I have a Gammill as well and you definitely have to wrap the thread around the tension adjuster 1 and 3/4 times. If you ever want to use her machine again let me know and I can tell you the simple adjust the Gammill rep told me. Basically the thread was popping out of the upper tension wheel and there is a little thread guide right before that wheel that needs to be tipped up to the 2 oclock position. You have to loosen a bolt to move the thread guide but it is easy to do. This gives the thread a more natural pull for that tension wheel and the thread can't pop back out causing the mess you see on the back of your quilt.