What everybody said, plus practice, practice, practice. I am still learning my new to me PQ 1500. I have experimented with threads and needles. It works best with a polyester thread, and breaks thread sometimes if I move the quilt sandwich to the left. But it really boils down to practicing after you have watched some or all of the videos. I call it the "sweet spot" where your hands and the machine are in sync and you can hear it and feel it. I don't get it all the time but I know it when I do. Good luck, keep us posted, and practice, practice, practice!!