How to Put the Bobbin Driver Back Together?

The bobbin is as important as any other component in any sewing machine. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to do much sewing. However, bobbins do act up sometimes, such as when the thread gets bunched up or stuck and ends up messing your fabric.

You can fix serious bobbin hiccups by removing and reassembling it but how do you put the bobbin driver back together?

How to Put the Bobbin Driver Back Together?

The term bobbin driver is commonly interchangeably used with the bobbin case. In the simplest terms, the bobbin driver is the mechanism that controls the movements of the secondary thread, otherwise, known as a bobbin.

It’s the cylindrical device plus compartment normally located below the needle that turns in either direction and allows the needle to slide in and hook the bottom thread to form a hook and complete a stitch on your fabric.

There are several ways to put the bobbin driver back together depending on the sewing machine. However, the universal method involves disengaging the needle first and then popping the bobbin enclosure open. You can then slide the bobbin driver out and insert your bobbin thread inside.

Make sure you have left a few inches of loose thread on the bobbin and that the thread is revolving in a clockwise direction in the bobbin driver.

After this, you can direct the loose thread through the slit and bobbin finger and guide it as directed on your sewing machine’s manual. Make sure you follow the instructions for your specific sewing machine as bobbin driver mechanisms vary from one sewing machine to another.

Next, slide the bobbin driver into its enclosure and lock it in. Test that the bobbin is properly secured by engaging the needle and checking if it slides into the bobbin without impediment from the outer bobbin case.

Since bobbin drivers and placement may vary from one sewing machine and model to another, this guide gives an overview, step by step process to reassemble it in readiness for the next sewing job. You will need to put the driver back together every time you want to change the bobbin or when the bobbin gets stuck in place and cannot serve the secondary thread.

This guide assumes that you already know how to wind your new bobbin or have bought a ready-made bobbin and that you know where the bobbin is located. If not, you can refer to your sewing machine’s manual for the same. Also, more complicated bobbin driver issues such as mechanical damage or disintegrated bobbin drivers are best fixed by a professional to avoid more damage.

With the above out of the way, follow these steps to put the bobbin driver back together in any sewing machine:

Step 1- Before You Start

You must disengage the needle fully before you try and remove the bobbin driver from its compartment. This will avoid any accidental needle movements that will most likely lead to injuries or damage to the needle. Most sewing machines have a switch or lever to disengage the needle that is located near the wheel or control panel.

Step 2- Accessing the Bobbin Driver

Locate the bobbin compartment on your sewing machine and pop the enclosure open. Most sewing machines including older and modern Singer, Brother, Bernina, Janome have their bobbin driver just below the needle. Refer to your specific machine’s manual if you can’t locate the bobbin compartment or can’t open the door/enclosure.

Step 3- Remove the Bobbin Driver

The bobbin driver is a cylindrical device secured in the bobbin compartment you popped open in the previous step. Check if any special hooks are holding it in place, otherwise, just go right ahead and lift it without applying too much force. Some machines may require that you turn the bobbin case a bit in either direction before you can remove it.

If the bobbin driver has never been removed and greasy, wiggling it gently might help to free it from the compartment. A bent or malfunctioning bobbin driver might require a bit more effort to remove but be careful not to damage the compartment. It’s cheap to replace a bobbin case or driver but certainly not cheap to repair or replace the entire bobbin compartment.

Step 4- Replace the Bobbin

Replacing the bobbin is the easiest part. Slide your bobbin into the bobbin case and guide the thread through the slit on the case and bobbin finger if your driver has one. Check that the tension is properly set by pulling gently on the loose thread. Make sure you can pull a few inches of the thread, otherwise the tension might be a bit on the high side.

Step 5- Install the Bobbin Case

The last step involves putting the bobbin driver/case back to its compartment and testing it. To do this, just slide the entire thing into the bobbin compartment as it should be based on your sewing machine’s design. You should hear it lock into place to show that it’s properly secured. Test that it’s done correctly by engaging the needle and turning the wheel to see If it goes into the case and picks up some thread.

Bonus Steps- Assembling/Repairing the Bobbin Driver

In rare circumstances, you might find that the bobbin driver’s compartment has disintegrated and you need to put it back together before you insert the bobbin. This is a minor annoyance and one that you can easily fix if you understand the design of the bobbin area in your machine.

There are two removable components in some sewing machines that you need to put back into the compartment: the hook and the ring. The hook is the one holding the bobbin case and goes in last and in a specific direction. The ring provides a latching point for both the hook and bobbin case. Some newer sewing machines have a better setup with both the ring and hook secured using screws, therefore, hard to mess up with.

You can try fitting the ring in either direction and orientation until you can hear it slide in without blockage or interference. Next, slide the hook or finger just on the top of the ring followed by the bobbin case. Ensure the entire assembly is firmly secured and can move around when you engage the wheel. If the bobbin case is wiggling around or falls off, it means one of the components is not properly secured and needs to be checked.

Note: Be careful about assembling components in your bobbin driver. If unsure, it’s best to have the sewing machine looked at by a professional to avoid further damage. A bent or broken ring or hook might cause a lot of damage if you continue using the machine.

How to Put a Bobbin Case Back in a Singer Sewing Machine?

There are two types of bobbin case for Singer sewing machines. Drop-in bobbin style is more common for basic home sewing machines. This is quite easy to navigate since all you have to do is thread your bobbin, drop it in the bobbin case, and make sure it turns clockwise when you pull the thread upon feeding it to the thread hook.

The second type is with a bobbin case. For these machines, the bobbin case slot is usually found hidden underneath the feed dog plate. To put it back on, make sure you turn off your machine for safety and follow these steps.

1. Take your threaded bobbin and place it in your bobbin case. Make sure that you’re pulling the thread to the right. Thread it into the small slit you see in the bobbin case and bring it around the bigger hole. Don’t worry because the thread will follow the line from the slit and eventually end up in the hole.
2. Check if you put it correctly by holding the thread up and if the bobbin doesn’t come out of the case, it is good to go.
3. Pull up the lever on your bobbin case and insert it into the compartment making sure it’s lined up perfectly. Be careful to hold your bobbin in place as you do because it might fall out of the case.
4. Turn the needle wheel found on the right side of your sewing machine and pull up the bobbin thread. Once done successfully, close the bobbin compartment door and put back the extension. You are now ready to start sewing again.

How To Put The Bobbin Case Back in Brother Sewing Machine?

Brother sewing machines mostly have drop-in bobbin style. These types of sewing machines are more modern and convenient to use since the bobbin case is fixed into the machine. Drop-in bobbins are easily accessed by removing the needle plate and are easier to thread, too.

To put the bobbin case back, follow these steps:

1. Switch off your machine and unplug it from the socket to avoid possible injuries from happening.
2. Raise the needle and presser foot for ease of removing the needle plate.
3. To remove the needle plate cover, hold it on both sides and then slide it in your direction.
4. Using a screwdriver, remove the screws of the remaining needle plate part. Lift it up and slide it to the left to remove.
5. Insert your bobbin case in a way where the projection(1) aligns with the spring(2)
6. Put back the needle plate where the screws are needed. Make sure to tighten the screws and that the tab on the left side aligns with the notch of the bobbin case.

1. Once all set, load your bobbin accordingly and put back the needle plate cover. When finished, you are ready to start sewing.

How Do You Unscrew A Bobbin Case?

Checking your bobbin case can be beneficial from time to time especially if you’ve been experiencing jams lately. It is also a good way to maintain your machine and do oiling if needed. A faulty bobbin case can cause quite a lot of problems in sewing. If you’ve done all the basic sewing troubleshooting you know, maybe it’s time to check out your bobbin case condition.

Whether it’s your first time unscrewing a bobbin case or not, these steps might be helpful for you especially for drop-in bobbin case styles.

1. Turn off your machine and unplug it from the socket for safety.
2. Turn your needle wheel and lift your needle to unscrew both the needle and the presser foot. This is to make sure there is no obstruction while you work on your bobbin case.
3. Remove the needle plate cover and the bobbin inside your bobbin case if there is one.
4. With your screwdriver, unscrew the needle plate and lift it up to put aside. Once removed, you now have access to your bobbin case.
5. Remove the bobbin easily by grasping it and pulling it out. Clean the race and the bobbin case from any dust visible. This is to avoid jamming in the future and for machine maintenance.
6. To put your bobbin case back on, slide it in the race aligning the specific markers of the bobbin case and the race. Make sure that the knob is perfectly aligned with the spring for normal functionality.
7. Put back the necessary parts taken apart earlier and then you can try sewing again to check if you did everything correctly.

Do Bobbins Go Clockwise or Counterclockwise?

So, which way does a bobbin really go? There are two answers to this. They both go clockwise and counterclockwise depending on your sewing machine. Two different types of bobbin mechanics exist. For example, a Brother sewing machine has a drop-in bobbin while a Singer sewing machine has a front-loading bobbin.

The bobbin is put into a bobbin case within the sewing machine in both methods. Unlike drop-in or front-loading machines, which need you to remove the bobbin case in order to insert or remove the bobbin, top-loading machines always keep the bobbin case fixed inside the machine.

Both methods also have different shuttle hooks. Majority of front-loading machines have oscillating shuttle hooks where the shuttle moves back and forth to bring the top thread around the bobbin case. While most drop-in machines have a rotary shuttle hook where the shuttle turns continuously in one direction.

Drop-in or top-loading bobbins are more beneficial for beginners because they are easier to load unlike front-loading bobbins where you still need to remove the bobbin case just to access the bobbin.

Now, the biggest difference between these two methods is how the bobbin turns. For top-loading bobbins, it turns counterclockwise. You will notice this upon loading your bobbin into the bobbin case and feeding the thread into the lever. When you pull the thread, the bobbin starts to turn counterclockwise.

However, for the front-loading bobbin, it turns clockwise. Upon feeding the bobbin into the bobbin case, you are supposed to pull the thread to the right which then causes your bobbin to turn clockwise.

This is essential to know so that when loading the bobbin, you won’t make mistakes and cause jamming or worse, breaking your needles.

How Do You Put MoreThreadson A Bobbin?

You can wind a new bobbin using the mechanism available on your specific machine. Each machine or model has a different winding mechanism but the idea is to use your main thread to wind new thread into a bobbin. You will need to have a bobbin holder that has no thread to wind the bobbin thread onto.

How Do I Fix the Bobbin Tension on My Sewing Machine?

If the bobbin is set too tight, then the needle will have a problem fetching the bottom thread and probably get stuck. If the tension is too low, the bobbin thread will easily slide off and get bunched up or entangled creating an even bigger mess.

You can change tension by turning the screw located on the side of your bobbin case. Test the tension by suspending the whole case with the free thread and see if it’s too tight or too loose.

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Jessica

I'm Jessica Flores, a professional fashion designer and an expert seamstress.

Crafting has always been a deep-seated passion of mine, one that has flourished and evolved over the years.

I've dedicated considerable time to both studying and practicing in the realm of fashion and sewing, amassing a wealth of experience and skills.

It brings me great joy to share these insights and experiences with you all, hoping to inspire and foster a similar passion for the art of sewing.

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