Easy Cone Thread Holder
 

I bought a cone of thread, from Red Rock Threads, as it was sooooo much cheaper than several spools. This is Superior So Fine, 3280 yards. I don't have a cone holder BUT I do have an extra post, which sits vertically. Here's how I made a cone holder, from it! Works perfectly! :thumbup:

that''ll work great... thanks for sharing this great idea...:thumbup:

Remember the thread should unwind from the top of the cone not from the side.

Guess my machine doesn't know that "rule" because it's been working perfectly. Thanks for the tip, though. If it starts causing a problem, I'll come up with something different. :)

Never heard of that rule either and mine works just fine too.

I read once that if the thread feeds off the top of the spool you should use the sideways spindle. If it feeds off the side of the spool you should use the upright spindle. That seems to work on my machine. I will have to try your trick, Thanks.
Sue

For the regular spools, my machine has a horizontal spindle, which turns the spool onto its side, feeding from only one end. Have been through many spools of thread and never had any problem with that, either. Guess time will tell, whether or not this causes a problem. So far, it's been working fine.

Great for you.
And wow to all those stitches

Lynnie, that was my "big fling" after my 35 yo Kenmore started giving me trouble! Trust me, that purchase was very out-of-character, for me! :shock:

Thanks for showing us how to make an easy cone holder. I'm going to try it on my machine tomorrow.

The weight of that cone may change your thread tension since it's heavy and will not spin easy. A super easy way to use a cone is to tape a safety pin with the round part up, set the cone beside the machine and run the thread thru the safety pin and then thread the machine regular.

By putting the spool keeper thingy (whatever it's called!) underneath it all, it turns easily. From the photos, it looks as if it's sitting directly on the machine but it's actually raised just slightly. The spool of Mettler is inside the cone, so that keeps it from being wobbly. I know it all looks too simple, to work properly . . . but so far, it seems to be working just fine. Time will tell, I guess.

If it works for you that is all that counts. Both of my machines have a cone holder and spool does not move. They have a wire thing that elevates up and holds the thread as it unwinds. I have a Juki TL98QE and a Baby Lock Jane, both straight stitch machines. I haven't used cones yet but, I have thought they would be more cost effective then the spools. I have so much thread it will be several years before I need any.

I'm going to try this as I use the large spools in cream and light grey, the colors I do most of my sewing with. I have a metal spool holder but it's heavy so I don't like to take it with me to classess or sew ins. Presently I have my big spool of thread in a small coffee can, snap on the cover for traveling. Tried using a glass jar but that makes a lot of noise and annoyed the other sewers. May in Jersey

I buy the large spool of Star Cotton Thread and I found that the wooden spools that I purchase in the small bags at Hoby Lobby fit over the spool holder on my machine and the large spool fits over the wooden spools and turns freely.

I use a wide mouth pint jar behind my machine for cones.....works just as well as the costly thread thingy.

Love the kenmores.. wish Kenmore actually made them instead of whoever they dealt it out to that year.!LOL
Had mine for 25 years, then it bit the dust !!!
Thanks for the idea .. usually the base with an arm on it is what I use for the comes. Didnt know cone thread was supposed to come off the side tho.. interesting ideas, thoughts from the board for sure ... Thanks for sharing your idea Neesie.

No, mine is a 7700. I think I'd be afraid to even touch a 12000! Had a hard time, convincing myself I wouldn't hurt this one! :D

I do LOVE it, though! :thumbup:

I don't think cones are "supposed" to feed from the side . . . but this particular one is working perfectly. The machine just purrs along. Am wondering if there are maybe different types of cones. This particular one is Superior So Fine and is 3250 yards. Maybe the larger cones are a totally different story. At any rate, it's a heck of a lot cheaper, to buy by the cone than by the spool! The 550 yd spool was $5.75 and the 3250 yd cone was $18.95 (at Red Rock Threads). I only bought this one color cone, to try . . . but next time I order, I'm gonna get a couple other (frequently used) colors, as well.

If it does start to give you problems there is an easy fix too :) Use a wire coat hanger, cut the bottom section of wire out about 10-12 inches bend it into a "L" shape and put loops at both ends, the leg of the L loop will fit over your vertical spindle and your cone will sit down on time of it, and your thread can run up and through the loop at the top and then down to your sewing machine letting pull from the 'top' :) [ATTACH=CONFIG]366053[/ATTACH]

What a cool invention! That looks like exactly what I'd need, for my Kenmore (when I get it back up and running)! Thanks! :thumbup:

thanks for the idea, I fight my cone holder it turns over have to go chase it , I can do this one.

I use " So Fine" on the large cones all the time too. I only every emptied 2 of them! I get it from Superior Threads - usually stock up at the quilt show in Hershey. The spool holder I have was only $7, and it sits next to the machine. If your method starts to give you a problem, the holders are not hard to find.

lol I am cheap...er "frugal" thus resourceful lol why spend $7-$10 on a holder when you can use something 'free' and make it yourself :D Happy to share lol when my sewing table is put back together and I'm not ashamed to take pictures again I'll post a picture of mine lol

Cheap . . . I mean "frugal" is GOOD! :thumbup: I've seen the cone holders and read about the cups, etc. but aside from being ch . . . frugal, I really don't want anything extra on my table; I have enough to knock over/off, already. :p

LQS told me a mason jar works too!

That does work! if you aren't clumsy...I spent 90 minutes cleaning up the glass and stopping the bleeding lol that's when I came up with the coat hanger trick lol if you do use one I would suggest sitting on a piece of the rubberized shelf liner so it doesn't slide easily.

Here's another idea if your machine isn't picky!

Save the empty container when you finish using up a larger purchase of C/DVD's. The spindle holds a large cone and the top becomes a trash bin.

RECYCLE is the name of the game.

Thanks for sharing your great idea!

So simple, yet so PRACTICAL! What a great idea!

TreeFrog

I have 2 sewing machines, both of which have only a horizontal spindle for the thread. I would love to be able to use thread from the several cones I've bought to use as bobbin thread. Recently when I needed a particular color and only had it on a cone, I resorted to winding the thread by hand onto an empty spool.

Great idea. Thanks for sharing

If you are desperate the mayonaise jar beside the machine also works

I have a large coffee cup sitting behind my machine to put all those larger spools in and run the thread up and over the top of machine. I have no problems doing it this way when either sewing or embroidering.

What a great idea!!!! Thank-you!