Originally Posted by Mitch

I'm ready to give up quilting and take up boondoggle. I have tried smaller needles, quilting needles and purchased topstitch needles. It seemed the 80/12 did better with a 50 weight thread. When I switched back to a 40 weight (Great Barrier Reef variegated YLI machine quilting thread) the thread started to shred at the needle again. I went up to a 90/14 and I'm still having trouble. I lowered the top tension and now the tension is too loose and it looks crappy on the underside. I'm at a loss. Bulky seams definitely present a problem but even when I'm not stitching over the bulkiest (which I will ALWAYS PRESS OPEN FROM NOW ON) the thread is shredding if the tension is good for meeting in the middle of the sandwich. I have never had so many problems! Is it the glue baste? I did a lot of FMQ (script, drawings, flowers) on a baby quilt and didn't have a single one of these problems. No more suggestions, I'll take prayers. Thank you.