If I am thinking of the same cap, when you want to secure the thread tail on the spool, you just slide it into the slot (kind of wrap it around) which goes all around underneath the top. It doesn't go in very far, but it will stay in there nicely, and you will have the thread end left hanging out to pull on the next time you need to use that thread.

Coats & Clark sewing thread

usually if you pull the label of you can get to the very end of the thread and get hold of it better. Before trying pull it, use a straight pin to try to loosen it some. The turn the spool the that side to the bottom of the holder.

Find someone that works with wood. A wood base and to dowels and I cup hook. Put the dowels in the wood base, make one shorter than the other. The dowels should be the size of the opening of the thread spool. Then a cup hook in the shorter one. Place behind the machine and thread as required. It the small dowel is the size of the spool, around, you then can use cones or spools. I found someone at a craft show and he made me one. He now carries them all the time.

I got my metal thread holder at my my local Singer shop. About $8.00 plus tax.

you can file these down, works for me

I have a few spools of C&C and the spools are snap end spools, no notches.

Oldisme, I use my thumb nail to start lifting them. If I'm unwinding I then lift all the way, if I am winding to put away once the top is cracked it is easy to run the thread end around a few time.


Just for the record, I like coats and clark cotton thread very much, and the hand quilting thread is my favorite.
But I have voted with my feet on the machine thread entirely because of those notches. Also it doesn't take long to lose the paper stickers that tell what thread you are picking up, the poly/cotton or the cotton. Life is just too short for those kind of little irritations when there are so many more to choose from now.

Onebyone, I'll look at the C&C next time I'm out. thanks for the update!

I just peel back the paper label on that end and then a tweezers or fingernails can get that thread end easily. The problem with putting a stack wound thread in a mug or on a horizontal thread pin, is that you are introducing twist to your thread as it goes through your tension discs. A stack wound thread should be delivered on a vertical pin or so the thread is coming straight (at a 90 degree angle) off the spool.

I like the notches cuz they keep my thread from unraveling when not in use. To start a new spool, I simply use a needle or pin to slip under there and grab the thread end and tug it out. When sewing with them, I put the notch at the bottom, or away from the way it goes to thread my machine and I never have a problem with it snagging.

I get frustrated with the spools without a notch as the thread unwinds and gets tangled with other spools. Grrr! Sorry they give you problems.

These spools that cause a lot of trouble are made in China, the ones from Germany though a little more expensive are much better.

I too had that problem with the notches and I did finally use an old file to smooth it out. Ruined 2 spools trying to find the beginning thread and cut too many layers. Now I have to find out how to use them with too many ends lol.

I just finished a project and and had the same problem. i don't know if you have a vertical spindle on your machine but I put my spool on there and it worked like a charm! Who knew? Good luck.

KalamaQuilts Thanks a bunch for helping me out with figuring out those thread tops! As usual the Board Members come through :thumbup:

My Juki and Babylock Jane machines have a cap to cover the top of thread spools. Never gets hooked.

What about having your spool vertical instead of horizontal ? Is that an option?

I use cone thread for just about everything and $1.95 (or less when on sale) for 3000 yds, I don't even buy spools any more unless it is a color I simply have to match and it is not in my collection - and I don't need 3,000 yds of it.

Marysewfun

I had an hour to kill today before an appointment so I stopped in JoAnns. The C&C thread spools there all had the snap spools.

You can purchase a thread stand at Charlie Rector's Long Creek Mills in Gastonia, NC. (www.longcreekmills.com ) He has threads out the wazoo in huge cones which are VERY reasonable. I think I paid $5.00 for the thread stand several years ago, and I use it all the time. Good luck with your hunt.

I have just turned the spool around on the spool where it feeds from the opposite end. It has worked for me unless your machine is fussy about which direction the thread feeds it should work for you.