Handi-Bobs HB18 - pkg of 18, stores bobbin w/thread spool

bought these over forty years ago--so tickled to find again--have tried other styles and none work like these-- fits on top of thread--DO NOT FALL OFF--has closures on side to keep thread and bobbin BOTH from unwinding--I'm buying to gift friends

I bought these and three other styles of bobbin holders to see which would work best for me. These are simple and do their job well but were not the right choice for me. YMMV. All of the styles I tested worked with regular spools (I go all the way back to wooden spools of thread bought at Woolworth's! [you young whippersnappers can ask your grandparents]) but these were useless with my cones of thread. These simply fell right out — the  BOBBIN HOLDER…'BOBBINI' (12 Pieces). Storage Bobbins on Top of Thread Spools. Fits Type L, Class A(15) and Class M Bobbins and works on most sewing thread spools. By Smartneedle.  were the only ones that worked well with both spools and cones.Most of the holders I tried (except these) also had a problem when used in the regular spools if those are stored on pins or pegs in a storage case or rack. The pins encounter the bobbin holder before the spool is completely down over the pin and sitting flatly. These  Handi-Bobs HB18 - pkg of 18, stores bobbin w/thread spool  were the only ones that have an opening that allows the pin or peg to pass through — the other holders block the pins.These are all the bobbin holders I tried:-  BOBBIN HOLDER…'BOBBINI' (12 Pieces). Storage Bobbins on Top of Thread Spools. Fits Type L, Class A(15) and Class M Bobbins and works on most sewing thread spools. By Smartneedle.  (IMHO, the best all-round solution when cones are involved)-  Handi-Bobs HB18 - pkg of 18, stores bobbin w/thread spool  (best if you use only spools stored on pins or pegs — if they had worked with cones they would have been my first choice)-  Bobbin Buddies ~ Set of 20 ~ Keep Your Bobbin Threads Matched Up with Your Thread Spools  (2nd best with cones — fall out more easily than the "Bobbini")-  June Tailor Thread Mate Spool and Bobbin Storage  (work well in spools but definitely interfere with pins or pegs through the spools)The  Handi-Bobs HB18 - pkg of 18, stores bobbin w/thread spool  help to control the loose thread ends both from the bobbin and from the spool. The bobbin is held firmly enough that it does not turn easily when the thread is pulled. This means you can wrap that loose thread end from the bobbin around one of the projections on the holder designed for that purpose. The loose thread end from the spool can be wrapped around a different projection (there are 3). Helps keep things tidy. For the other bobbin holders I purchased a few feet of ½" I.D. clear plastic hose from the hardware store. I sliced off a bunch of ¼" - ⅜" rings (measure the space between the top & bottom of your bobbins to get the correct size) and made a single cut at one spot on each ring. That left me with curled plastic strips that could be placed over the thread on a bobbin to keep it from unwinding easily. 50 rings cost me less than 2 dollars!

This is the best way I've found to keep the bobbin with the spool. I sew and quilt using a lot of different colors. The threads are very close in hue, making it difficult to discern what bobbin was wound from which spool. Additionally, I use several different types of thread. For example, I may have a regular multi-purpose spool, a spool of fine (thinner) thread, and a spool of hand quilting thread all in the exact same color. When I've had to store the bobbin apart from the spool I've had to waste a considerable amount of time trying to figure out which bobbin comes from which spool of thread. With the Handi-Bobs, I store the bobbin with the spool and I don't get the types of thread mixed up from one another. The only time I spend deciding which spool/bobbin combination to use is when I'm matching the thread color to the fabric.I've tried other kinds of gadgets and other ways of keeping the bobbins and their matching spool together, but found problems with each other method I've tried. One great advantage to this method is when I store the spools of thread, the hole in the middle of the Handi-Bob allows me to put the spool/bobbin unit on a dowel or thread holder as one unit. Another advantage is that the Handi-Bob keeps the little bit of paper with the thread size and color on it on the spool of thread. In the past I've had problems with that little disc of paper falling off. When I wanted to purchase another spool in the exact same color and size or type of thread, it was rather difficult to figure out exactly what I had. Now I just remove the Handi-Bob and read the color and/or number and type of thread, making it very easy to get another spool that exactly matches what I have.I highly recommend the Handi-Bob to all sewists and quilters.

I bought these because I have been sewing smaller projects with different colors and, with extremely limited vision, I'd have to wait to get my bobbin and thread matched over and over. I decided to buy more bobbins (it bothers me to waste thread unwinding and rewinding a bobbin and I am not good at judging how much I will need for each use) and keep the wound bobbins with the original spool of thread. I started with ziploc bags but decided to search to see if such a product existed.Finding several (as well as Bobbinis, Bobbin Buddies and Threadmates) but unable to tell which would be best, I bought a variety. Most worked well but this one allows me to store the spools of thread (with the wound bobbin attached) on the spindle rack in my sewing machine cabinet. This is a huge advantage of these over the other for me.The only 'con' I've noticed to this one is it is clear so I have more trouble finding the handi-bob when it's not attached.I haven't had them long but I've had to restrain myself from winding bobbins all day for every thread I have. (And I've only tried them on the Coats and Clark type spools - not the couple of Guterman small spools I have.