Thread Breaking on Machine Quilting Frame

Hi,
On our website, we have some great quilting tips, and you can probably get some answers there, but here are a few things you can check. So, let me just ask you a few questions first. These are probably really elementary to you, and you've already tried them, but I need to ask so I can think about the situation and if I can think of ways to solve it. You probably have something really simple, and once we pinpoint it, you'll be quilting away.
http://www.kathyquilts.com/customer/home.php?cat=77
Here you go:
1. Are your Feed Dogs down or disengaged?
2. Is your Presser Foot in the down Position? (this is the most common problem and fix.) ALWAYS CHECK THIS ONE!
3. Does the Machine sew well when it's off the quilter? Take it off and sew a few seams with it OFF the quilter. Sew on two pieces of fabric with a piece of batting in between, so that you'll know when you have the tension just right on a quilt, not just fabric. If it sews fine, then the problem probably lies in the way you have the quilt rolled onto the frame. The most common problem is that the quilt gets rolled up and over the rail inside the quilting machine (this is the wrong way), when it HAS to go underneath the rail, and then rolls around the rail that way. You just don't want to stitch through air, as you'll break needles and thread because the bobbin can't catch the top thread unless the quilt is quite close to the throat plate.
4. How is the quilt rolled on the take-up rail, (the rail inside the arm of your sewing machine.) Does the quilt go up and over the rail, or underneath the rail and around. When the quilt is rolled up, do you see the quilt back on the rail? Or do you see the quilt top?
5. If the quilt is rolled up right, make sure the rail is almost skimming the throat plate, not up an inch or two, as you have the same problem as above, with your machine trying to stitch through air. So, you might need to lower the rail so that the quilt is closer to the plate of the machine.
6. Do you have your cone thread on one of the black X's on the backside of the carriage (back by the back handles), and threaded through one or both of the brass eyelets? (depending on what side you're using the cone thread on.) You CANNOT use the cone thread on the Juki itself, as the Metal Thread guide HAS to be folded DOWN before you slide the Juki into the carriage area. Slide it back in as far as you can. You cannot use the Juki with the thread guide up. (Call us with this one at 1-888-826-0222 as SOME OF THE NEWER MODELS of frames WILL WORK WITH THE GUIDES UP. Call Us!)
7. Thread has to spin freely, so cone threads have to feed almost straight up from the cone, or else your thread will break, or the excess tension will cause the needle to break.
8. Are you using 100% cotton thread? Here in Utah, the 100% cotton thread gets really dry, and I find that I can only use the first part, and then it's useless to me (and this is the case for many, other people.) Our climate here in Utah is overly dry, and cottons dry out quickly and break easily.
9. Change the thread! Try something different and see if it works. If other thread works fine, then you have some issues with that thread. Play with the tension and adjust it back and forth until you can make it work properly. If you can't make it work well, then just put it away and use it for something besides quilting.
10. Do you have the SAME THREAD on the TOP and in the BOBBIN? The machines are made to work best this way. If it works fine for you to have different thread on top and in the bobbin, then that's great. BUT - we've found that many problems are resolved by having the same thread on both because of the tension on your machine.

I'd guess it is one of these problems, which really isn't a problem at all - just an easy fix. If you've tried different threads, I think it's probably the way you have your quilt rolled up (which could be backwards) or your thread just isn't feeding easily or the simplest - just making sure your presser foot is lowered. Use your darning or embroidery foot.

I hope this might help you out, but just give us a call at 1-888-826-0222 and we'll talk you through this. I quilt every single day, and find people run into these simple problems all the time, and they're usually an easy fix. I'm sure it will be for you, too.

Good luck,
Kathy