I can’t tell you how important it is to use the correct bobbin in your sewing machine. Lots of bobbins look the same, but are not the same. Using the wrong bobbin can sometimes result in damage to your machine and/or poor sewing results.

Avoid Sewing Machine Disaster: Use the Right Bobbin for your Machine

Bobbin Types

various metal sewing machine bobbins with multiple thread colours wrapped on them

There are a number of different types of bobbins on the market. Please review your sewing machine manual for which bobbin works in your machine.

The most popular bobbins on the market today tend to be:

L Style: 20.3mm x 8.9mm, two flat sides, available in aluminum, plastic and Magna-Glide
M Style: 24.9mm x 10.7mm, two flat sides, available in metal and Magna-Glide
Class 15: 20.3mm x 11.7mm, two flat sides, available in metal and plastic

Other bobbins commonly seen:

Class 15J: 20.4mm x 11.3mm, slightly curved to the sides, available in plastic only
Class 66: 20.5mm x 10.9mm, really curved on the sides, available in metal and plastic

Machine Specific Bobbins:

Bernina 0115367000: 20.5mm x 10.6mm, has a cross hatch design on the barrel, available in metal only
Viking 4125615-45: 20.9mm x 10.4mm, available in plastic only
Juki 270010: 10.8mm x 8.7mm, available in metal only

Plastic vs. Metal Bobbins

Metal Bobbins

Metal bobbins are made of treated steel.

Plastic Bobbins

Plastic bobbins are durable and less expensive than metal bobbins.

Aluminum Bobbins

Because they are lighter in weight, aluminum bobbins spin faster than plastic or metal bobbins. This convenience is outweighed by their tendency to become damaged.

Machines tend to take either a plastic or a metal bobbin. This is because many bobbin sizes are only manufactured in plastic, metal or aluminum. So please don’t assume that a plastic bobbin can replace a metal bobbin. Please read your machine manual for more information.

Vintage vs. Modern Bobbins

The three most popular types of bobbins listed above tend to be the bobbins available on modern machines only. As always, please refer to your manual for more information on the type of bobbins your particular sewing machine takes.

Prewound Bobbins

Prewound bobbins are a lifesaver when it comes to sewing. Wonder-Fil’s Deco-Bob bobbins and Fil-Tec’s Magna-Glide bobbins are very popular prewound bobbins. I use Magna-Glide’s on my long arm because it is faster and easier than filling a bobbin myself. The convenience is everything, especially when you are quilting a large quilt.

My Final Thoughts

If you take nothing else away from this article, in order to avoid a sewing machine disaster, use the right bobbin for your machine. It may seem like a trivial thing, but it isn’t.

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