Yes you can, if its a large spool either place it on the table or in a coffee cup. It should have something to guide it at the top of the machine to keep from having problems with tension. Plus it will also prevent it from slipping over the side and get tangled up in your take up bar (you know the thing that you turn on the side that raises and lowers the needle) this happens a lot and then it has to get serviced. You can by a spool holder, use the safety pin taped to the back of the machine or make a spool holder out of a wooden paper towel holder, put dowels in the bottom of the base and then the round eyelets screwed into the top and you have the spool holder plus the thread guide all in one.