Are you making sure the pressure foot is up while you are threading the machine. If not it will throw the tension off and cause you problems. Are you located around any stores that handle your machine. I know here there are stores for about all machines. Even our Tidewater Sew n Vac will help even if they don't sell the machines. A few classes would be a great idea to get you started. You may like it once you get started without all of the frustrations. Before you start sewing, hold onto the needle thread and rasie the needle down and up by using the wheel on the side and see if it pulls the bobbin thread to the top, right under the needle. If not it may not be thread right in the bobbin area.