I'm a newbie too. Starting quilting about 3 years ago. This is how dense I was. I didn't know you had to have thread in the bobbin and on top. Thankfully a friend came over and explained this necessary feature to me. As a child I would throw hissy fits every time Mama pulled me kicking and screaming into a fabric store, proclaiming"it made my eyes burn". I now have a room full of fabric, sew every chance I get and I can almost see Mama and Mamaw peering over the balcony of heaven and laughing their heads off.