Thank you for all the quick responses. I did have the thread laying paralell, but stood it up. My Janome has a spot for that, but maybe I will try my self standing thread holder. I am also going to go get some different needles. I knew I had seen something about metalic threads.. Now I remember, I have the show taped witht he guy using the metalic threads!! I will pop that up and watch it tonight!! Thank goodness for the DirecTV recording system!!