I am glad I am not the only one with problems. I have a new Smarter by Phaff. I was half through pieceing a top and bought the new machine. I completed the Q size top and a baby quilt top. I started to machine quilt the baby quilt and the thread started balling up on the back. I tried everything I know of and all of the suggestions here. It will go to the shop next week. Back to my old cheap machine.