I use a banana ripening stand for my big spools of thread. Works good. One of those you hang your bananas from when they are not quie ripe and they hang out till they are ready to eat. I have metal ones, but have seen wooden ones that you can drill a hole in for a wooden dowel to set large spool on. I just sit the spool down under the hook and works great till one of the furbabies decide to stroll between the machine and the spool. There are also smaller ones that are made to hold a hanging candle holder that works great. Have a tall one of those taped to a board to use on the big spools. Three machines set up so need more than one.