Definitely try everything Rob said. For my FMQ on a horizontal drop bobbin machine, I had trouble with skipped stitches and breaking thread when I moved the quilt in a certain direction. Now I FMQ on a vertical side loading bobbin and I don't have those issues. Just a heads up, I know most people love the top stitch needles-- for me it actually made matters worse because the eye was so big that the thread would twist around the needle. Another thing that helped me was using another darning foot-- for some reason the spring was better or something. Anyway it improved 90% with another foot. Good luck!!