Thank you ladies this is very helpful. My thread regularly breaks when using cotton threads. I daren't mess with the tensions as I assume the machine sets this automatically (HV 875) and tells me which needle to use. Perhaps its something to do with the basting. I really prefer using 505 but ran out on and have done this last one with pins. Poss too much movement under the foot? I will look at the different links. Thank you again.