Well I'll be a monkeys uncle! You arent going to believe this, it was the top thread. Its coats and clark, it has frays in it!. This is the 3rd one of these I've gotten in a year. I've use this stuff for years and have never had the problems I've had in the last year. Its the quilting thread I use to for piecing because its heavier more durable. Thats it! They are getting an e-mail from me. Quality control must not be top of the list. Thanks to all of you for your advice on the machine. Still not sure what thread I'll be quilting with. I called the local shop where I get my quilting thread and they said they have a varegated silver and black, green and yellow, orange pink and yellow. We'll see.