Greetings fellow Canadian, Looks like you've gotten plenty of good advice. I use the big cones all the time, the advantage being mostly is that you get a better price on thread, rather than buying umpteen small spools of thread. Especially for piecework where you are usually using a neutral taupe or grey. Buy yourself a weighted metal cone stand, and before you start your piecework, fill 3 or 4 bobbins, and you are probably good to go through your whole quilt top. Take care, Auntie B from Saskatchewan, Canada.