The one on the left is a cone, the one on the right is a spool

The one on the left is "cross wound." See the little crosses? The other spool is "stack wound," each thread is perfectly parallel to the next one.

Cross wound thread can come on either big cones or smaller spools.

Cross wound spools and cones should be placed so the thread comes off the end. Stacked wound should be placed so the thread comes off the side of the spool.

Thank you for the information CoriAmD and Scissor Queen.

Thanks for posting this.
It's one the many things I know but keep forgetting. :roll:
It always slips my mind - on the rare occasion - when I use stacked thread. I wish lights would start flashing on my machine when I load it up. ;-)
I needed the reminder.

On my machine (a simplicity) I can put a small slender spool on my reg bobbin post and refill it from a cone.

In case you could not find this, here is the youtube of the EZ Winder with the adapter.
http://www.quiltedparadise.com/n/2011-6-2.jsp
Boy, this looks like it works really great. Wonder if it actually does.

2nd post to this thread..........Why don't you just wind some thread on to a bobbin and stitch from there?

This is my method for using cone thread. It works great and it doesn't require buying a $40 apparatus that will be bulky!