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Member since 10/5/03
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Posted on: 2/12/15 3:37 AM ET
I think i saw, quite a while ago a gadget that helped you open a vertical bobbincase. Does anyone have it , or know what its called ?

My mum , age 82 , wants a new sewing machine , i think she would be happy with a bernina , or straight stitch husq quilter machine , but they have vertical bobbincases, she says she cant open them, and so that leaves us looking at janomes , pfaff, husq, etc.
any ideas how to help her open up the case ?

thanks , sue
  
Member since 4/1/08
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Posted on: 2/12/15 11:42 AM ET
In reply to Susan obsessive sewing
I'll think on this over the next couple of weeks. I just got the cast on my hand shortened this morning and the go ahead to start using the hand a little bit. I'll be a good guinea pig.

First thing that came to mind was a rubber tip gum stimulater with something over the handle to make it easier to grasp. Remember the foam sleeves for pencils to make them easier to handle? That would be for the right hand to flip out the latch.

Left hand, thinking of office 'rubber fingers', especially one for the thumb and looser than normal so it would be easier to slip into.

A sleeve for the index finger that was made from a 'rubber finger' with the tip cut off would give your mom some grip lower on the finger. It could add extra grip if her thumb and finger tip don't work well together for gripping.

I'll be mindful of my solutions over the next few weeks and report back.

Best wishes.


-- Edited on 2/12/15 at 11:44 AM --
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Member since 10/5/03
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Posted on: 2/12/15 4:54 PM ET
In reply to a7yrstitch
what some great ideas , just fantastic

sorry to hear you have not been up to speed, but let me know how you get on.

regards

sue
  
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Posted on: 2/12/15 5:53 PM ET
In reply to Susan obsessive sewing
Thank you, I'm doing a happy dance after today's orthopedic visit.

I just pulled the bobbin case and bobbin out of my old Pfaff 1229 with the rubber tipped gum stimulator. The keyhole in the latch is huge on the 1229, I checked the images on line and saw that replacement has a large opening but not as long as the keyhole opening on the original. Was also able to pull up bobbin case images on other machines, that should help.

After trying this, would add that an additional wrap of white Teflon plumber's tape would help protect other components from scratching. Or, you may find something similar in plastic, paint the metal version with vinyl coat, or cover with the heat shrink stuff that electricians use.

Other thoughts on getting the bobbin back in if the office 'fingers' don't work or need an assist.......some sort of cup or basket on a stick (chopstick, ergonomic measuring spoon handle?) to assist in lifting the housing and/ or bobbin into place. Wish I had a little dab of museum gel or silly putty to set into a shallow 1/2 tablespoon measure to try that.

I think she can do this and between the kitchen department, the dental aisle, small tools designed for electronics and, possibly, leatherworking tools, you'll be able to pull together assistive devices.



Let's also be thinking about how to change sewing machine needles - how the needle is loosened and how to guide a fresh needle in.


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Member since 10/16/11
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Posted on: 2/13/15 11:33 AM ET
You could always glue something on the front of the bobbin case to make a small handle.
  
Member since 5/2/09
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Posted on: 2/13/15 4:24 PM ET
In reply to Susan obsessive sewing
I think she would be better off with a machine with a top drop in bobbin case. Just under those circumstances. Just since if she can't move her fingers good enough to grab and pull the latch on a bobbin case and she's 82 it's probably not going to change or get better in time. I think when you get older, it's more important that you keep on being able to sew on anything, rather than have just one particular kind of machine at all though.

The thread needs to pass over the outside of a smooth metal vertical placed bobbin case with a latch on it for each and every stitch, if it catches on something there you can't sew. You could probably hold any cheapo magnet (or magnetic wand) in your fingers though, and I think that would stick to the latch, pull it up a bit and then you could use other hand to try to help pull it out, that might help. But when a bobbin case latch is pulled, that causes also a little metal hinge to pop out, and cover over the lip of the bobbin flange inside, so the bobbin won't just fall out of it, when turned upside down. I don't think a magnet can do that, I think a magnet would only get the latch lifted up enough to grip it better probably instead.


-- Edited on 2/13/15 at 4:26 PM --
  
Member since 9/18/04
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Posted on: 2/13/15 5:31 PM ET
For what it's worth, here's a TOP or horizontal bobbin puller tool (with needle inserter on the other end): Creative Notions bobbin puller tool.

There's also a tool developed for removing and installing vertical bobbin cases on mid-arm machines mounted on a machine quilting frame -- it's difficult to reach the bobbin cases under the quilting frame. Google for:

Handy Helper E Z Bob bobbin remover/installer

You can find these for sale online at a number of places. If you want to see one in "real life" try a quilting store or sewing machine store that caters to quilters.

This is the only photo I've found so far of the tool in use, opening the bobbin case. Supposedly, you can remove the bobbin case and reinstall the bobbin case with this tool acting in a manner similar to your thumb and finger "pinching" the lever on the bobbin case.

I was hoping to find a video, so we could see it in action. There's one glowing review at Sewing Machine Plus.

CMC
  
Member since 4/4/05
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Posted on: 2/13/15 6:16 PM ET
In reply to Susan obsessive sewing
Susan,

Is there a reason that she can't just use a machine with a drop in bobbin instead of going through the trouble of trying to use a vertical bobbin? Like a poster above, I'd go with whatever is easiest to handle. Off and on over years and years of sewing I've used both types of bobbin cases plus some older machines and I'd go with a drop in bobbin every time if I was buying a new machine. Given that we all need more light as we age, bodies are less flexible, eyesight gets worse, flexibility reduces, etc, go with whatever is easiest now and in the future if you aren't trying to find a solution that works with her current machine. Find out how she feels about working with a verticle bobbin too.

M/m
  
Member since 1/20/09
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Posted on: 2/24/15 9:24 AM ET
In reply to Susan obsessive sewing
I would look at the Janome line. She would love having a drop in bobbin, rather than a vertical one that she has to fiddle with keeping the bobbin holder just right and trying to see that it is seated in properly. Depending on budget, and whether she wants to quilt, the Janomes offer several for consideration. 6600, the new 8900, are great quilting machines. Some dealers have demos or quilt show machines still under warranty and reduced cost. You can leave me a message with your needs.....I can provide information. I am not a dealer, nor do I work for Janome...just a satisfied customer. Best wishes Diana
  
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