I also use a thread cone holder my hubby made when I showed him what I wanted. Try putting your large cone in a cup IN FRONT OF THE MACHINE, threading it around the spool holder up top and the usual way thereon. Should work, you just need to put your machine back a little bit to make room for coffee cup. Takes a long time to use up those large spools,mno need to worry about running out of thread at an important moment.