Their exact shape and size depend on the machine or textile process they were designed for.
So if you find an unusual old spool in a sewing box, don’t assume it’s simply an obsolete version of today’s bobbin—it may have belonged to a completely different textile process.
The Small Object With a Big History
It’s easy to overlook something as simple as a bobbin. Yet these little thread carriers played an important role in the development of textile production and home sewing.
What looks like an ordinary wooden or plastic spool may actually be a reminder of how much craftsmanship once went into making everyday clothes.
Did you grow up with a sewing machine or a box of old bobbins in your home? What did you think these little objects were used for?
