I am not a tension expert by any means but it does sound like your top tension might be a tad too tight. Turn your tension dial - ever so slightly - to the left. Make very small adjustments until it is sewing properly with no puckers or thread nests. And do check your threading of the machine. Actually, do that before adjusting your tension. Also check your bobbin threading.
Some newer machines say you don't need to hold onto the thread tails. Being a dinosaur myself, I still always do that. Yes, you may use more thread that way but it does reduce lots of problems.