Thanks everyone--I think something is going wrong with the top threading and not the loopers. I'm threading them exactly as it says to in the DVD and in the book but they are loosey goosey. I'll try re-setting the tensions--so far, the lower loopers are not unthreading when I try to test materials--but the top threads are not staying in the thread guides.
Breathe. Dammit, breathe! (lol--trying to maintain my humor)> Thanks, I may need to head to the store tomorrow indeed.