I am relatively new with sewing/embroidery. I had a Singer XL1000 prior to buying the quartet. I have A LOT of trouble with thread breaking while embroidering with the Futura 4 that I did not have with the XL1000. I have never been able to use the E thread tension setting--always have to go lower but still have trouble with breakage. Any tippers for a newbie? Also, being a novice I don't even know that I would know if my machine had one of the original "mess ups" referred to above. What were they? Thanks for any advice/help. On the days I get it right I do a dance. On the days I get it wrong, I curse the machine--but it's all really fun:)