Originally Posted by Elizabeth A.

I saw a tip on a quilting show about how to tell if your needle is properly sized for your thread. Remove the needle from the machine, and string it onto your thread just like it was a hand quilting needle. Now take both ends of the thread holding it about a foot or two apart. Now take one hand and move it so instead of being straight accross, make one hand be on top and the other on the bottom. Keep the thread taunt (no slack)

Does the needle side smoothly down the thread? If so the thread and needle are fine together. If the needle needs help to slide down or jerks over the thread, you need a bigger needle (higher numbers are bigger than smaller numbers.)

I have no idea if that will help you, but at least it's a quick and easy way to know if you're sizes are correct.