After spending several hours on Saturday and only getting 5 inches onto the warping board of Aunt Lydia’s no. 10 threads, I decided I had to get round balls from squared balls – What I needed was a bobbin winder.

It only took 45 minutes to convert the balls to tangle-free easy-store bobbins. Just remove the cardboard tube from the center by squishing it down and locate the center-pull string (on the squared balls).

Using parts from my very first sewing machine and some scrap wood, I made an electric bobbin winder. It was really – really easy to make. Give it a try! You’ll be delighted with it! Here’s a video of it being used for the first time – Thanks to my slobo!

After getting much faster on the second bobbin, a leather glove was necessary to prevent finger burn from the thread. I borrowed our 8 yr. old’s leather workman glove.

For the end of the prong, I just used the pulley from the motor. It has a tiny set screw that you can use to position it along the shaft. Something similar for the other end would work too. Another rubber stopper would work just as well.

If you want one that you can use any size/type bobbin in, I imagine the ends of plumb bobs with a sliding bookend dealie-thing-a-ma-bob would work well too, The bore shaft will fit a McDonald’s drinking straw too, if you want to make your own bobbins with cardboard disks.

I did need to put a layer of masking tape on the shaft end of the motor, to fit the bore’s female end on more snugly center. I’m talking one or two wraps with the masking tape tho.

For the curious, I just have it clamped to my drawing board. Rubber banded to the drawing board behind it is the string heddle jig so I could prop up in bed watching old movies while I tied 300 heddle strings. The shaft is a bit off-center because I did not take the time to find exact center on my rubber stopper. Finding center is a good thing.

With visions of a mini-lathe and electric spinning fly wheels – I leave you with confidence that if I can pull this off – so can you!

Want to see more Slobo videos?
Here is one of my favorite Slobo videos of a day we spent in the mountains with the kids – puddle jumping.