needle breaking

Are they your usual quality needles? The one and only time I have

HTH, Tricia

DrQuilter wrote:

Taria, what are we going to do with you? LOL. (Actually, when I'm testing a territory with a new SM foot or stitch, I automatically put on my safety glasses. I am particularly wary of the feet that have a center blade sort of thing on them and stitches that I suspect could wander wider than the needle could in perfect comfort.) Polly

"Taria" < wrote, in part > wear glasses to protect your eyes?

I had that problem when I first got my Janome 6600, which I (mistakenly) expected to be as rugged as, say, a cheap Singer from Walmart. Boy was I disappointed, but that's another story.

I was using the large spools of crosswound thread, but apparently the expensive widdle baby couldn't handle them, because the thread kept breaking, the needle would seize, and on at least two occasions the tip of the needle broke off and ZINGED off in some direction or other.

What I found was that I had to use spools that were wound the old-fashioned way, even though the machine was "supposed" to be able to handle the crosswound thread. Since I've switched back, I've had no problems.

I agree with whoever mentioned that when the bobbin ran out the fabric had a bit more "move" to it and you probably moved a little faster/farther than you had planned, and caught the needle in at the same time. I love the low bobbin indicator because it will warn me when this might happen.

As to using the cross wound thread.... should not make a difference. But, if you are planning to use much of it.... Invest in a good quality cone thread holder. (Not one of the cheapie plastic ones you can buy at Jo-Anns, please.) It is well worth the investment and you will end up using it for most things. That and a horizontal spool adapter will help with most thread problems, even with metallic and lamé threads. Promise. I got a heavy metal cone thread holder from my Viking SM shop for about $11, which is not a bad price. Cross wound thread works best coming off the top of the spool,I have read. But metallic, and some other speciality cross wound threads work best coming off the spool the way they are wound on..... so they stay un twisted as they come off. (That is why the horizontal adapter for these threads on a cone stand.) The extra height above the top of the machine gives the thread time and space to relax and release static so it sews more smoothly. The jar/safety pin doesn't do quite the same thing, and the cone may wobble around in the jar, bump against the side and interrupt the even flow of the thread. Even a minor interruption in the flow can cause problems with tension and so on.

Hope this helps.

Pati, > I had an unusual thing happen twice yesterday - while free motion

Excellent explanation, Pati. Well done. Thank you. Polly

You are very welcome. Glad I could be of help.

Pati, > Excellent explanation, Pati. Well done. Thank you. Polly