Oh wouldn't you know it. I talk about how my machine can take any thread and then I had trouble with the metallic embroidery thread today. I threaded it like suggested above and I put the thread through BOTH retractable thread guides . In the 6500/6600 yahoo group someone had suggested that for metallic thread. Slowed down a tad and didn't have any problems after that.

My janome does not like metallic threads. I've tried all ways but no success so use another machine.

My Viking D1 does the same thing and I don't know why. Just rethread it and go my merry way. I figured its because she's getting older and thinks I need to treat her more gentle is my thinking. Love my old D1 for piecing too.

Ladies, there was a discussion on the Vintage Sewing Machine section a few days ago about this same problem. One of the conclusions is that the humidity affects how your thread behaves on your machine. I have asthma, so my heat pump runs 24/7/365. It does keep the humidity stable!

Then, too, you CAN put the thread spool on WRONG. The spools of thread (particularly C & C) have slanted cuts to fasten the end of the thread. If this cut is on the bottom, your thread will frequently catch on that cut and throw itself out of the take-up lever. I've noticed that there are a lot of spools which don't have this cut, and I've had no problem with those spools. BUT my old Singer 328 actually did the same thing many times before I learned to turn the spool end over end and keep the end of the spool with the slanted cut turned UPWARD!