I am channel stitching a blanket made of polar fleece with flannel on top of it.

I am using Mettler thread and using a serpentine stitch.
Well the last few rows, my top thread is breaking.
There is no bird's nest on the bobbin side.
I have loosened the top tension. Don't know what else to do. I am getting a little tired of messing with it.

Any suggestions?

Chris

Are you accidentally 'pulling' it through instead of letting the feed dogs bring the fabric along? That might be 1 possible cause. Another - do you have a new, sharp needle & is it heavy enough for the fabric?

lengthen your stitch, the thicker your fabric the longer the stitch needs to be, you may need a larger needle too because the thread is going to get pretty crowded craming down into the fabric

Thanks for the help.

I did put a new needle in and have the stitch lengthened.

The piece is pretty large so I am trying to avoid drag as it is being fed under the needle.
I could just be helping too much.
Chris

Fleece and flannel cause a lot of lint and "gunk" in the bobbin area. Next time the thread breaks, clean out the bobbin race real good.

Try adding a table to the side of your quilt if you don't already have a larger quilting table. Also try adding one to the back. Keeping your quilt as even with your machine as you can. That will help with the weight and stop the drag. Nothing worse than drag of heavier fabric to cause problems. You also might try stitching more slowly and see if that helps. As already suggested your fabric will cause a lot of lint so keep that bobbin race clean. :-D

first thing i would do, is walk away from it, until later, or another day. especially if you are frustrated!

i just totally forgot if you said you have a walking foot on it?

if you have another spool,change it out too.
re thread it..
glad you changed the needle.

sometimes it is such a simple thing.