HEY DEBBIE - I LOVE the pelican and the frog!
Well I checked for dust bunnies in the bobbin area and they're were not too many. Then I opened the upper part and there were quite a few. So I vacuumed.
It continued fraying the thread - but I made it work. Not my best work - not even something to be happy with. But they're DONE and waiting for me to buy some dye catchers so I can wash them before mailing.
Hoping it was the THREAD I used - or maybe the new needle - or maybe the combination of the thread and needle. Guess I'll never know though - cause I'm throwing both of them away when I go near the machine again!
Thanks QUILTERS!!!!