1. checked for lint/fuzz and found the underside of the foot plate to be very clean.
2. Pressure on the foot set at 4 (and today I tried it at 3. I have a Husqvarna Viking 400 (older - prob. around 10 years old). I think 3 did work a little better.
3. yep feed dogs up.
Even with stitch length set at 3.5, sometimes I get tiny stitches.