So... it was 10:00 pm, I hadn't felt well, but I wanted to get "something" done before bed. So, I pieced some strips for a WIP baby quilt back.

I had made a 6 dowel rod thread dispenser. My new white thread was a BIG spool of guteman.

I put the thread on the dispenser & threaded it thru the machine, and got the strips almost done. about 10 seams. maintained a nice 1/4, etc. THEN I looked at the stitching. the top thread was super loose. seams not usable. All to do again.

Once before, I used the dispenser with my singer 403, and it happened then, too. I think the "pull" of the thread off the spool is part of the tension system. There is no pull off the dispenser, the thread just flows off. gah.

sorry to hear that you have to redo them. i had that problem. i stuffed a piece of batting in the loop above the thread spool. that put enough tension on it to sew beautifully. good luck.

I sure do love my 403. The big spools don't agree with her much. I put them on something else and I'm good to go. Some times I put the big spool on the bottom spindle and run the thread up over the other two - seems to work.

When I use a thread stand with one of my vintage machines, I put an ordinary size spool of thread onto the spool pin, on top of a felt ring.

I thread the machine from the thread stand to underneath the weighted-down felt ring to the next threading point for that machine.

You can buy replacement spool pins for some models which have threading holes drilled in the top - I like those, too.

You can also tape a large eye darning needle to the spool pin.