I had the exact same problem with my Janome. It worked just fine when I took it to the shop for a cleaning. When I got it home I just put it on the table and continued to use my FW. When I finally took it out to sew again it made horrible cluncking noises and then started skipping stitches. It's in a different shop this time for repair but I'm angry that I had to spend $90 for "cleaning" plus they messed up the bobbin holder so I had to purchase another of those as well, $35 at their shop. If I had just taken it out and sewn when I got it home I could have taken in back then but they insist they did everything right and I must have "damaged" it at home. :evil: