thank you for all your great tips. I have a Babylock Elizabeth machine. Right now the new needle seems to be in place okay with the flat part to the back. It may have been the needle was loose and just fell out before. Its sewing a straight stitch okay but still not threading. I'll get out my little vacuum and make sure there isn't anything that can be cleared up that way too. I now have to get over my fear of free motion quilting. I didn't have it before, but now that I feel I can actually do damage to my machine, i have a whole new feeling.
XOXO Bee