help with cone thread holder
 

I recently got a cone thread holder as I thought it would mean fewer thread changes and I could buy thread a little cheaper. So now I have it but don't know how to gwt the tension right. This may seem really stupid, but just up over that top thing is too loose for sure. Is that what the holes are in the heavier bottom part for? Do run the thread through one and use the weight on the stand????Any explanation would be of help. Thanks

The thread guide on top guides the thread smoothly from the top of the spool. Just then pull the thread across your machine and thread as you normally would if it were a small spool on the machine spindle. Some don't even use a thread stand--they just put the cone in a mug or jar and let it feed from the top.
Or am I not understanding your explanation? I shouldn't think you would need any tension on the thread holder.

Your tension should be on your machine andd not the thread holder. Do you have a picture of it? Maybe it is different than I envision.

I agree with the previous replies. I use one, too, and just set the cone on the spike on the bottom tray, then pull the thread up into the top hook and thread your machine as usual. Your machine sets the tension on it, and yes, it's somewhat loose, but not excessively. If you want it tighter, you can either put one of the cone "socks" over it, like a serger sewing machine uses, or you could also cut a piece out of the leg of either knee hi's or panty hose and just pull it over the cone with the thread coming out the top. That sort of takes up the slack, but I don't find a need for it.

Did you get your holder from Superior Threads? If so, they have video's that show how to use it. I was thinking about buying one. I have one with just the one hole in the top and that's where to put the thread through. The one from Superior Threads has a hole in the top and on the sides to accommodate the way the thread is wound on the spool.

Some machines also have a special guide/hole/metal loop thru which you can guide the thread from a cone holder. Mine is a Bernina and it's on the handle - pull up the handle and check the right end of it. After that, thread as usual.

I also remember years ago when we first started using cones, in our mugs, we occasionally taped a med/large safety pin upright to the top right hand corner, on the end of the machine, to serve as a guide; the thread went thru the hole on the safety pin; then thread as usual.

Jan in VA

That's how it works around here, too, but I find I prefer to wind my thread off on to a psare bobbin & then use it in my machine. I get thread cheaper & just feel like I get more control with it. Plus the thread holder isn't in the way. I HATE it when it gets knocked over & my thread goes flying mid-project.

My stand for the cone was plastic, and it would bend and I felt it was not giving even tension..I now put the cone on my machine, just like you would a spool, but I put it on upside down, so the hole was smaller on the spool holder, and less bouncing around..When I finished a cone, I put it inside the next one, further closing the hole for less motion..

I have my really large cone just sitting on the table and thread running up and over the top of my machine and thread as normal. The smaller cones I put in a cup and up and thru a decorative candle holder that has a hole in it and then over my machine and thread as normal. I don't mess with my tension. As a matter of fact Leah Day said that sometimes when your thread keeps breaking when FMQ you should just put your thread on the table to stop that. I don't know about any special tensions since I couldn't see spending the money for the cone holders when I could do it for free and spend the money on something else.

I created my own thread holder. I took an empty glass jar (an old heavy one) and set it behind my machine.
The threads unwinds off the cone with no problem. I keep one machine set up for bobbin winding.
I do a lot of piecing and also use about 10 bobbins per quilt on my Bailey, I Keep lots of bobbins wound.

June in Cincinnati

I recently bought a cone of thread and have it sitting in front of my thread holder. I just thread it through and it is loose but I haven't had one problem with it. Usually I have problems with breakage with the thread, but not since I bought the cone. I didn't realize this until I read this thread! Now I'm going to only buy cones. Oh, and how long they last!!!!!

Have you tried the thread nets that go over the spools? You can buy lengths of this netting and cut to fit the spool you are working with - it helps add tension - and it works great! Just another suggestion

Thanks everyone. I think I have it now. I knew you guys would help!!

I am very glad that you have it figured out pam. I bought one of those plastic ones and had more trouble making it sit still. I thought I would weigh the bottom down with a block of wood and screw it down to the bottom of it. But, my brother made me a wooden one and it works great. I kept breaking needles using the thread in a glass method. It jumps around and gets hung up.

Now my serger took a dump a couple weeks ago and I had to buy a new one. Before trashing the old one, I removed the four-thread holder with one screw and I plan on attaching it to a block of wood to weight it down like the other one. It is great because it has four thread spools and a periscoping thread loops feature at the top of it. We will see, but I am thinking it will work great for this.

My Babylock dealer suggested I thread it through one of the tension hooks on top of my machine that is normally used to thread the bobbin for winding. (hope this makes sense) It gives me just that little extra tension on the thread as it goes through the normal threading process. Works perfect for me.

If this doesn't make sense, let me know and I'll take a pic and post.

One caution, I set my cone thread holder too far to the right once and somehow the handwheel managed to get hold of it - gremlins? and thread was wound all around - had to take machine apart and cut the wad of thread off that managed to get bound there before i even knew it was happening.

I called the MOSQC looking for a thread holder and they said they used a mason jar in their quilt shop. Just thread the machine like you always do. If it is good enough for those ladies, it's good enough for me.:)
I'll be trying it this week.

Pam, Put a bobbin on the machines' thread holder and run thread thru it then thread machine as usual. I use this on all my spools of thread. Love it hope it helps you.

great idea - that sounds awesome

I hope your thread holder is one of the heavy ones. I have one and just thread the machine and sew. The tension is taken care of in the upper thread track of the machine. The thread from the holder does not make any difference.

I've never used one, sorry no help, but good luck!

I was just researching cone holders and found here someone made one using a CD holder, and hung a large safety on on the spool thread in, on the machine, and ran the thread through the hole in the safety pin.

I drop the cone into a mug. Tried the safety pin Jan mentioned. It slipped. I have a large clip that I thread through the hole of it and clip it on the lid of my Janome. Stays put until I take it off. Works fine. Then you just thread the machine.

I like the new acryllic one from Superior Threads

My dad made me a couple of them. He took some small blocks of wood, sanded smooth on the edges, drilled a small hole in the center for a dowel, also a small hole on the side for a wire hanger that he took apart and straightened. Then he made a curl in the top. I took a small top for a cattle syringe and cut the end off and stuck it into the curl and set my big spool on the dowel and voila!! Cheap and holds it just fine.

I use the one from Superior Threads. It will work vertically or horizontally. It's the best thread stand I have used.

I like this idea.

I have a cone holder, but got tired of dragging it to class, so I came up with a homemade one. My machine does not like the thread to come from down low, so I needed it to be at the level it would be on the spool pin. I found a large coffee mug, stuck a school ruler in it (clipped that to the side of the mug with a clothespin) and threaded the thread thru the top hole of the ruler and then into the machine. Works GREAT and I just keep it in my bucket with all my class tools. Cone holder has to stay home, poor baby!

I recently purchased one of the large cones and discovered that it fit perfectly over the empty spool already on my machine. No need to use any special holder or not have it in the usual position. I was really surprised that big cone actually fit on my featherweight! Looks kinda funny, but works great.