Automatic tension? That's all very well, but how does your machine know that you want to FMQ? There must be a way to adjust it somewhere, isn't there? Another thought ocurred to me...how old is your thread? I tried to use an older thread recently, and ended up thowing it out, as it kept breaking. I also agree with trying out various makes, my Bernina definitely works well with Guterman, and Sulky cotton and rayon, so I tend to stick to them mostly.