Wind your bobbin before you thread the needle
A bobbin is the small spool that holds thread underneath your fabric. On a Brother machine, you wind it by hand using thread from a regular spool, then insert it into the bobbin case. The bobbin spins during sewing to create the lower thread loop that locks your stitches. If your bobbin is empty or nearly empty, your machine will skip stitches or stop sewing altogether.
Winding takes about two to three minutes and must happen before you thread the needle. Many new sewers skip this step or wind the bobbin incorrectly, which leads to tension problems and broken thread. The process is the same on most Brother models, whether you own a basic machine or a computerized one.
Key Takeaways
- Place an empty bobbin on the bobbin winder spindle at the top right of your machine, then slide the metal stopper over it to hold it in place.
- Guide thread from your spool through the bobbin winder tension guide (a small notch or hook on the winder assembly), then wrap it around the bobbin three times by hand.
- Press the foot pedal or tap the start button to spin the bobbin; the machine stops automatically when the bobbin is full.
- Remove the full bobbin, trim the thread, and insert it into the bobbin case with the thread tail pulled through the tension spring.
Locate the bobbin winder at the top of your machine
Open the top cover of your Brother machine. On the right side of the top surface, you will see a small metal spindle sticking up—this is the bobbin winder spindle. Next to it is a small metal stopper that slides left and right. Just below the spindle, you will see a small notch or hook; this is the bobbin winder tension guide.
If your machine is still threaded from a previous project, you do not need to remove that thread. The bobbin winder works independently of the needle threading. However, if you are winding a bobbin for the first time, take a moment to locate these parts so you know exactly where to place the bobbin and where to guide the thread.
Place the empty bobbin on the spindle and find it
Take an empty Brother bobbin—these are small plastic spools about the size of a coin. Slide it onto the bobbin winder spindle so the bobbin sits flat against the spindle. The bobbin should slide on easily; do not force it.
Now slide the metal stopper to the right, over the bobbin. The stopper holds the bobbin in place so it does not spin off while you wind. The bobbin should feel snug but not tight. If the stopper is too loose, the bobbin will wobble; if it is too tight, the spindle will not turn smoothly.
Thread the bobbin winder and wrap the thread by hand
Take the thread from your spool (the one already on your machine or a new spool you are using). Pull the thread up and guide it through the bobbin winder tension guide—the small notch or hook below the spindle. This guides the thread onto the bobbin at the correct tension.
Once the thread is through the tension guide, wrap it around the bobbin three times by hand, going clockwise. This hand-wrapping prevents the thread from bunching or tangling when the bobbin starts to spin. After three wraps, hold the thread loosely in your hand so it stays in place.
Do not wrap the thread too tightly—you should be able to move your fingers freely. If you wrap too tightly, the thread may break or the bobbin may not spin evenly. If you wrap too loosely, the thread may slip off the bobbin as it winds.
Spin the bobbin until it stops automatically
Press the foot pedal down slowly, or tap the start button on your machine (depending on your model). The bobbin will begin to spin, and thread will wind onto it automatically. As the bobbin fills, it will spin faster. Do not hold the thread in your hand once the bobbin is spinning—let it feed freely through the tension guide.
The machine will stop automatically when the bobbin is full. This usually takes 30 to 60 seconds. You will hear a slight change in sound or feel a small click when the bobbin reaches capacity. Do not try to wind past this point—the machine stops for a reason, and overfilling causes thread to jam.
If the bobbin does not stop automatically, your machine may have a manual bobbin winder. In that case, watch the bobbin as it fills and tap the start button again to stop it when the thread reaches the edge of the bobbin.
Remove the full bobbin and prepare it for use
Slide the metal stopper to the left to release the bobbin. Lift the bobbin off the spindle. You will see thread still attached to the bobbin; trim this thread close to the bobbin with scissors or thread cutters. Leave a tail about one inch long—you will use this to thread the bobbin case.
Inspect the bobbin. The thread should be wound evenly and smoothly, with no loose spots or bunching. If the winding looks uneven, the bobbin may have been overfilled or the tension guide was not threaded correctly. You can rewind it, but most sewers straightforward use it as is—minor unevenness rarely causes problems.
Insert the bobbin into the bobbin case
Locate the bobbin case on the left side of your machine, underneath the needle. On most Brother machines, you access it by raising the presser foot and removing the needle plate (the metal plate under the needle). The bobbin case is a small metal or plastic housing that holds the bobbin.
Hold the full bobbin with the thread tail pointing up and to the left. Insert the bobbin into the case so it sits flat. The bobbin should spin freely inside the case. Now pull the thread tail through the small slot in the bobbin case—this is the tension spring. The thread should sit in this slot; you will hear a small click when it seats correctly.
Replace the needle plate and lower the presser foot. Your bobbin is now ready to sew. Before you start sewing, hold both the needle thread and the bobbin thread and turn the handwheel (the large wheel on the right side of the machine) toward you one full rotation. This brings the bobbin thread up through the needle plate so both threads are on top of the fabric.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most common error is forgetting to thread the bobbin winder tension guide. If you skip this step, the thread winds too loosely and falls off the bobbin during sewing. Always guide the thread through the small notch below the spindle before wrapping it around the bobbin by hand.
Another frequent mistake is overfilling the bobbin. The machine stops automatically for a reason—if you keep winding past that point, the thread bunches and jams inside the bobbin case. Trust the automatic stop.
A third error is inserting the bobbin upside down or backward. The thread tail should point up and to the left when you insert it. If the bobbin is backward, the thread will not seat in the tension spring, and you will have tension problems or thread breakage.
Finally, some sewers forget to pull the bobbin thread up through the needle plate before sewing. If you skip this step, the first few stitches will look loose or the needle thread will tangle with the bobbin thread. Always turn the handwheel one full rotation after threading the bobbin case.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my bobbin is full?
The machine stops automatically when the bobbin reaches capacity. You will feel a slight resistance or hear a small click. If you are winding by hand and the machine does not stop, watch the thread level on the bobbin—stop when the thread reaches the outer edge of the bobbin, about one-quarter inch from the rim.
Can I use bobbins from other brands on my Brother machine?
Brother bobbins are designed specifically for Brother machines and fit best. Some universal bobbins work, but they may not wind evenly or fit the bobbin case as snugly. If you have a choice, use genuine Brother bobbins to avoid tension and jamming problems.
What if the thread keeps slipping off the bobbin while I wind?
You are likely wrapping the thread too loosely by hand before spinning the bobbin. Wrap it three times around the bobbin firmly but not tightly, then hold the thread gently as the bobbin spins. If it still slips, make sure the thread is threaded through the bobbin winder tension guide—this is the most common cause of slipping.
Do I need to wind a new bobbin every time I sew?
No. Wind a new bobbin only when the current one runs out of thread. Most bobbins hold enough thread for several small projects or one large project. Keep two or three wound bobbins on hand so you always have a backup ready.
Why does my bobbin thread keep breaking?
Thread breaks during winding usually means the bobbin winder tension guide was not threaded correctly, or the bobbin was overfilled. Thread breaks during sewing usually means the bobbin was inserted backward or the thread did not seat in the tension spring. Check the bobbin case first, then rewind if needed.