There was a article this week about what you use for a thread holder. Hopefully I am attaching one that my husband made for me. It's a copy of one that someone else made at our quilt group. It is a block of wood with a dowel rod (with a small cup hook at the top for running the tread through) and a smaller dowel rod for the spool of thread to sit on. I have a Viking Rose, and as you can see I leave the top up and thread as normal.

Very nice! Your husband was a sweetie for making you one :-)

Clever thread holder :D:D:D

Great idea! thanks so much for taking the time to show this to us.

yes...very nice...tho if you or your hubby isn't handy you can find them at clotilde.com or connectingthreads.com