Like others, I use cones for the basic colors. The only time I'm using smaller spools is when I really "need" to match the fabric I'm working on. I tried the coffee cup method but it was one more thing to be in the way. So--I had saved an empty spool from invisibile thread. It fits perfectly inside the cone. I put the flat piece from my Janome spool thing on the spindle, add the empty spool and then the cone. Looks clunky; works fine. Thank you to the maker of this machine, it is not picky as to what I can use.