Yep Ripped on Scotch! You got it! I didn't know this until I took my first Bernina Mastery class. I believe we were also told that when upright, the thread should come off from the back of the spool, just like the first pic, you would take the end of the loose thread over to the left to thread the machine, so the thread would be coming from the back. Ya learn somethin' new every day don't ya?

Cool! Thanks for posting the pictures - I definitely know I've done things wrong in the past. You guys all teach me so much on this board! My girlfriend, who isn't a lurker like me, is always amazed at the things I share with her. I always give this place credit! You're all a wonderful resource for me!!!

Thanks to all!!

http://video.about.com/quilting/Quilting-Thread-101.htm

http://www.quiltuniversity.com/difficult_threads.htm