I've never had a bobbin wear out before and I don't believe it's normal. I have to wonder if something was wrong for them to wear out to begin with, which is what was wearing them out. They probably adjusted to the machine. Then when you got the new ones, you finally noticed the problem. I think it's well worth it to get it fixed. They're good machines.

Hi Barb, I have a Kenmore 19001 embroidery machine. Probably the same as yours. Mine just wasn't stitching right, the embroidery looked terrible and sometimes it stopped in the middle of a design and I couldn't get it to start back up without shutting everything down and restarting it. And then of course, the design was gone and had to be reloaded and started over. Anyway, I brought mine in to a repair shop, scared at what it would cost me to fix it. He said it was all just dirty in there. Years of lint had built up. And I would blow it out with a can of compressed air and he said that was the wrong thing to do. I just blew it into places it should of never been and packed it there. He cleaned it good and it runs like a dream! Cost? $65.00. It's worth it to see what a repair man can do! You may be pleasantly surprised... like I was!

Are you crazy? No, but I personally would be looking at used machines at your favorite sewing machine store. If you like a certain repair place, mention what machine you'd like to find and a price range.....ask them to let you know if they find one or something close - leave your name and phone number for contact. I found a 222 Singer for my mother that way - it took a few years but I got her one! Your search might not take that long - as for older/newer which to go with. It is up to the sewer..I also sew on old machines...my "new" machine as my DH calls it is now 30 years old. It took a bit to learn it but after a few garments became an old friend. Same with my serger - a devil I threatened to return - so many trips back and forth to the dealer - it turned out a bent needle was the problem (factory installed no less). I made sure I knew that machine before we left the area as the closest dealer in my new town was 3 hours away. That being said the old serger is still clugging along and does its job for me. I vote for older machines, as long as they come from a reliable sewing shop, come with lesson(s) and some kind of a guarantee. Some people luck in at auctions, and garage sales but they are a buyer beware most times. No for a little more cash I like going to a dealer, but the older machines win hands down IMHO. Budster

I left the spool on the back pin after winding the bobbin, adjusted the tension and that did the trick! Tension is at a 5 (!) now. I ran out of thread on the bobbin 2x and the spool 2x though (cut some off from the bobbin and wound it on the spool the 1st time, last time just took the tail and held it in the needle until finally couldn't even do that, then handsewed the final 4"). This apron has been a PITA and now DD doesn't even want to tie it in the back "b/c it bunches"! I don't know if I even want to make her any *clothes* but she's been complaining so much about her pants being tight that I figured I have to make her some knit pants, and last night it took literally 20 minutes to get her shoes on b/c she didn't like the feel of her socks, went through her drawer trying on socks until I finally pulled some out of the hamper and put them on her. If I could knit socks w/o any seams at the toes I would! Any other things I should know? Should the thread come off the front or the back of the spool for a vertical pin?