Exactly! My old Kenmore never "ate" the beginning of a piece of fabric either. Guess my new machine is just hungrier than my old Kenmore was.

Watson

I have a scrap piece of fabric doubled over and use it to start my seams. When it is too thready to use, I toss it and pick another piece. No more eating bits.

One thing I have found that causes that problem consistently with my Janome is starting off my stitching too fast. If I take those first few stitches fairly slowly, I have far less issues with the pieces jamming and snarling up at the beginning.

Didn't know this was an option. Interesting.

I agree with all those who suggest leaders & enders. Has saved me a lot of frustration.

Years ago I was reading a quilt article by a famous quilter, can't spell her name, not Bonnie Hunter, and she said that a student in one of her classes showed her how she kept a piece of fabric under her needle at all times. I started doing that by making another quilt that is simple along side the more complicated quilt. I have had no more problems and now I make numerous more quilts.

I also use a leader piece. I keep a few little scraps next to machine and use at start and end of chain. Also, when I'm done I keep a piece under down presser foot. Years ago, a machine repair person told me to keep presser foot in down position when not in use and to keep fabric in machine. This puts less stress on parts.

This was happening to me very often. In addition to the above suggestions, I can add this one. A Pfaff or Viking Opal can sew "on air". That is, the bobbin won't jam if you don't start right on the fabric. My Brother Dream Machune will jam if I start on air, which is why I give up quilting on it! Check out a Pfaff Quilt Expression. I recently purchased one because of this very problem. I don't mind chain-piecing, but at least it will not jam if I miss the beginning of the seam, or start a new seam.

I sgree with onebyone. Single hole plate fixed this for me.