My friend has a very old Kenmore small sewing machine, she taught me to keep a small piece of scrap for chaining when you aren't really chaining! Her's will give you a bird's nest in a hurry if you don't do that. My Viking Diamond doesn't do it often, but boy, when it does, I get out a scrap and chain! I think some people are just more careful about holding the threads, starting with the needle down, etc. I am not. I just sit down and start, so sometimes I do have to slow down. Linda