Thanks MIckey2! I'm going to take the tension assembly apart again, including the stud & release pin & clean and reassemble... My DH and I did loosen the needle bar and drop it (a miniscule amount) and now the top needle height line is visible (before I could feel it with my fingernail but not really see it). This has helped the stitch situation a lot!! I can actually get her to sew a few inches before the spool jumps off the spool holder. Tension still needs work!!