I see large spools of thread for sale, usually at a good price. I have a regular home sewing machine (Husqvarna 750) and I don't know how I would use a big cone of thread, because I don't think it would fit (?) Can these be used on home sewing machines?

I hope you get an answer on this. Recently my husband went to a yard sale and brought me home a box full of big spools of thread. I have used them, but don't know enough about that thread to know how versatile it is and feel kinda dumb asking.

You can buy an adapter:
http://www.amazon.com/Dritz-R-Cone-T.../dp/B0019KDYL2

And there was talk recently here about a little machine where you can rewind the thread from cones onto spools so it's easily usable on your domestic machine. The name is right at the tip of my tongue ......?!??!?!?

Some people just put the cone in a mug behind the machine - I've had limited success with that method.

eta: Found it - the EZ Winder Kit
http://www.clotilde.com/detail.html?prod_id=7349
Here's the recent thread (hehehe):
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-115374-1.htm

Yes, I made a cone holder out of a block of wood and a dowel rod. You can also buy these. The bought ones are fancy and pretty, mine is plain and simple.:)

You can buy a cone thread stand to place behind your machine. Another thing some do is to put the cone in a mug and run it up, thru a clip or something taped to the machine as a guide. I tried this, but it didn't work as well as the thread stand.

I put mine in a coffee cup and just set it behind my machine, works perfectly!

I have done both. I put it in my mug behind the machine and used the adaptor. I liked the adaptor better but i don't think it works well for quilting. I had the mug behind my quilt for my 2nd quilt I finished and when I was doing binding with the mug behind my machine and the quilt kept knocking it down to the floor.

Yes, you can use it, but you need to find something it will fit into for stability (coffee mug, small coffee tin, margarine tub etc) and arrange some kind of a hook overhead to guide the thread into your normal thread guide on the machine. You could make a hook from wire, or there are stands available to do this too.

I bought a cone holder at Joann's, nothing fancy, made of plastic. It's been a long time so I don't know the price but it is reasonable and can use a coupon.

This certainly a reassuring place to hang out....

I always wondered the same thing about those big spools of thread and now feel reassured if I do buy some I don't have to buy some other gadget for my machine....

Thanks for all of your replies! :mrgreen:

I recently bought a new machine and was talked into one of those large spools of thread, which I am using. I am not sure it is that helpful as I still have to stop to rewind the bobbin and then, of course, rethread the machine. What would be nice is a self-winding bobbin while sewing...do any machines have that feature? Anyway, when you buy the large spool of thread you also buy a stand to hold it. It works fine, but again, I haven't seen much advantage as yet.

OK I felt so dumb I didn't ask! Glad you did! I was given a huge grocery bag of thread being thrown away by a "sweat shop" ! I didn't have the right color thread to hand bind a quilt but found the perfect color in that bag that I had kept for at least 5 years (taking up needed space in my room and me afaraid to use it!) and tried it. Oh the joy. No twisting or knotting--just great thread. Worked great. Got really curious and discovered a label on the inside of one of the spools stated it is polyester thread. I love it and now have it all organized in a special thread box. Enough to last me forever!

Wow - when I read this the 1st time I read margarita tub... and thought I need one of those... :shock:

I have wondered about knocking it off the table using something I couldn't put way out of my way too...

I made a cone stand out of a second hand paper towel holder and installed a cup hook

You can buy a thread stand, or just put a mug behind the right side of your machine, and thread as usual.
Have had success with both~~

I didn't find the plastic cone holder at all up to the job, now I have two metal ones (one for each machine) I wind several bobbins before I start when I am going to be quilting. The chief advantage is cost. I got five cones yesterday, each with 5000 metres on it (longer than 5000 yards) and they cost €3.50 each, (about $5.00 each.)

Interesting idea. I have a cheap cone stand that I am not thrilled with.

I do several bobbins ahead too. Can't believe how quickly I go thru them.

I have the ez winder. Love it.

My dad made several that I gave to some of my lady friends and all he did was have a small circle of wood, took an old wire hander and cut off a piece about 10 inches long. made a loop on one end and made a hole to stnad it in and also put a wood dowel or short stick in another hole and we could use all the big cones we wanted to. I put a smalled cone inside so that it doesn't wiggle all over and yes I have been using this kind of thread for years ever since DH bought a big box at an auction sale for 17.50. I gave my DD in NY some, my MOM some and still have some. I have had to go and buy white, but have enough of the colored thread for forever. I also bought all the thread in the essentials pkg from Connecting Thread. So have ever color needed to use on tops of quilts also. They all match or there is a neutral color that I can use. I have NEVER had thread go bad on me. Why would it if you keep in dry and not where mice can get at it? Quilts wouldn't last as long as they do if the thread wasn't any good!!!! Quality thread should last forever.
I also have the side winder. I have a number of bobbins and when I am going to do a project I load up a lot of bobbins at least 10 to make sure all I have to do is stop and pull the empty and in with a full one. Works wonderful, have done my sewing like this for years. Used to make clothes and other things. Did not like to stop and wind another bobbin. Bobbins weren't that expensive back then. I just bought a pkg of 100 on EBAY for my FW, so that I can do the same with her.

Thank you everyone for your replies. I left a whole bunch of spools at a garage sale recently because I had no idea how I would use them....what a fool! Next time they are coming home with me!
Thanks again to all on the board for your responses! Love this place!!!

Great to know because I do believe I have a lifetime supply. Just read where someone uses a quart jar for her cone thread to work. My huge supply came from a yard sale. had been kept in a bard and I had to sort through it. Had to through out only about 10%. No rats nests, just some tangling from the smaller partly used cones. I put them safely in boxes standing up and easily accessible.

I have often looked at the cone threads at the fabric stores. I like to use 100% cotton when quilting. Do you know where I can find cones at a reasonable price with 100% cotton?

What I'm reading is that they must stand up when using and not lay on its side? Is that right?

I bought one at JoAnns about 6 months ago and it was $6.95 without the coupon.

I'm using the empty spool from blank CD/DVD's. It works good. It bobbles around a bit when I wind bobbins, but I just hang onto it.

I use a spool holder that I keep on the side of my machine. It is great for large spools. I don't even use the spool pin on the machine. Even when using the regular gutterman spools I still use the spool holder on the side.

I have the one from Connecting Threads. The base is metal and much heavier and sturdier than the less expensive plastic one. It's probably the same as yours.
http://www.connectingthreads.com/too...d__D81905.html

But look at this pretty one:
http://www.connectingthreads.com/Too...r__D71253.HTML ;-)

Do yourself a favor and buy the pretty one. You won't regret the purchase.

I have not found that the quality of the thread on these larger, inexpensive spools is good enough for regular sewing. My understanding is that this is thread for surgers/surging, and where quality is not as critical, perhaps? (I dunno, I don't surge... not with a machine anyway, yuk yuk...)

I bought a few of these from my LQS and was immediately disappointed when I started threading my machine for standard sewing.

I use them with my Viking all the time. Like others, both the plastic thread stand at Joanns. Think it was about $5. Works just dandy for me. Fortunately I can wind my bobbin without unthreading my machine so it's really handy having the large spools.

Thanks jillaine-I have only found the ones for surgers also and always wondered what would happen if I used it for my quilting on the Bernina sewing machine? I bought one of the larger spools of thread (not the big cone) from Joanns but was hesitant to continue to use it. When I pulled the thread there was no resistence and it snapped easy. I don't want for it not hold up on the quilt after a few years or even a few washings!

Seems like I remember a discussion about why serger thread isn't good for piecing and quilting, but I have seen regular cotton thread on large spools and cones I think..

found one:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-102361-1.htm

I bought a pretty flower pot at the dollar tree. Just drop in the large spool, and pull the thread around the spool holder on my machine. Havent had any problems

yes, I use large cones with my machine. A regular sears sewing machine. My DH built me a cone stand which works great. You can also buy them, as others have mentioned

No, you can buy the "good" thread on the large cones too. Connecting Threads, Superior Threads, Metro Embroidery - these all have them. I use a heavy metal thread stand that I got from Superior at a quilt show for about $12. Most longarms also use thread on the large cones.

hmmm.. this got me thinking... If you turned the pot upside down and put the cone inside and used the hole in the bottom to thread the thread through it wouldn't collect as much dust and lint... and if you made a loop on the bottom of a wire the same size as the hole you might be able to attach it with a rubber grommet...

Really, how cool is that?!! I didn't know there was such a thing.

My Bernina has this feature. Only thing is, if you need to fill the bobbin from the spool that you are sewing with, you will still have to unthread the machine and thread it again when you're done. I always fill a bunch of bobbins when I start.

I have this EZ-winder - works great!!!

My machine I use most of th time has a spool holder for cones of thread.