When it's a spool, yes straight out and off the backside of the spool...when it's a cone or mini-cone..thread should feed straight up to the guide above the cone, and that guide should directly above the cone.
Originally Posted by vickie1976
Metalic's should never come off the spool unwinding from a spool standing straight up. It must roll of with the spool horizonally. It will not twist, which causes it to brake.