Some Janomes and Brother machines are bad about the thread jumping out of the take up lever. In quilt classes, I can always tell when someone's thread has come out..they are loudly complaining, wondering if it is their tension or thread....I just tell them to check their take up lever....then I help them thread their machine. Rather than putting your thread in from right to left, put your thread in from left to right through the take up lever. Janome has now put a lock on these levers....so it doesn't happen with the new machines...PM me if you need more help. In answer to your question on thread....Janomes don't like Coats and Clark threads....don't know why....If you don't want to throw your thread away, wind it on some bobbins.