Thanks everyone...all suggestions added to my little note book. Have just finished sewing some Christmas print dresses for my granddaughter and the machine is sewing "a treat" with lovely stitches and tension. So all is back to normal and the Janome it would seem, has forgiven me! Will start piecing my next quilt top in the New Year when my fabric arrives (man, I love Etsy!) and then it is "back on the learning curve" horse! In the meantime I am going to buy a really cheap quilt from KMart and put all your suggestions into practice so when I am ready to start on my quilt I will be all "practised and sorted". I think I am going to have to re-think my sewing table set-up as well and perhaps get my OH to "rig up" a nice big extension for me. There's a nice little holiday project for him!!!! Thankyou all so much....what lovely support this site gives...and Merry Christmas to everyone too!