Not at all. The Bailey was designed to use any kind of thread. For my practice I have been using the cones I bought at JoAnn for $1 each. When I thought it was the thread, when it was breaking so much, I changed to another brand of spool thread, but that was not the problem. I am able to use any kind of bobbin thread, including some pre-wound bobbins. It uses standard needles, and plastic bobbins. The design was well thought out. I think it was based on the Singers from earlier years.