Originally Posted by
nativetexan
are you using a darning foot (has spring on the shaft)? you do fairly fast foot pedal speed while you move the quilt itself slower. that makes for smaller stitches. needles should not be breaking. i can only think you are moving the quilt much too fast and perhaps not using a darning foot.
I am using a darning foot but may be moving too fast as I am new at this. I was using an all purpose needle (#14) but think I will try a denim needle (#16). What size needle do you use ? Where do you set your (upper) thread tension - I am at 4.