The secret is not to unthread the Serger. Do you hear me laughing? The trick is to cut the thread near the cones and tie on the new colors, ( I double knot) run the Serger pulling slightly on the end of the thread until your new thread is in the needles. This will be running the thread all the way through to the needles and now you are ready to serge. Every once in a while my thread will come untied but I just thread the needle and continue with my project. Hope this helps. It is simple once you have learned the trick.