Thank you everyone. You're right, the problem is not the thread (darn it, that would have been an easy fix). So tomorrow I go and buy a Topstitch needle. Thank you Prism99 for the sight!! Funny, I used to use a topstitch needle for quilting and now have no idea why I switched.
Thank you all for your suggestions. I've never been let down by you good folk out there.
bev.