I have cone thread on a stand by my machine and just thread it into the first part of the machine where you would normally start threading it. I fill bobbins with it all the time. Sometimes I put a little extra tension on the thread while it is filling. Works fine for me. I usually fill 4 to 6 bobbins at a time and store them on my thread stand. DH drove a nail into the base next to the cone and I put the bobbins on it, very handy.