Magnetic Bobbin Holders -- Busting the Myth
Written: Mar 27 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: compact holder, keeps bobbins neat and tangle-free, magnetic strip holds bobbins in place
Cons: no lid
The Bottom Line: The Bottom Line is sitting snug in the Grabobbin magnetic bobbin holder.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Grabobbin by Bluefeather |
As you can probably tell from some of my previous reviews, I enjoy organizing. That’s why when my sewing area became littered with bobbins full of thread, I needed to find a better way to store them. I usually have multiple sewing projects in progress at the same time. I wanted a way to keep the bobbins for each project neat while at the same time having them accessible. When I saw the Grabobbin, I knew this was the bobbin holder for me.
What the Bobbin Holder Looks Like
This is a nifty gadget. The holder is compact at 1 1/4" wide x 8" long. It is made from hardwood that is “U” shaped, lower in the center and higher on the sides. A narrow magnetic metal strip is centered along the 8" length of the holder. The magnetic strip is recessed into the wood and is built to stay in place. This is a very attractive bobbin holder.
How the Bobbin Holder Works
The principle is simple. The bobbin holder is designed to hold steel sewing machine bobbins. When the bobbins are nested into the “U” shape holder, the magnetic strip anchors the bobbin rims firmly to the magnetic strip. As an experiment, I turned the bobbin holder upside-down. Not a single bobbin shifted position. These bobbins are staying in place.
The bobbins sit on their rims in the holder, so that the open bobbin sides are upright. This allows easy viewing of the thread color. Or if the bobbins are filled with different types of thread (such as polyester, cotton, rayon or invisible thread), it is easy to see not only the color of the thread but also the thread type.
I use a Bernina 1260 Quilter’s Platinum Edition sewing machine. Seventeen of my steel bobbins fit neatly side-by-side into this bobbin holder. If you want some space between the bobbins, sixteen bobbins on the holder works well. The bobbins are easy to remove, too. I can even pluck a bobbin from the center of a full tray without disturbing the bobbins on either side of it.
Note, this magnetic bobbin holder is designed to sit on a flat surface such as a table. My bobbin holder is situated on my Quilter’s Dream Sewing Table about four inches away from the back of the sewing machine.
Magnetic Bobbin Holders and Computerized Sewing Machines
For a long time, a myth has circulated that magnetic bobbin holders cannot be placed near a computerized sewing machine. Forget you ever heard it. I spoke with one sewing machine repair person and two shop owners from different stores that specialize in sewing machine sales. These knowledgeable people all agree that there is no problem placing a magnetized bobbin holder near a computerized sewing machine. They were adamant that magnetized bobbins holders are safe to use.
From my own experience, I can say there is no difficulty using the bobbins that were in contact with the magnetized bobbin holder. The bobbins have not become magnetized from their contact with the holder. I simply pull one from the holder and place it in the sewing machine, and I’m ready to sew. I’ve never had a problem.
Likes
* The bobbins are anchored securely in the holder
* Loose thread ends are held in place
* No more tangled bobbin threads
* Easy to see the color thread on each bobbin
* Simple to remove the bobbins for use
* Holder is compact and easily fits near my sewing machine
Dislikes
* No cover for the bobbin holder, so thread is exposed to dust
I only keep the bobbins that I am using for current projects on the magnetic bobbin holder. My extra bobbins, not currently being used, are kept in a clear plastic bobbin box that has a lid. This keeps the bobbins secure while also protecting them from dust (some of the unused bobbins have thread on them).
Purchasing a Grabobbin
I bought my Grabobbin magnetic bobbin holder at a local sewing store for $7.99 on sale. This product is also available at many online stores. Just type the word Grabobbin into a search engine (such as google.com) and a list of stores will appear that sell the Grabobbin.
Summary
I enjoy using this Grabobbin magnetic bobbin holder. It’s compact, fits seventeen steel bobbins, and keeps the threads for my various projects organized and tangle-free. The thread colors are easily visible, too. Also, my bobbin holder came with one empty bobbin. And as every sewer knows, you can never have too many bobbins!
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
Blue Feather Products, Inc.
165 Reiten Drive
Ashland, Oregon 97520
Phone: 541-482-5268
Please read my other reviews
Quilter’s Dream Sewing Table
Horn of America Deluxe Sewing Chair
Rubbermaid Chair Mat
Bernina Accessory Box
Sterilite Ultra Storage Container
Janome Jem Sewing Machine
Fiskars Pinking Shears & Tutorial
Black & Decker Pro Finish Iron
Quilt Pro Software
Keepsake Quilting Online Store
Joann .com Fabric & Craft Store
Copyright 2004 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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