Has anyone ever MacGyvered way to have regular sewing machine hold thread cone?

[...]

Your local fabric store probably has them on the notions wall.

??? Perhaps you received a reply from someone in my killfile, I did not see any other rely than my own.

You're welcome. If you sew lots of black, white, navy, and red, serger thread probably works fine, although keep in mind that it is not as high a quality thread as sewing machine thread. Serger thread is manufactured with a specific use in mind: Serging. ;-} And since serging lays down three or four threads each pass, it has to be somewhat less bulky than regular sewing thread.

I like to color-match thread to fabric as closely as possible, so serger threads do not do for much of my sewing.

A couple of years ago or so, I saw a sale for cones of thread at a very good price so I bought a couple. I've since never been able to figure out how to use them on my regular sewing machine. When I went around Xmas to fabric store, they told me that those were for sergers and that I couldn't use them in any way on a regular sewing machine.

Well, I've never been one to believe something can't be done until I've exhausted all avenues. I _still_ may not have figured out what I can do to use the cones on the single slim spindle on my Singer but thought maybe someone here had created something that would do the job.

I thought it couldn't hurt to ask.

Has anyone figured out anything that works?

Thanks. :oD

I KNEW it; I just knew there had to be something out there, either that I could buy or make. I'll print that page out and take it to that store to see if they sell this type of thing. Good thing I don't trust one person's answer and let that discourage me .

Thanks! I also love the idea of going and going and going without running out of thread, too!

Cheers. :oD

:Craftsy wrote: :> "BEI Design" wrote: :[...] :> :> > > Has anyone figured out anything that works? :> > :> > You could try something like this: :> >

:> > :> > Either to hold the cone and then thread to the rest of :> > the needle-threading path, or to hold the cone and wind :> > bobbins, :> > then use them in place of spools. :> > :> > I have a couple like that, I use them when I need to use :> > serger cones on my Singer. :> > :> > NAYY, :> :> I KNEW it; I just knew there had to be something out :> there, either that I could buy or make. I'll print that :> page out and take it to that store to see if they sell :> this type of thing.

:Your local fabric store probably has them on the notions :wall.

I thinkt the dritz stand to be flimsy and not worth the effort. Putting the cone on the floor behind the table and using a couple coat hangers bent ot have thread guide loops (and something to hold them in place) works just as well.

:> Good thing I don't trust one :> person's answer and let that discourage me .

:??? Perhaps you received a reply from someone in my :killfile, I did not see any other rely than my own.

:> Thanks! I also love the idea of going and going and :> going without running out of thread, too!

:possible, so serger threads do not do for much of my sewing.

It's possible to buy general purpose sewing threads on large put ups, not just serger thread. What you're likely to find in a typical fabric store is serger thread, but there are plenty of sources for other threads, too.

I confess that, in order to answer OP, I googled for "thread cone holder" and selected that one from several hits, I have no actual experience with it. My cone holder is very heavy duty, it came with a used industrial machine I bought a few years back to do some upholstery. The machine is long gone, I kept the cone holder.

Thread stand:

(and similar devices many other places). Coathanger wire and a solid base.

However, examine the thread carefully -- is that really stuff you want to feed through the tension on your sewing machine? Some is, some isn't.

Be sure to get the one with the cast iron base. The plastic ones tip and do not stay put well. I can supply it if you can;t find it local.

I have a cone of thread dangling from my curtain rod, bottom up. Works fine -- but my sewing machine happens to have a lever with a smooth hole in it quite close to one of the spool pins.

I have also set a cone in a box on the floor and run the thread up to the machine. The box makes the cone less likely to be knocked over, and keeps the thread clean if I do kick it.

I bought one a couple of weeks ago on sale! I paid just under $8 plus tax with regular price over $11 so was really happy. It works very well.

It's a table-top holder that holds 2 large spools. I wish now that there was a way to have bobbins last a long time, too, by having a way to have access to more bobbin thread! Ah well, at least now I can take advantage of those large spools of thread.

Thanks!

[snip]

Ah well, I saw my cone holder on sale before reading this post. I got a plastic-bottomed one. Well, I'll just have to live with it for now. I got it on sale so it's not like I paid a fortune for something flimsy. I could come up with a way to keep the base more stable if it becomes a problem.

Thx.

Two words: Duct Tape... .

-- HI

I found a thread stand at my fabric shop in the notions department. It consists of a base that a rod screws into, the rod has a curved piece at top with an eyelet that the thread runs through. This sits on your table and you thread your machine as usual. I hope this helps.

Not so sure about this. I use a good quality serger/overlocker thread and have no problem. I've had more lint of Gutterman poly thread than off my Empress Mills 120's poly. Gutterman SERGER thread is excellent, mind.

When the plastic base of my cone holder failed, Himself glued the bits into holes in a block of wood. Works a treat!

Kate XXXXXX wrote: :On 05/09/2012 02:03, Gen wrote: :> I'm not so sure she meant can't use in the physical sense. The serger :> thread is so much more lintier, it will cause problems with lint buildup :> if you're not careful to clean the bobbin area OFTEN. It can be used for :> machine sewing, but is not recommended.

:Not so sure about this. I use a good quality serger/overlocker thread :and have no problem. I've had more lint of Gutterman poly thread than :off my Empress Mills 120's poly. Gutterman SERGER thread is excellent, :mind.

Assuming your talking about spun poly thread, and not something like 'wooly nylon', serger thread is just thread. Small diameter thread, of course, but still, just thread. It works just fine in most machines (apparently some can't tension small threads well, but I suspect that's user error.).

Most of the common serger thread in the US is Maxilock, which is loosely twisted spun poly Tex 27, and often lumpier than standard sewing machine thread. I have an accidental comparison photo here, third photo from the bottom: The neon green in the bobbin is Maxilock serger thread, which I wanted for high visibility. The black in the needle is Gutermann Mara 100, tex 30, and my usual thread these days. The light blue escaping from the accessory box is the standard consumer "sew all" Gutermann polyester, tex 30.

I'll use Mara 100 on my sergers, but it's very rare that I'd consider putting Maxilock on a sewing machine -- I can tell the difference between stitch evenness. And yes, I do know how to tension a sewing machine correctly, and match needle size to thread diameter.

(Mara 120, btw, is tex 25, and is also nice thread for light fabrics).

Kay

U can also just get a coffee mug and put it behind your machine and put the spool inside of it and just thread the machine the normal way

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OK, so you got a cheap cone holder... Now you just need to put the serger thread on a regular spool which is easy to do once you have this gadget...

Each Kit contains 1 E-Z Winder and 4 deep well spools.

This advice may be coming way too late, but at least you'll know what you c an do in the future...

I buy serger thread instead of all purpose thread because it is far less ex pensive and works just as well.

In order to use it with my sewing machine, I simply plop the serger spool i n a coffee cup, place it to the right of my sewing machine and thread my ma chine as normal. I use the same method to thread bobbins. The only real dis advantage of the larger serger spools is, I can't store them on a board tha t I put finishing nails in to store my spools and bobbins on. I am consider ing rigging a way to use my bobbin winder or rotary tool to refill some emp ty spools I've been holding onto so that I can store my thread more elegant ly.

Have a wondrous day!