Make sure you are using the latest most up to date and correct file extension. I had this happen once using a design from emb library. They said it was an old design and with Viking they have different extensions that I can use and to make sure I use the latest. The other thing is that it will do this if you tried to resize it the wrong way. Being a Windows person I was so use to using the little handles and dragging to make it larger or smaller. That was the wrong way to do it because it didn't keep the threads right. I learned the hard way that you have to use the resize tool or the resize in the editing part and you can only do it up to a certain amount. good luck. If you have a dealer close you could always call them or contact Anita Gooddesigns. I don't know where you are located but here we have a chain store that sponsors them so I can call them for questions, which I just did a little while ago. Do you have the software so that you can see how it will stitch out before you load the design