shuttles

[roobarb.livejournal.com]

what's people's preference for shuttles?

do you prefer the ones with the bobbins in or the all in one type

I've driven friends potty with the shuttle sounds in the past, though I don't notice them myself :-)

Comments

[elspethdawitch.livejournal.com]

I've only ever used the bobbin kind, but the bobbin always seems to...stick. And go "creeeeeeeeeak" and it's a bit annoying. What's your preference?

[moniqueleigh]

I've never had a problem with bobbins sticking or creaking. What sort are you using?

[elspethdawitch.livejournal.com]

I really don't remember...something with some woman's name on the package...I bought it at Lewiscraft up here in Canada. I think part of my problem is that I wind the bobbin too tight and unevenly to boot...

[moniqueleigh]

Sounds like you may have the Susan Bates shuttles. I've heard naaassty things about those. As you may have noticed in my comment below, I'm not overly fond of her shuttles so far.

But yes, winding too tightly or unevenly can cause problems. Also, you might be over-filling your bobbin. The thread shouldn't stick out past the sides at all.

Oh! Another idea is to use the plastic sewing machine bobbins. Lots of folks seem to like those better than the metal bobbins (less blackening of your thread as well).

[elspethdawitch.livejournal.com]

Yes! Susan Bates, that's it. I had the choice between metal with a bobbin, and beige plastic with no bobbin...and that's what I can get in town.

What's the general opinion? Are bobbins better or the ones without?

Yeah...I have a hard time filling the bobbins. I can't even tie the thread on, for starters. I hear filling them up on a sewing machine helps.

[moonswirl.livejournal.com]

My favorite shuttles are "Clover" brand plastic one-piece shuttles. I got them in a 5-pack of assorted bright colors. (the package had nifty Japanese characters all over it)

Anyhow - they have just the right amount of tension, and the little point at the end is perfect for joining. (though they do make that "click" sound which can annoy others)

[moniqueleigh]

I've never cared for the post-style myself. They're pretty & hold lots, but the clicking & having to wrap/unwrap constantly drives me batty.

I much prefer my bobbin shuttles. Especially the Aeros & Boye metals. I'm not overly fond of the Bates metal shuttles -- the hook's too wide to be truly useful. I've heard that Bates have put out a copy of the Aero, & that it's just awful. But I haven't actually tried them myself, so don't take my word only!

[emmacrew.livejournal.com]

Bobbin, an all-in-one style that doesn't click (sort of variants on a Lady Hoare style), and standard post, in that order. I mostly use Aero shuttles, but I do have some lovely Silent Tatters and a couple of GR-8s as well.

[prinnyc.livejournal.com]

My preference for bobbins is whatever has the right colour in it at the time!

I've got some red plastic Boye shuttles with just the straight pointy thing; a Susan Bates white plastic one with a curved tip; a metal one with a bobbin (name escapes me), and a couple of plastic ones similar to the Susan Bates (but not) which I found at Michael's. They were in a two-pack; yellow and green. Fun.

I've not really got the hang of the bobbin one yet; I picked up sewing machine bobbins that I thought were the right size, but they don't roll right. When I use the actual bobbin which came with it, sometimes it rolls half the thread out if I drop it.

When I tat, I usually use one Boye and one of the other three. Them being different shuttles makes it a *lot* easier to grab the right shuttle. (There's a reason I'm called a dense little chipmunk, ya know. )