FYI - the way thread is made now HAS changed. All three generations of sewers before me have used Coats & Clark thread. It used to be good...nice and smooooth. NOT anymore. Their quality has absolutely tanked. It is extra fuzzy - I just got a Bernina and they specifically said NO Coats thread. Only Mettler and blah blah (I blanked out). Don't get me started on the Coats hand quilting thread.
Switch to a good quality thread...don't go cheap, no matter the project. You are spending the time to make something by hand rather than getting it at Stuff-Mart, make it good!
Hope all is well with your baby!