Check out Bonnie Hunters Leaders and Enders! You start sewing on something else, thus protecting your primary project..and you dont' have to raise the pressure foot. Just keep stitching just keep stitching (I am channeling my inner Dory!)

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/...-and-hows.html

Keep a box of scraps nearby for Starters and Enders. When you're ending your last chain piece row, sew off on a scrap. Then, when starting the next, the ender becomes the starter.

I agree bump your pieces closer together

I had the same problem last night. Once I cleaned the bobbin case, it really already looked clean, reinserted bobbin and rethreaded the spool, it worked just fine. Sometimes I rethreaded a few times but it all works out in the end. Good luck!

It looks like your seam is getting too narrow at the end. Vi

another thought is try another "new" needle if this problem only recently started. I've had bad needles a few times. DogHouse Mom has some great tips.

I had that problem with my Sapphire 870Q when chain piecing half square triangles. I finally figured out when the machine was set for needle down, it happened. When I changed it to needle up, no more chewing up corners. It only happened on the triangle pieces. Go figure. And yes, I was using leaders and enders, it just happened randomly. Very frustrating, but an easy fix.

Use a small piece of fabric to start with then go straight into your piecing. I think it is called a starter. Some people use enders as well.

This can also happen when the wrong kind and/or size needle is used. When machine piecing I prefer to use Microtex Sharp or Quilting needles. Unless the fabric is thick I prefer a size 10 or 11 needle. Schmetz web site has great information on needle kinds and sizes. Basically, a fine sharp tip (not ball point) needle will slip through fabric without pushing it into the hole of the sole plate, but some fabrics (denim or chiffon) require specific needles. Learning about needles is a great investment of time that can and will save money. JMHO

I save all my USED fabric softener sheets...fold them in half, then quarters, then eighths and use them for leaders and enders. The small amount of softener left of the sheet tends to lubricate the needle. You can press them with a cool iron and stack a bunch by your machine for quick use. Using them saves a lot of thread compared to individual start and stop and cut threads on machine cutter.