Thanks for all the good advise. Still some confused. I started using Gutermann then added bees wax and still had issues of breaking and tangles. Just bought a new thread at the quilt show in the YLI booth, but now I see it is "Star Brand"...is that YLI? It is 50wt and breaks a lot. I went through all the brands I have and just tried to break them with my hands and they all broke fairly easily. I will change the needle and move it often to see if it helps. I had heard about knotting from the end near the spool before...but forgot about it...all helpful!