Or Darlene, I have seen a spindle that your CD's come in - that might work or the mason jar sounds good too, but you still need something to hold that thread up and in the right direction - you can buy one of those holders for the large spools rather cheap - but if you are looking not to buy something - divise a way to hold and guide your thread up - about and into your thread guide, too.

I have found the a plastic 16 oz. cups works very well. I put it in and put the cup on the floor. Since the spool doesn't touch the bottom the thread does not get under the spool, the tread does not get tangled. Good question.

You could you a thread net to run it through. I have had trouble with some spools so I transfer them to bobbins and use them that way

Thanks for asking Darlene. I also have some large spools that I would like to use. *4U

Darlene, I use a mason jar to hold large spools of thread on my other machine. Haven't used it on embroidery machine, but I don't know why it wouldn't work the same way. It works great for me.
Try it! *4U

I am not sure just how large you spools are but I use a lot of the 5000mm spools. I just set them on the table behind my machine then run it through the machine as I would any other thread. I have no problems at all. I had bought one of those spool stands ($34.00) that sit behind the machine but was more work than I thought it was worth. It is now up in the attic.

I too use the SE - I have used the 5000m spools, but I make sure that I have it so that it will go through the thread guides, and not get caught. I bought one of the guides for the smaller spools that attaches to the back of my machine, and has the telescoping thread guides for 8 spools. I sit the large spool behind the machine and the thread into the guides. This has worked pretty well, but do need to watch at times so thread does not get caught. I think that I am going to have my hubby make something for me so that I could have a spindle to hold the spool, and eyes to guide the thread and feed into the thread guides of the machine. I hope you find a solution that works for you. *** to you for asking.

I use a pitcher (like the ones they have in hospitals) and the lid has a small hole. This works great and keeps the thread from tangling. I have had no trouble using that. I previously had bought a spool spindle for large spools and for me it was worthless. It did not work the way it should have. Good luck. A mason jar should work ok also. *4U

Well, I have a thread stand, but before I got that, I used an eye screw that I actually screwed into the wall for a thread guide and I put the thread on a pants hanger (the ones that are kind of shaped like a number 2) so that it hung horizontal. Since my sewing area was right next to the laundry area, there was a clothes rack right near by that I could hang the hanger on and it worked just wonderfully. I only bought the thread stand when we moved to a new house and I had a separate sewing room without the clothes rack. Hmmm. I don't think this is actually going to be helpful for you at all. Sorry, I tend to ramble more since the twins were born. =]

I bought a plactic thread stand at JoAnn's for less than five dollars with a coupon....works great

Yes a thread stand is very good. In fact it is recommended for all threads, no matter what size the spool, because the threads wind of the spool instead of the spool turning. It apparently makes for more even stitching and less breakages. The thread stands are not expensive. If you don't have one use either a large glass or jar, and put stand the spool up in that. The thread will act the same way as it does on the stand.

I too just sit it either in front or behind the machine. Works fine and it's just one more thing I don't have to keep up with!! I DO have one of those thread holders that goes over the upright spool holder with the guide up high-I sometimes run the thread from the front of the machine up thru that and then thread as usual.

Well, the machine I have can handle the large spools, but my Mom's doesn't. She used a short wooden dowel screwed to a block of wood to hold the thread in place (she had the stuff around the house so it didn't cost her anything). I'm guessing this is a similar method to the thread stands. Good luck!

I also have a designer and I have purchased quite a few large spools on ebay (super great deal) and then found I needed something and also found a thread holder on ebay as well, cost about $6 and it works teriffic. DH put a block of wood on the bottom to weigh it down and I just love it.

I wonder if ya got a cheap fishing pole and attached it to a block then used the eyes to guide thread... I should invent that.... YEA like that's gonna happen:(

Thank you all, I went to Joann's today and looked for the elusive thread stand. Finally found it on the notions wall 6.49 reg. and I had a 40% coupon so it ended up costing around $4. I never imagined I would get something for less than $20.. although my husband was standing by with his power tools just in case.... I attached a pic of my "baby" sewing away with the thread stand... Thanks to you all. BTW.. I do think the fishing pole idea might work!

I know you have your thread guide sorted, but I had to sahre what I have been using for years for gigantic spools of threads with my 'SEWING' machine. I found the inside plastic spool from medical dressing tape, drilled some holes through the base and screwed it onto a block of wood, then I found an old Knitting machine thread guide, drilled a big hole into the block of wood and stuck the guide in that. I'm still using it to this day and try as he might Ray hasn't come up with anything better. LOL!!! hugs n roses, M

Looked at your pic Darlene I have 2 of these & use them for everything. I buy bobbin thread n large spools so 1 keeps a spool of that on it & the other the thread I'm embroidering with. You'll love it. *4U

I got one of the thread holers at JoAnns with a coupon too. Bless JoAnns, love that store. I wish Sewing with Nancy had stores too. I love her site and her books to order from to (that is when I have the money). Brenda Lea