what brand of thread was breaking? my viking 350 hated C&C with a passion, so i just then never bought any. my new tribute seems to really like mettlers (which is very linty to me) or the connecting threads thread. which at $1.75 a spool is a bargain. i don't know that i would spring 25- for a spool of thread if i didn't know that my machine LOVED it. i would try a different needle, ect.