Thanks everyone-I will try it all! Top stitching isn't the only problem, when I seam the front to the back along the sides, then open it up, you see the stitches pulling apart-like it's just too loose-doesn't firmly join the seams. One I just finished says press the side seams open, which I did with lots of steam, but I could actually see daylight between the seams! Thanks again-hope at least one or all of your suggestions fixes it. I have a Brother PC420 I bought last year, and other than that, I love the machine.