Bobbins - drop-in vs. bobbin case

Which is your preference?

I've sewn on both, but have only owned one drop in bobbin machine. Every industrial machine I've ever worked has had the separate front loading bobbin. Well actually, machines that straight stitch only load the bobbin on the side, like my treadle machine I showed you yesterday and zig zag bobbin case machines load in the front.

I've been told by a couple repair men that machines with take out bobbin cases have a stronger stitch and don't go out of alignment as readily.  So, that clinched it for me. I'd always seemed to end up with front loading machine, but now that is all I will use, if given a choice.

Here are some other reasons why I prefer a front loading bobbin.

When the bobbin case is out of the machine you can adjust the tension with a little screw on the side.  The tension can be tested by holding the bobbin by a thread.  It should drop very slowing in this position if the tension is correct and stop after about 1 1/2".

AND! a couple years ago the screw on my bobbin case got stripped. The tension was just off ... way too loose, so I simply bought a new bobbin case and the machine ran like new.

Then I kept the old bobbin case with the too loose tension exclusively for elastic thread and that thick nylon thread that's good for gathering heavy fabric.

Now I realize not all drop in bobbins are the same.  The one I own is a 40 year old Elna Lotus.  It is all metal like the one above.  The bobbin tends to rattle around when sewing.  I loaned this machine to someone who was learning to sew a number of years ago and she found that it kept coming unthreaded and just couldn't use the machine.

This drop in bobbin looks much newer.  I'm sure the problems I had with my old drop in bobbin have been solved.  But, folks ... tell me why you like drop in bobbins.

I found a discussion on this topic on Etsy. Click to read the whole thing. Basically what I get out of it is, drop-in bobbin machines are easier to thread, but front loading bobbin case machines are hardier.

Now, of course, if you can get your hands on one of these old chain stitch machines, there are no bobbins at all to worry about!

A good friend of mine wrote me yesterday, after she read my Treadle sewing machine blog, to tell me that she learned to sew on one of these machines!

Read a very complete description about this machine on the Sew A Lot website.

This shows a diagram of how the stitch works under the throat plate.

And even better ... here is a short video showing this mechanism in action.

My friend said, on the up side, it was really easy to take out your mistakes ... but sometimes things came apart when you didn't want them too!