Bobbins

You’ll probably need the name of the machine/machines you’ll be using Millie. In the past I’ve had both metal and plastic bobbins.

For my different machines.

I bought a little box of bobbins (in a see through case) from eBay, plastic ones, they fit my Singer ok, I never even thought that different machines needed different size bobbins, maybe I was just lucky!?

Thank you Beechnut the machine is a Brother and the size is 1.1 that I need to look for.

If you have a Brother, you are safest using their bobbins.
Have a look on their website to see which ones for your particular machine. Sometimes bobbins look identical and will even go into the bobbin case, but will not give the correct tension which will affect your seam.

sewingcraft.brother.eu/en/accessories/sewing-machine-accessories/bcl

You don't necessarily have to buy from Brother but you do need the correct bobbins.

Didn't you get some spares with the machine though?

Ask the tutor what type of bobbin is required as they vary from machine to machine. I have to use the bobbin specified by the manufacturer for my machine as nothing else fits. Using the wrong bobbin can damage a machine.

Millie22, it seems sensible that people in the class take their own bobbins.
I expect you will be making something with your own fabric, and you will need thread to match.
If you filled the bobbins belonging to the class, machines with your thread, then took it home, soon all the bobbins would be gone.
Enjoy your sewing.

Thank you to everyone for your help.

I bought some thread to match my material but forgot about having a bobbin too. I've now found a haberdashery shop and I'm going there tomorrow as hopefully they have a compatible one for the Brother machine.

I may or may not have a garment at some time in the future 😂

Millie22

Thank you to everyone for your help.

I bought some thread to match my material but forgot about having a bobbin too. I've now found a haberdashery shop and I'm going there tomorrow as hopefully they have a compatible one for the Brother machine.

I may or may not have a garment at some time in the future 😂

If I were you, assuming you know the name and specific model of the machine, I’d look online for bobbins to fit.

The trouble is that even sewing machines from the same manufacturer can use different bobbins. I've got two Singer machines and one uses a standard class 15 bobbin, but the other one HAS to have 15J or it skips stitches, jams and misbehaves. The difference between the two bobbins is tiny but important for the correct working of the machine.

The trouble with buying online is that so many companies mis-sell bobbins, saying that they are Universal of will fit such-and-such a machine when they don't. I'd start at the haberdashery as they ought to know what they are selling if they are any good, and then maybe do some research online once you know exactly what you need and find a reputable company that knows what it's talking about!

I've always found this company very reliable and knowledgeable, and they're not terribly expensive: www.sewingmachinesales.co.uk/

I buy perspex boxes of machine thread from Lidl and the bobbins that come with them fit both my sewing machines. They seem to be generic.

As AskAlice said there's no such thing as a universal bobbin. I've used the company she recommends and have always found them very helpful.

Further to my earlier post I was asked to take a bobbin to a class and my Bernina bobbin didn't fit the rubbish machine used in the class. I had to buy a bobbin from the tutor which, of course, didn't fit my own machine.