I can't wait to get out of work and rush home to try these great suggestions.
The thread may be doubling back into the tension area when the thread heads back up from the plate - it is so light. And it may be pulling rapidly off the spool too.
I tried putting the spool on my excellent cone-holder behind the machine but I wasn't sure how to adjust the coat-hanger-wire thing that holds it in position. I will try different positions with this also.
I never even looked to see how the thread is feeding off the spool once I put it behind the machine!
I am FMQiong verrrrry slowly at a crawl so I don't miss and put the needle down off the applique and on the background. Maybe too slow?
I have made a pile of test pieces, using small pieces of batik, batting and batik backing, on which (save those scraps!) I took a lot of the cut-off pieces of fabric which still had H&B on them, recut them and ironed them on the sandwich! I am nowhere near ready to start the REAL project yet! LOL
Thanks again all!!!
And thanks for the encouragement, because I was ready to give up (and I HATE to give up!)