Thanks everyone. Well, first of all, I don't know how to do free motion yet and probably wouldn't even try on this machine. Secondly, I have stenciled the star outline and am just sewing it. I put in a brand new schmetz 80/12 quilting needle and have re-threaded twice. It sews fine on the straight parts of the star and only skips/ eyelashes exactly at the point, where you would pivot & turn, one stitch at a time. I have a Husq. Viking Emerald 203, which I completely despise, but it's only been used for 3 other small projects. I am also a fanatic cleaner of my machine and clean after EVERY project, since the only thing I know how to do is rag quilt...lol.
@Maride...I thought you HAD to use cotton when quilting and could not use the poly?? That's what the Viking dealer told me anyway...