I love the above replies....make sure the needle isn't in backwards...maybe your machine doesn't like the thread you are using.
If nothing else works....a very large glass of wine, chocolate and a really good shrill scream might help.

Ginnie6,
Learning to use a treadle machine is an experience and they are hard to mess up; however they are fussy about how the needle goes in and how you thread everything.
Consider joining www.treadleon.net lots of good information and great folks.

had one of those days yesterday. serger just wouldn't do the rolled edge for those Thanksgiving napkins that I have done a thousand times. broken needles, broken thread, yada yada

then my new embroidery machine decided it might be fun to do the same. did the usual hoopla--bobbin, needle, thread change and lots more. 1 hour trip to the service dept.

5 hours later nothing accomplished.

hopefully your day is better today.

My Vote is for nap and chocolate!!!!

Sounds like someone is sending you a message....you are not meant to work today!

Oh my get out of the quilting area fast.

Can't mess that up; treadles and vintage machines are rugged. It may take you a bit of time to get use to using a treadle, but not that long. If you do give it a try just remember to oil the machine first. Some old machines just purr as they sew through layers of fabric with ease. Out of curiosity, what type of machine is it?