Be sure the quilt is taut but not tight. If the quilt is tight between the rollers it will break your thread. The bottom or back of the quilt should be laying on the machine. When quilting you should be able to see your machine moving under the quilt. For practicing, you should have muslin for top and backing. Double check the bobbin tension. With a full bobbin in the case, lay it in your hand and pick up the thread. The case should come up and if you do a quick tug on the thread with bobbin case in the air it should creep down like a spider with a web. Double check your needle and make sure you do not have it in backwards (this is a common mistake)
Check the tension disks. Give them a quick cleaning. There could be something there from being packed.
When first starting out, I suggest using the machine slow until you get comfortable then increase speed. Main thing to remember, just like driving a car you must slow down on the curves. If you get "eyelases" on the back when doing curves you are moving the machine too fast for the speed of the machine.
Follow these simple rules and you should be able to use any type of thread in your machine.
Last edited by crashnquilt; 11-13-2012 at 03:16 PM.