Does anyone know what causes the top thread to break when FMQ? It will be going fine for a few minutes and I'm making sure I go slow enough and everything will be going great then snap out of the blue it will snap. I don't know what to do i can't finish this quilt like this i just want to cry. My husband still won't tell me if i can get a new machine so i'm stuck with this one.

do you think it could be because I spray basted it? does this have anything to do with it?

I couldn't see that the spray basting would be the cause, unless you sprayed it so thick that it's stiff! Have you tried re-threading the machine? Sometimes that's all it takes. If you're really upset, take a break until tomorrow if possible. Start fresh, after re-threading, and try again.

I doubt it is because you spray basted it. I just finished a a quilt with fmq that I spray basted and I didn't have any problem with thread breakage. I used King Tut for my thread this time and it worked like a dream.

I also just finished fmq a tree skirt with metallic thread and it broke constantly. I figured it was the the thread since the King Tut worked so beautifully.

Sorry no other advice from me.

Try changing your needle also...

There are several possibilities.

1) How old is your thread?
2) What is your thread weight and what kind is it (ie cotton or poly, and who is manufacturer). Ditto the first two questions for the bobbin thread.
3) What size needle are you using?
4) When was the last time you replaced your needle (in aprox hours of machine usage)?
5) Have you COMPLETELY re-threaded your machine? Remember, don't ever pull the thread out backwards through the tension discs to un-thread when the presser foot is down!! Always lift the presser foot first - or even better - snip the thread from the spool then pull the thread out from the needle through the machine.
6) What kind of batting are you using?
7) What kind of machine are you using (make and model)?

Other than these things the other two possibilities off the top of my head are top tension and hand speed vs machine speed. But always start with the above questions first. If you answer those for us, we might have a better idea what could be wrong and make suggestions.

Try a new needle. There might be a small burr that is not visible to the eye.
This happened to me the other day and after I changed needle no more
breakage. Didn't seem like it needed it but it did apparently. ;)

When I had a thread snapping, I found it was the thread. It was an expensive machine quilting thread but it was making a little lint ball as it came to the needle. I changed threads and it was fine. If you are using a thread with the little slit on the spool side, that can catch and break the thread. If you are pulling your sandwich or the sandwich has drag on it, that can bend the needle enough that it clips the thread on the throat plate. Have you checked the tension and made sure the needle isn't bent? A bent needle can also clip the thread on the throat plate. I hope you can find the problem.

Loosen your tension to 0 and go up 1/2 at a time.

My husband still won't tell me if i can get a new machine so i'm stuck with this one. ???????

Oh my....you sound so like me earlier this week when I posted a problem about my Janome and FMQ....I was at breaking point ...when Annaquilts suggested leaving the feed dogs....WOW what a different...I think I may have to take my machine in for a tune up though after messing so much with the tension....I haven't got a clue wether it is right or not because I have played with it so much! But tonight......Feed dogs up....away I went....first time since I have had this machine ( 2 months)....beautifully balanced FMQ with lovely tension front and back.....way to go so happy....did the whole border of a baby quilt.
Just keep perservering....ask loads of questions and someone on this board will have the answer for you.....Good luck

I agree with Tartan on the possibility of the thread getting caught on the spool. I've also had problems sometimes with the thread winding on the spool pin. It is maddening. I hope you figure it out so you can finish your quilt. If it pieces fine, I would guess it's not your machine.