My machine may be different from yours. I have the 1600DBX and I bought a "lifetime" supply of DB Organ needles, 90/14. While the machine was on the frame, I had no thread or sewing problems, but I had to give up my frame space; I then set the machine up on a large corner table to do only FMQ. I kept having thread problems and couldn't resolve the issue; I finally ordered a Janome 6300. It was only after the 6300 had shipped that I played with the stitch length knob on the 1600; I had put it on "0" as you can normally do with any machine when you FMQ. That was the problem with the 1600 and it worked fine after I put the stitch length to 3. Now I have stored the 1600 along with the frame parts and hope that someday I will be able to have my frame space back. I can then use both machines, having 2 different machine quilting projects going.