100% cotton thread tends to break ALOT when quilting; most long arm quilters use polyester threads. but every machine has a personality all it's own and you need to find the thread that works in your machine. what works in mine may not work in yours, and the people at the class??? well, they are going to tell you THEIR preferance, not what is going to be best for you.to use cones you just need to come up with a stand (i actually use a travel cup) to hold the cone upright behind the machine, or you can purchase cone holders, then thread as normal works great. i have found that maxilock thread (for sergers) works really well in my viking and on the long-arm. but some of the expensive, recommended threads do not work for me at all. there is a learning curve to finding what is best for you.