I use mostly beige, white or gray. I usually buy cones to use because they are economical to use. I like to piece with 50/3 thread. However, I do like to use the thread on bobbins just to free them up. I do not understand the concept of a bobbin with thread attached to the spool from which it came. I have about a dozen bobbins and that is quite sufficient. I also like to finish up a spool of thread that does not have enough thread for another project.