A while back last summer actually, I got some thread at an estate sale. $.50 for a bag and took what they had. I had my DH tug on it. It is some sturdy thread and we've both used it. He learned real quick how to wind the bobbin and has patched a couple of his "grunge" shirts. He goes into the bag every once in a while and will not use anyother thread. When he's done he attaches the bobbin to the spool like I showed him with the rubber band. If it passes his tug/snap, it's good to go.