I love connecting threads too. I bought some of there big cones to give as gifts to my quilting friends.

My husband gifted me a Gutterman thread cabinet last year like the one you are talking about. I was hesitant to use them at first, don't know why. I use them in my old J.C.Penney machine and in my Kenmore machine that I have had 35 years. They seem to do fine. That being said I do have a Babylock Ellisimo that I use nothing but Isacord thread in. It seems to like it best. I think thread choice is up to what your machine likes best.

I was also at my LQS and they told me Guttermann's thread is the best.

Another related thing about thread is whether it is crosswound or "regularly" wound--I just found out not long ago that horizontal spool pins should use crosswound thread and that vertical spool pins should use regular-wound spools of thread (don't know what the right word is for the regular winding style). My machine has only a horizontal spool pin and I've tried to use only crosswound thread but sometimes it's hard to find in just the right color. Any opinions about this? I haven't been able to find a thread stand that's heavy enough to not move around or tip over yet. Any suggestions about this?

Dana

Have you seen these thread stands? http://www.kathyquilts.com/customer/...g=thread+stand The base is made of cast iron, so they are quite heavy. I wouldn't want to pay shipping on these, but your quilt shop can get them from Brewers.