I have a Janome.....bought the machine 10 years ago and it's quilted over 400 baby quilts. I had problems right off the bat with FMQ (thought I'd have to bring the machine back to the dealer) and finally realized that if I didn't put the thread through the last hook before the needle, I had no problems at all. I do thread it through when I'm piecing but for some reason, it doesn't like that last hook for FM!. Also, I've had problems with thread.....sometimes taking it out and using another thread. I think a thread weight of 50 is too light for FMQ so usually I use a 40 or 35 if I can find it.