So very sorry for your loss.

Are you using the FMQ foot from Janome? If so, it has a screw you can turn to make it closer to the fabric. If there is too much space between it and the fabric, the thread will break.

Watson

I have that machine and love it but it only likes the Aurifil thread. Sometimes I have to rethread and yes, I do have a problem sometimes with the thread breaking but not too often. Good luck and I know it is so frustrating when you are trying to finish a project. So very sorry to hear the loss of your son. Thoughts and prayers are with you.

I too had a persistent problem until I switched to topstitch needle and now it's all smooth sailing and meandering is my niche so every quilt is meandered in whole or in part. My machine is now 8 yrs old and still does everything perfectly.

Try switching to a 90/14 or even a 100/16 Topstitch needle.

also, if you are using the free motion foot that floats instead of hopping, it might help to use the thumb screw on the foot to lower it a little. That foot needs to skim the surface, or float just a tiny bit above it. If it's too far off the surface you will get problems with stitch formation and thread breakage.

Rob