides a soft, smooth texture with a natural sheen and refined matte finish, suitable for high-quality embroidery.
Can be wound onto metal or plastic bobbin cores, allowing for flexible use with different embroidery machines.

Drawbacks:

Generally slightly more expensive than traditional spun polyester due to the sustainable production process.
May produce more lint compared to synthetic threads, leading to increased maintenance and cleaning of the embroidery machine.
Requires the manual step of winding the thread from the cone onto the bobbin core, which can be time-consuming.

Spun Lyocell bobbin thread on a cone is an excellent eco-friendly choice for machine embroidery, offering a soft and luxurious texture with a sustainable production background. While it is more costly and may produce some lint, necessitating additional machine cleaning, its environmental benefits and premium quality make it a valuable option for conscientious embroiderers. The ability to wind the thread onto various bobbin cores adds to its versatility, making it a suitable choice for both high-quality and eco-conscious embroidery projects.