Ok, I finally gave up. While I'm still new at free motion stitching, I've done pretty well until today. I was working on a sm. sandwich pc. before I went to my new wallhanging when I started breaking needles. After rethreading & rethreading amd checking out everything I could imagine, I continued to break needles until I lost seven needles. So I had to give up.

Can any of you help me figure out what's going on? I'v done a few tablerunners without this prob. I thought maybe I was pulling my sandwich a bit too hard & bent the needles but I really tried not to. I'm frustrated & desperate for help.

Ok, this might sound stupid, but when I first started FMQ, I kept forgetting to put the presser foot down. Because it doesn't grab the fabric as hard as a normal presser foot, I couldn't distinguish as easily between it's up and down position, and kept forgetting to put it down. That led to a lot of problems, including broken needles. I still feel pretty silly about it, but I can't be the only one who has ever done that (I hope!)

Also, make sure you're using the correct type of needle for your machine and inserting it properly.

Try checking the manual for trouble shooting, or just not the day to sew this.
Know this wasn't helpful, but will send a {{{ hug }}} and a hope for better results soon !! :)

Ok, I have had that problem too. One time I forgot to drop my feed dogs (dah) and most times, it is because I am moving too fast. Good Luck! Don't give up!

Duuuh, I just might have forgotten the presser ft. I'll go try again & be sure it's down. As for needle, what type are you referring to?

is the thread snagging on anything? can you sew a straight line without it breaking?

take out the bobbin, and clean the area out..oil it if you have the wick in the bobbin holder, just a drop.

by chance is the spool on right? it's not catching on the little notched out part on the bottom? (which should be on the top,so you just flip the spool around. )

widh i was there to help..

No to all of these. My machine doesn't require oiling according to the tech who just serviced it. As for the thread catching on the notch on the spool, I sure hate when that happens. I've ck'd everything mentioned so far. I'm going to go try again just to be sure it wasn't the foot left up. I had the feeddogs down.

This was the big mystery to me. I took off my FM foot & raised my feed dogs & just tried straight sewing. Worked fine. I'm going to run upstairs & try again & be sure to watch for all of the suggestions so far.

sometimes, it's best to walk away from the machine,and sew tomorrow! lol

I just mean using the right needle for your machine. I have three machines - a Kenmore, a Brother, and a Bernina, and they all take different needles. I can't just buy any old thing from Joann's and use it. The needles aren't interchangeable between machines.