Does it matter which direction the thread comes off the spool?
 

I was taught the cross wound thread should be placed on the horizontal spool holder of my sewing machine and the straight wound thread goes on the vertical spool.

What I can't remember is the direction the thread should come off the spool when threading the machine?... Either from the front of the spool or from the back of the spool. Is there an easy way to remember this? I know I can google this, but I wanted to ask you guys first. :)

If it makes a difference I can't tell on cross wound spools as long it comes off the top of the spool. I rarely use stacked wound spools.

I only have a vertical spool holder on my machine. I tend to have the thread come off the backside but just noticed with Aurfil thread, it comes off the front. Did find this interesting article on Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140...sewing-machine

Aurifil is cross wound, it should come off the top of the spool not from the side. Coming off the side puts a twist in the thread when it is cross wound.

I have pictures on the top of my Janome showing which way the thread should come off the spool. I think it does make a difference.

My Baby Lock has a horizontal spool pin. Thread should wind off from the back.

I believe it should wind from the back with the stacked thread (vertical spool pin). At least on my 2 machines, if you pull from the front, it then gets a kink in it as it goes through the first hook in the thread run because you're pulling the thread backward to the first loop rather than forward.

For the crosswound (horizontal spool pin), typically it shouldn't matter because the thread is being pulled straight over the tip of the spool. I usually load mine with the thread pulling from under the spool because I find that easier, but it really shouldn't matter. Of course, we all know that some machines are just finicky & will work better one way than the other.

For years i didn't worry about it. Now I still don't, particularly....but recently I was taught the following:

Jan in VA

Thanks everybody for your great answers!

The sewing machine manual, especially if it is for a newer machine, will usually indicate how the spool of thread should be placed on the machine. On my newest machine, it has two horizontal thread holders, one for those skinny spools and the other for standard sized spools. The instructions are to have the thread come out from underneath towards you before threading the machine. For the larger cones of thread, I use the tall portable thread holder with a large thread guide/hook. The thread comes off the top of the spool or cone. Hope this helps.