The most important thing is to realize that the thread must come off easily from the top of the cone. You can't expect the cone to turn as thread is pulled off it, as a spool does. It's too heavy. Most of these cute homemade cone holders don't show how the thread will come off the top. They will work only if you place them on the floor next to the machine and feed the thread into the thread holders from there. A safety pin taped onto the machine so that thread comes in through the round eye would work very well. Happy sewing.